Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="WizarDru" data-source="post: 5361417" data-attributes="member: 151">I listed myself as 'owning one' but that's not true, strictly speaking.  My employer purchased one for me to use and get familiar with as I need to support them.  I've had mine for about a two months, now.  I said, before I got one, that "I'd love for someone to buy me an iPad, but I'd never spend that much on one."  I didn't realize that would actually happen.I find the iPad is the best device for certain tasks, a workable device for some tasks and totally inappropriate for other tasks.  Understanding which is which and where those tasks fall on your value scale is what would determine how useful and worthwhile the iPad is for you.I use mine in several ways:Web-browser:  really, this is one of the best devices handy for this.  It's big enough to render screens properly and while the lack of flash can hurt sometimes, it's super convenient to just reach over, wherever I am, grab the iPad and just browse.  With 3G active, this is very handy on the road (something I can't do with my laptop or netbook).  Without it, it's still a lightning-fast browser that I can take virtually anywhere.Video watching: between the built-in Video apps and the far more versatile VLC app, I can play just about anything I want on the iPad.  I currently have all three episodes of "Sherlock" and some DVD-rips (of movies I own) as well as iTunes-imported digital copies of BluRays I own.  I have video podcasts, as well.  VLC did choke on the Professor Layton movie, but you can't have everything, I guess.  Netflix on the iPad KICKS ASS.DMing: Having the compendium in my lap and able to walk around the room with it, as well as PDFs of the latest issues of Dragon, Dungeon and whatever else I need?  Handy.  Dice rolling?  I eschew such apps.  I own DICE. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Apps: though not quite as handy as the iPhone for informational apps, some apps are equal or better on the iPad.  Wikipanion or IMDB, for example,  provide very nice interfaces to their respective websites.  Flipboard is fantastic for aggregating my social and news feeds into a e-magazine.PDFs: My company's main impetus for getting the iPads was the take the large number of printouts and PDFs our marketers use and translating them into PDFs to carry on the iPad.  I use GoodReader for work documents and personal ones, including issues of Dungeon and Dragon, downloaded from DDI.Gaming: Board games, in particular, are experiencing a burst on the iPad.  Angry Birds HD is fun, but games like Small World, Reiner Knizia's Samurai and Dungeon Solitaire make it a great 'take with you' game platform.  Heck, Reiner Knizia has so many of his board games translated to the iPhone and iPad that he's virtually his own category (latest game: Medici HD).What I DON'T use the iPad for:e-Reader:  I have Nook Wifi and it's swell...and I have no desire to replace it.  The screen is easy on the eyes, it's lightweight and durable.  If I DO want to read stuff on the iPad...I have the nook app. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Access to specific websites: the lack of flash and some other technologies means I CAN'T use the iPad for stuff like maintaining my account at Xbox-Live, for example.Word Processing: while the iPad is suitable for short e-mails and texts...that virtual keyboard simply won't do for more involved work.Interfacing with cameras and usb devices: without an adapter, can't do it.  Although there are apps out there to get around that limitation, such as Disk Aid+.Having had one for two months, would I give it up?  If they asked me to pay $850 for it, yes.  But failing that, I think it's a swell piece of kit.  Maybe when the second one comes around.</blockquote>

Verification