For sale, net book, laptop and smartphone functions. IPad forces sale.

So, on the 28th May I promised a review for my ultimate impulse buy and general humble pie generating iPad.

The blog has Been suspiciously quiet on the subject since. Well, here is the review.

It's ok. 

I mean, if you want something that is very easily portable, as "always on" as any device can be, which pretty much fulfils every day to day computing task you can think of with an ease of use which makes it virtually ubiquitous and as addictive as a heroin sundae with crack coated cherries, then it's ok.

In the 3 weeks I've had it, net book, laptop and smartphone haven't been used. Well, the phone got used as a wifi-3G hotspot for the iPad until I got a mifi but I don't think that counts.

News, mags, comics, games, surfing, video, streaming, writing, tweeting and email all now done daily on the iPad. I haven't even bought a magazine this month except on the iPad. Which for a mag-addict like me is amazing. 

The only time I've resorted to an old fashioned computer is to sync/backup the iPad or to connect to work. And I'm reliably informed that there is a pilot in the works to allow me to do that from iPad too.

So is it perfect?

Er, no.

The glare on the screen is annoying at best, the lack of flash is quite obvious and annoying to some extent when browsing, the wifi can be a little weak and flaky at times, it's a bit heavy and I need to have a lint free 'specs' cleaning cloth near to hand at all times. Safari is a pretty rubbish browser and it SERIOUSLY needs the iOS4 update not due until "the fall", not least for folders but mainly. For multitasking which would make it even more useable. And the app pricing needs to be sorted. Bit of a piss take in some cases.

But all these things aside, it is obvious from the simple fact that I just don't use any of my other devices for anything but the most esoteric stuff and the ironic umbilical of iTunes on pc, that the iPad is the ideal 'computer' for everyday use. Unless you are some sort of uber power user it just does everything quickly, cleanly and, relatively, intuitively.

They are still a little overpriced in my opinion but then that's just the Apple tax, right? And the UK tax. Don't compare prices with the US if you are prone to depression.

So, in conclusion. Given that I didn't desperately want one, didn't have any love for apple or it's fanbois and sort of just bought one because I was there like sweets at the checkout, it's the best £429 I've spent on kit. Ever.

And next year, when the better, slimmer, faster, higher specced iPad 2 comes out I hope the queue outside curry's is as short as it was this time.

Kidding. ;0D