Everyone knows I'm quite the Apple fan girl. I honestly think Steve Jobs is one of the most awesome figureheads the world has produced since Julius Caesar and Octavian/Augustus, and Apple gadgets are the best things since Roman architecture.
Still, this doesn't mean that I own Apple stuff aplenty. Most people would be surprised to know that apart from Octavian (my Macbook Pro), an Apple remote, and a grubby old iPod Classic, I don't own any other Apple gadget at all. I don't own an iPhone, for one, all because I find the price too exorbitant for my taste. Neither do I own a Magic Mouse because I just don't have any use for it.
Now I wouldn't mind spending so much on a gadget, if I knew I can - and will - get the maximum mileage out of it, like poor Octavian, my meal ticket. An iPhone, on the other hand, is about as useful to me as a natural colon cleanser, and I could not, for the life of me, be made to shell out nearly half a month's salary on one. Oh, I came close many, many times, yes, but my delicate (haha) sensibilities always got the better of me each time.
And I'm thanking all my lucky stars for my good sense (haha) now that the iPad is out. Many people are running it down for being just a big iPhone or iPod Touch, but for me, it was love at first sight. This is the reason why I never did get the Kindle or the iPhone or the iPod Touch. I suppose in my own way, I knew Apple was going to come out with something that would have everything I ever wanted in a gadget, and the iPad is IT.
It's the PERFECT size for an ebook reader (at least, for me). It has email and music and video. It can do documents and spreadsheets with reasonably priced iWork apps. From what I've seen so far, browsing is a joy, as well as gaming. Apple really outdid itself with the multitouch. Best of all, the price is actually reasonable, considering it's Apple. And if you take the time to compare the overall benefits with that of the iPhone, you'll find that the iPad is more worth its price tag.
On the downside, it's not widescreen, which makes it a no-go for serious hi-def movie fan boys like The Husband (I had to endure another lecture on aspect ratios and stuff while he argued his point). Flash support is non-existent. Typing can be potentially cumbersome if you're not in the right position, but I find that can be easily fixed with the iPad case (I'm hoping it comes with the package). It does seem impossible to use when you're walking or standing upright, though.
Oh, it doesn't have a camera, too, which is a negligible omission in my opinion. Just imagine trying to take a picture with it, ugh! But the name . . . Really, couldn't they come up with a better name than iPad? It sounds like a freakin' tampon.
For me, however, the pros definitely outweigh the cons, and the iPad is as good as sold in my book. The iPad might not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me. I read A LOT and I read quickly, so this means I won't have to take 20-odd books with me when I'm traveling. I can check my email and edit documents quickly if my boss needs me to when I'm away from Octavian. It's so skinny, I can easily stuff it in a handbag. And the 10-hour battery life means I will never, ever be bored again - or at least, I won't have any reason to be.
Oh, April can't come quickly enough! I will, of course, do my best not to cave in and get the wifi one in March, instead of waiting another 30 days for the one with both wifi and 3G. Hopefully, I can pick up a 32 or 64GB on my Singapore trip. I think I shall name Octavian's new best friend Agrippa, after the real Octavian's real best friend.
Know more about the iPad here, if you haven't already.
Update: So the 3G version needs a 'micro' SIM. For the moment, none of the Philippine telecom providers have this technology. It looks like I really might be going for the wifi model, after all.
