Goddess, I Am.

Since the release of the iPad was announced months ago, I have been dying to get one. That took a while because I finally decided (after changing my mind a gazillion times and after just as many sleepless nights) to wait for the 3G version. Not only that, I had to literally go through hell and high water just to get one from the US because I couldn’t wait for the local release.

To make a very, very, VERY long story short, I finally had my spanking new 16GB 3G iPad in my grubby hands on the second of July, hooray! I know, I know. That’s almost a full month ago. You’d think I would’ve sent out baby shower invitations in my excitement, but these days, I’ve got very little time to blog, let alone throw a shower for a gadget. (Not that I really would, but you get the picture.)

But I digress. Everyone, meet Agrippa.

Isn’t he gorgeous? ♥♥♥

For anyone who might be wondering why I’ve named my iPad ‘Agrippa’, here’s a little history lesson. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was the best friend and son-in-law of the Roman Emperor Augustus, also known as Octavian, which, incidentally, is the moniker I’ve given my Macbook Pro. Aside from the this little bit of history, Agrippa also happens to be one of my favorite Romans because he’s absolutely brilliant and kinda sexy, for a dead guy. Methinks I couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate name for the iPad.

Moving on, Agrippa is everything I absolutely wanted and needed. I’m not going to go into an in-depth review because the iPad is one of those gadgets that have been reviewed to death. But to sum up my entire iPad experience, all I could say is: “Agrippa, where have you been all my life?”

Much like my first born, Octavian, Agrippa also needs to be outfitted and accessorized. And I’ve been shopping for this gadget even before he got here. Here’s what he has . . . so far:

1. Hot pink Audio-Technica Onto headphones.

I love Onto headphones. I already have a perfectly good pair of white ones that I’ve been using for months, but when I saw this limited edition hot pink pair in an HMV in Singapore, I just could not resist. (I mean really, they’re black and hot pink!)

This baby sat patiently at the back of my closet for almost 3 months, just waiting for Agrippa. I had to keep it out of sight; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to resist it that long.

2. Pink leather folio case, an eBay find.

I love this case, I really do. Mostly due to the pink that its pink perfectly matches the pink on the headphones. (How girly does that sound???) Also, it has this really soft suede interior that’s really nice to the touch.

My only gripe about it is that it opens at the bottom and the iPad tends to slide out somewhat. I don’t use it as much now because it gets a bit uncomfortable. I wish it opened at the side, like a book, which is why I’m now trying to convince The Husband, my shopping police, to let me buy this and/or this. Still, the pink is breaking my heart.

3. Glittery iPad hard back case.

Trust me, it glitters. Those little white dots are actually little crystals, while the black base is faux leather. I found this in an obscure little shop in Sham Shui Po in Hong Kong. The little old lady selling it won’t give me a discount, so I walked away, thinking that I’ll find it cheaper elsewhere (like everything else in Hong Kong). I didn’t, so I had to go back the next day, tail between my legs, to get it. Thankfully, said little old lady wasn’t there because it was her husband’s day to mind the shop, tee hee.

4. Red leather sleeve from Powerpee.

This is my newest acquisition. Because I’ve started using the pink case less and less, I needed a sleeve that would fit both the iPad and its sparkling back case for whenever I go out. I belong to the PhilMUG forums, and this guy, Powerpee (aka Perry), came highly recommended.

I love, love, LOOOOVE this leather manila air sleeve! It’s so classy and soft, and it even smells good! And it fits the iPad with the back case perfectly, too, so it’s everything I wanted. I’m so happy that he had a red one left. It matches the glittery black case to a tee.

(I opted for red because The Husband was starting to look a bit sick from all the pink stuff lying around the house. I had to show mercy on the poor man!)

5. Wrapsol.

It doesn’t show, but Agrippa is completely wrapped – both front and back – in Wrapsol. This was rather pricey and I nearly balked, but it’s absolutely necessary. Now I rest easy, knowing that Agrippa is completely protected from scratches and from me, in general. Tee hee.

6. Apps and Books from iBooks.

There’s only one thing I can say about these nifty little things that make Agrippa an even happier iPad: they’re going to send me to the poorhouse. Strangely enough, it’s the free ones that are driving me nuts, like Harbor Master HD, a bunch of classics from iBooks and my newest acquisition, the Diablo-like Underworlds. Kill me now, please?

And it doesn’t end there – yet. I’m still waiting for The Mother to get me a Camera Connection Kit from Canada (because they’re still overpriced on eBay). And hopefully, The Husband will let me get another purrty folio case that actually opens the right way this time.

But on the bright side, that’s my gadget fix for the year. At least, I like to think so.

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.