Day 1 - The iPad

I have always been somewhat of a tech junkie. I remember saving up my money for months to buy my first PDA when I was in Jr. High. What I was going to do with a PDA in Jr. High is a mystery to me now, but I've always liked being an early adopter. Maybe it fills some need for me psychologically or maybe I just have a fascination with new technology. Either way, When I first read about Apple's newest portable computing device, the iPad, I was highly intrigued. I have never been a huge Mac fan. I love iPods, but I've never felt the need to pony up the big bucks for one of their PCs. That being said, the more I work with the iPad the more of an Apple fan I have become.

In the interest of time, I'll keep my first post brief. I've got a test in about an hour so I won't be posting my full review yet, but I'd like to say a couple things about my new device. First, it can not take the place of your primary computer. Just not possible yet. The OS is far too limited, but it is an excellent companion to your desktop or larger notebook computer. File transfers are quick and easy, and the ipad's pop-up keyboard is surprisingly easy to use for typing notes. Second, it is surprisingly fast. Third, it is NOT just a bigger iPhone or iPod touch. Yes, it runs off basically the same app-based OS, but it's comparatively massive screen and significantly faster processor put it in a whole new class of emerging devices.

As a final note, I'd like to say that I am sold on tablets as the future of portable computing. Whether Apple's iPad or another soon-to-be-released Windows based tablet, this is where portability will truly meet functionality. It would surprise me if college students and businessmen didn't replace their clunky laptops with tablets within the next 5-10 years. The size and ability to hand-write information onto the screen itself make this class of devices much more akin to an actual paper notebook than a laptop, and once some of the early competitors start appearing in the marketplace, these devices will improve quickly and drastically.