iPad doesn’t support phone calls. If you have an older iphone: Older iPhones use large SIM cards and the ipad uses small microSIM cards. You would have to cut your large sim card down to the microsim size, and put it in your iPad (you will need a needle to pop it out). You would need to buy a little adapter (sold on the internet) to make your small sim fit back into your iPhone (so, buy the adapter first!) But this isn’t a great long term solution, because, if you want to use the iPad as a GPS in the car you will not be able to use your phone quickly or easily until you switch them back out again. Here it is on Amazon: Microsim Adapter for Ipad Iphone4g Convert Micro Sim to Regular Sim Adapter

DO YOU WANT THE 3G INTERNET? Despite my little princess being vexed at Kim Possible hanging, the answer is yes. Certainly, its wonderful to have the 3G access. Everything about the iPad works better because its a bigger screen, and being able to access the internet (almost) anywhere is very, very useful for me. Now, the question begs to be asked: why the ipad at all? I have to say I originally joined the legion of pundits who said “hey, its just a big ipod touch” and “it won’t replace my laptop”. Certainly, this has to be the two most common things you hear people say about the ipad, right? And yes, that can be the truth you choose. iPad vs. Laptop: If your idea is to buy an iPad to replace your laptop, and get an external keyboard, and a docking station, and bla bla bla… then you will be disappointed. This is a different kind of device, and you can’t put a square peg in a round hole.

The iPad is for even more mobile computing than a laptop can provide. ***A laptop needs a desk. But the iPad doesn’t.*** Thats the point, and if its not compelling for you, then consider carefully before buying an iPad. iPad vs. iPod Touch: To say its just a big iPod touch is not really fair. The processor is much more powerful, allowing you to do a LOT MORE. You also get a big screen. And the 3g with this version. So to refuse to upgrade from the ipod Touch is similar to refusing to upgrade from a Kia Rio on the grounds that all other cars do the same thing. But the biggest reason the iPad+3G will work for you, is that after a few weeks with it, you will want learn how to make it work for you. You will *enjoy* using it and it will be easier to use. You will say “how can I change what I do so I can do it on the iPad” not “how can the iPad do exactly what I did before”.

For an example: here is a day with the iPad. I get up in the morning, and if I’m not being lazy, I get on the treadmill. I prop the ipad up on the treadmill while I walk. I watch some news video on the iPad, read some email, play a game, catch up on facebook. I’m usually not done with this after my walk, so I head downstairs. Its like carrying a magazine, its so easy. I bump into my daughter in the hall and show her a picture from her Grandmother, with the iPad securely held in only one hand. While I’m eating breakfast, and shaving, and brushing my teeth, I’m catching up on a book I was reading on my wife’s Kindle: using the kindle ipad app. Then I can use the iPad when I leave the house, in a myriad of ways that I would not use my iPod Touch or Laptop. And the iPad fits in the pocket in my car door. Its really never in the way

So far I have used the iPad to: 1) Watch streaming netflix movies. 2) Read books on iBooks and Kindle for iPad, both to myself and to my children. 3) Browse the internet without constantly having to use finger motions similar to “pinch” and “peace” (goodbye iPhone!). 4) My kids use it as an interactive coloring book at restaraunts. 5) I can control my laptop when I am away from home if something crucial comes up, as if I’m sitting at my laptop. 6) Move pictures from my digital camera to the iPad very quickly and easily (using the camera adapter, sold separately). Either for storage or for emailing. 7) Listen to Pandora internet radio anywhere in the house. (ok, I can’t really listen to “Crystal Method thump thump boom boom music” but most other music sounds good) 8) I have used the internet to teach my children things when we are away from the house (Daddy, where does the word “helicopter” come from?) 9) Watched owned or rented iTunes movies on my 42 inch LCD TV (using an adapter sold separately). The point of the above is that the iPad gives me more FREEDOM when computing, due to its small footprint and light weight.

