The only true thing I can see a use for, is showing clients photos on it for reviewing. As they can hand it around, as a single non-hinged item, unlike a laptop/netbook.

But for me, without a keyboard (really the on-screen one isn't a viable option IMO), it's useless. Rather have a high quality laptop, which has a good screen, and a multitude of other options.

I've never understood the fad with touch screens, ok it's fine on a small device, but I don't want finger-prints all over a large screen I'm using all the time to work with, it's distracting.

Wouldn't we all but you're not going to get a 'high quality' laptop with a multitude of other options for 400 quid. You're going to get a pretty average laptop. With a slightly fussy screen and a slow HDD and 4 hours battery life. And probably a pretty awful touchpad & keyboard...

The iPad is not meant to be a replacement for a 'power user' laptop. It's a 'low impact' device for people whose computing requirements are straightforward. It fulfills their requirements without having to worry about things like service packs and anti-virus and whether device drivers are signed or not.

Essentially, I can perfectly see why you find it hard to figure out a use for the iPad. That's because it's not designed to fulfill your or my needs. It's for people who's needs are (from your and my perspective) pretty trivial. They're almost 'under our radar'.


*shrug* can't really say, haven't used one yet.

By what chain of logic did they actually think that sentence would make people in Europe/Canada feel better?

I can see the iPad being a really cool commercial tool. Imagine turning up at a (rather fancy) restaurant, your menu is an iPad! The company can roll out an app which shows you their menu, they can change it as and when without replace a load of paper copies, you could potentially even pay via it...

Or what about going to the estate agents to look at houses? I've been to an estate agents before and looked at four or five houses each time, many of them I know before I walk in the door that I wouldn't want to live there. An iPad could give you a fairly nice device to show people around the house while still sitting in the office. Pick three of your favourites and go take a closer look in real life.

Even around the home I think it'd be really good for people who don't have huge computing needs. The Purple One's mam, for instance: she has a laptop, but it stays plugged in upstairs...An iPad would be perfect for her to keep in the living room, use it as a digital photo frame most of the time, and then when something interesting pop up on TV, pick up the iPad and go surf the web. No fuss, no running upstairs and missing half of Corrie or trying to remember what it was you saw on TV half an hour ago that you thought was interesting...

It has so many really cool uses, especially if it came down in price, it'd be fantastic to put them around the uni library as guides to the books and stuff.

Well that's what they say…

Yes and as soon as the first chav see it is gone.


We need fewer estate agents not more iPads in their offices.


That will probably be my main use for it.


I can see it used by models on a go-see rather than carrying a portfolio around. if they need the photos you can always return with the portfolio. You could have far more photos than the average waif model could carry in a portfolio.

It could be used for recruitment whereby an employer could do a short test which because it is all done in the office is impossible to cheat at and gives an instant answer. Great for bosses weeding out the BS merchants.

Exactly! I'm really excited at the possibilities of it.

That's what we have Sun Rays for (8-p)

It weighs 700g - not sure the average waif model could pick one up without breaking an arm . I can think of plenty of uses for one of these as well, and though it's irritating we won't be able to get our hands on them until the end of May, I'll still be buying.

Cheers, Pete.

Nice, our library uses some HP "thin clients", they run the OS on the little box next to the machine...Blasted FAKE things!

Erm, sorry about that...My point was, you could walk around with iPads, for a portable Sun Ray, you'd have to go third party...

They will probably have trolleys to carry them. Though I think that they will still be lighter than a full portfolio.

Don't they have little dogs for that? They could have the dog pull a little cart or something.

Well they can't use cats to do it.

Pee-Wee gets an iPad

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