Over the last few weeks, I’ve been really debating, and trying to justify the purchase of an iPad.  I don’t need the 64g model with 3G, just the simple Black 16gb WiFi would be just fine for my needs, which I have yet to fully determine.

I’ve been saying since they came out, that I didn’t need one, I had the desktop, laptop, and DROID to use, plus a handful of WinX laptops laying around.  On the flip side, I’ve recently been trying to ‘simplify’ my daily life.  I don’t have too much free time at night after supper, working on client projects etc, and continuing to sit in my home workspace vs. being social doesn’t seem wise.  On the other hand, sitting on the couch with my laptop (which also gets mighty warm on the lap) – It is a 5 year old laptop afterall.

My thought for the iPad was, something I can quickly pick up and put down, check news, gossip on FB and track some stuff at home like my foods and exercises (as mentioned to me by a co-worker) – Something I mainly track on my DROID now, which is a bit cumbersome.  I could also use it a bit with some of my video work for odd tasks such as timers and audio recording, something I currently have to lug my laptop along for.  Turns out I can keep tabs on my TV stuff at home, and watch shows via the iPad, (which might be nice sometimes, as I don’t have a TV in my workspace, or also to look up new meals in the kitchen (don’t forget the screen cover)

I could see a valid use for it at the office, using it in meetings etc to take notes.  I rarely if ever undock my laptop to take it to meetings.  Primarily because it’s always connected and doing some sort of task where I cannot drop the net connection (and WiFi isn’t an option for what I’m doing) Also, I can keep an eye on some of my tasks that I monitor during the day as well.

One big positive that a co-worker mentioned to me, was use it to review photos when you’re out shooting.  The little LCD on the back of the camera doesn’t due justice, and the last time I went shooting, again, lugging that 5yr old laptop was a pain, especially since the battery was not lasting long.  – For a weekend camping with a backpack only, light=good.

I’m sure I can find many more uses, but I’m trying to moreso justfiy the cost of it than the actual ‘having’ of it.  I’ve got a stash of spare parts I can offload on Craigslist to subsidize a portion of the cost, so I guess if I can come up with 1/2 the cost of one via selling stuff, that should be doable.

Any of you with iPads have any other great ideas of why I should have one (BESIDES Angry Birds)? – Or, do you have a reason NOT to get one..

Tags: Apple, iPad, iPad2, Laptop, Mac, Photography