What you can’t do on an iPad: 1) Multitask. You don’t really need all those windows open, but, we’re all used to that. 2) Print. 3) Use the iPad to connect to a TV and give a presentation. When you use the HDTV adapter, the iPad screen blacks out so you can only use this for movies. 4) See macromedia Flash based content online.

a lot of websites use this, like Hulu) Steve Jobs says 1 and 2 are coming, in fact, multitasking is on the new iPhone4 so it won’t be long. #4 will probably never come. If you need to use Flash websites, then, stick with our laptop. End of story. Oh and the battery…. The battery is consistently lasting all day, 12 hours, without a recharge. But, its important to note that MANY USB ports will not charge an iPad. None of mine will. Also, my cheap iPhone car charger will not charge my iPad. There has been discussion about this lately, apparently the charger or USB port has to actually provide the correct rated power. Most don’t provide enough power. But the battery lasts all day for me so this is not a negative. If the reasons above don’t help you make up your mind, consider Steve Wozniak’s recent comments about the iPad: “Everyone wants things to be simpler, and along comes this simple thing.” No viruses. No compatibity issues. No wondering why your iPad is so slow (Apple vets all software to make sure this doesn’t happen). No questionable upgrades.

No cryptic errors. All these things were things that took the joy out of computing for a lot of people. The iPad is such a simple thing. And thats why the average person will love it and prefer to use it instead of a computer. I’ll upgrade this to 5 stars if/when: 1) More powerful iPad apps come out 2) Multitasking 2 things at once is possible (at least web browser and word processing, or pandora internet radio app + any other app would be nice) 3) Some kind of printing would be cool, although, I’m ok with paperless, really…

There you have it. Not without flaws, but certainly more than just a glorified iPod Touch!3 Having spent some serious time with Apple’s iPad since its release, it’s easy to see how the device can stir up so much excitement and so much disappointment from all different angles with much less middle-ground.

People tend to either love it or hate it. I hope I can shed some light on the details of real-world iPad usage, not just blind claims like several non-iPad users seem to be screaming. I’ll detail all the benefits and the caveats of owning the device I’ve found so far, with hopes that you’ll get a clear picture of whether or not the iPad really is for you. I’m a mobile app developer who’s created apps and games for the iPhone, iPod Touch and now iPad.

Leading up to the announcement of the iPad, several rumors surfaced about Apple’s new tablet device within iPhone development circles. The big rumor was that it would likely be based on the iPhone OS (the operating system built for the iPhone/iPod Touch). I had a lot of mixed feelings about that though. Part of me wanted the iPad to be able to run standard Mac apps (which the iPhone OS simply cannot do), while the other part of me saw the potential for app developers to take full advantage of the iPad’s bigger screen and multi-touch interface on a whole new level, as iPhone/iPad apps generally aren’t available for the Mac or PC specifically. What this meant for future iPad users was the potential to do more with the iPad than you would be able to do with an ordinary Mac or PC, though there would be some compromise therein until Apple or other developers could create an app that would fill any gaps in functionality. When announced, I was fairly critical about how similar the iPad was to the iPod Touch.

Indeed it does seem like an oversized iPod Touch, especially with the overly huge icons (and excessive spacing between them) on the home screen. Only 4 additional apps per-screen are permitted on the iPad (24 total) than the iPod Touch (20 total). But while iPad isn’t without flaw, nor is it a complete laptop or desktop replacement by any means, it’s still certainly more than just a glorified iPod Touch. After spending some time with it, the differences quickly become evident. Neither is it a “Kindle killer” though it is certainly a great e-reader that will have a lasting effect on the future of digital books and publications. Moreover, there is a definite potential for the device to be useful beyond everything it is currently being touted as by Apple. Consider what the iPhone can do now compared to its first version with nothing but Apple’s standard iPhone apps (before the app store was created).

===== First Impression ===== Taking the iPad out of the box for the first time, you’ll come to realize just how touch-worthy the device really is. The slick screen reflects your glossy-eyed likeness as you gaze upon it and inhale in that one-of-a-kind scent synonymous with brand-new electronic gadgetry. Wrapping your hand around your new baby to embrace it for the first time, you find new meaning to the term “baby” because the back feels smooth like a baby’s butt. And there’s no doubt that this is exactly how Apple wants you to feel when unboxing the iPad for the first time. Right away, you’ll probably notice that it’s heavier than you might expect for such a slim device.

For a real-world reference, the weight is comparable to that of two 200-page magazines (or 400 pages). Why so heavy? This thing’s got two massive