andsoitgoes

Okay, so I'm on almost 2 weeks of having the iPad.

I do say, without question, that this is the most fun I've had out of any electronic device I've owned.

Yes, it's and oversized iPod Touch.

Yes, the OS is very locked down and limiting. There are some things that I'd love to do, but I can't. I want to stream my iTunes library while I'm connected at home. I would like to have file system access. I would like, yes, flash and multitasking.

Even with progams like, well, Last.fm, I can't keep loaded while I do other things. Or chat/IM programs. I move onto something else and I'm done. That to me is stupid, but iOS 4.0 will change that and I can always install the Backgrounder application to kluge it for the time being.

However, even without those things, this device makes me smile every time I turn it on. The screen is beautiful. The browsing is magical. I almost never want to touch my PC again because, well, it's just not as FUN.

The games are great. Loading up Angy Birds, Doodle Jump, etc... I never considered myself a casual gamer, per se, but these draw me back.

And even typing on the on-screen keyboard is far better than anyone could expect. Because of the large text size, it works so amazingly well. I've never felt comfortable on a touch screen keyboard, but this one I do. Hell, I can even do full typing in landscape mode without even blinking an eye.

And comics. OMG. Comics. Being able to view comics is like what this device was made to do. I read through a few different comics now and every one is just great. I've got more to read and I can't wait to do it.

I could easily do most of this on a netbook, but it's not as fun. Everything is slower. I can stream high quality video without blinking. I can flip the screen from landscape to portrait without a moment of hesitation. I can flip it so the speaker is higher to the top, and still see everything I'm doing.

And the sound quality is more surprising than you'd expect with the one speaker. Sure you're not going to get the effect of sound going left to right, but the quality is clear and just... well, good.

What else... well, everything? The thing carries so nicely in my little murse/netbook bag along with the keyboard. And without it, just with the Apple case, it's a dream. The apple case, although it lacks, well, anywhere to put anything, keeps it thin, thin, thin. It's great and it makes life so much easier, it provides a good, solid grip.

The biggest gripe I think I have is the volume keys inside the case. It's a bit of a PITA, but hardware wise, I think that's really the only frustration. And that's just more due to the case design around those buttons.

I urge anyone, anywhere that is thinking about a netbook for just random web surfing and a few school articles/papers to look into this + a keyboard. I've used Netbooks and I don't like them.

I've used the iPad and I love it. Hell, I can play oodles of games on it with my kids.

Me likey. Anyway, look at getting it, seriously. I can't imagine anyone regretting the decision if they can put up with some issues.

Yes, it's a giant iPod Touch, but is that really a bad thing? And it's so much more. Faster. More accessible..

Damn it, this thing is the bomb. Seriously, almost 2 weeks and I would prefer to just spend hours doing... well, whatever on it.

Now back to reading Scott Pilgrim before I go to bed... and maybe a game of Doodle Jump. I'd really like to surpass 20k...

Sigh.