Let me start off with these simple comments: I am not now, have never been and never will be an Apple Fan Girl.  I don’t worship tech. I don’t worship tech companies.  I give every platform, every gadget, every piece of technology the same opportunity to underwhelm me.  I am extremely picky about the devices I choose to purchase.  Each one must have a real usage in my life, making it simpler and better or I won’t own it.  I am geeky without a doubt, but I am a discerning geek.  I am also not an early adopter of anything and never have been.

Until now.

I openly admit to being impressed with the unveiling of the iPad.  Jobs was effective in his evangelization of the device, but like usual, we discussed waiting for the 2nd or maybe even 3rd generation before owning one.  This wasn’t because of the features and functionality that the ubergeeks decried as criminally absent from the device. This was a practical, logical decision based on budget and need.

Fast forward to Saturday, April 3, 2010.  We’re home alone, enjoying a teen-free morning, and HE says, “Do you think we could swing by the Apple Store just to check it out?”  ~eyebrow raised~  Flashbacks of the iPhone purchase of December 2009 ensued.

For my husband, “checking out” technology is like me “test driving” cars. If we’re going, we’re buying.  The banter ensued, and we headed out the door with the full knowledge that an iPad would be coming home with us.

The wait wasn’t bad.  We arrived after the store opened, stood in the unreserved line, and waited about an hour to enter the store.  I must admit – my heart skipped a bit when the people in front of us entered the store and WE WERE NEXT!!  The service was excellent.  Apple got it right:  Smart Water for those in line, a personalized buying experience with absolutely no rush, and well-trained, efficient and charming representatives of everything iPad.

Then came that moment – the one where our salesman asked: So which model do you want?  As if in a dreamstate I heard James say: “We’ll take two.”  Eh….what?  Having a serious Talking Heads moment I was thinking, “How did I get here?”

Some time later we walked out, each with our own Apple stamped bags and a list of other stops to make before heading home, including a stop at Best Buy where we played with the iPads they had on display. Don’t ask.  I have no clue why we didn’t go home right away.  I think it was self-punishment for a totally unplanned splurge purchase of mortgage payment size.  “SUFFER!!  YOU MUST WAIT!!!”  After 10 other stops we finally headed back to the house.

With a bit of a squeal, I ran to my room, plopped on the bed and began the process of setting up what I now call my iRad (yes, I’m an uberdork). Let me give it to you straight from the mouth of the geek: It’s exactly the “middle” device I have been craving.  From the moment you unbox it, it sings. It comes fully charged. It comes with the same interface functionality you are used to from your iPod Touch or iPhone.  And baby, it’s screaming fast.

Let me set one thing straight – this is not and will never be – a device that replaces my computer.  I have a 17″ gamer laptop that we use to design websites and for any heavy lifting that I may need to do.  But I can’t lug that beast with me from place to place without a sherpa.  It’s not conducive to doing much of anything other than working.  I cannot stand netbooks. They are too tiny and too sluggish.  I love my iPhone but it’s just so…well…small.  As handy as it is, it still isn’t big enough to do the things I really want to do on my laptop but don’t because it’s so cumbersome and unwieldy.

The iPad is the perfect device for entertainment, light work and some design.  I’ll let the design guy speak more about those items since he’s the designer and I’m more of the coder/back end type, but I will say flat out that I am impressed with the offerings already available for design.

I have tested apps like Rock Band and Tap Tap Radiation.  These are awesome light gaming apps that are fun and will not disappoint.  The iBook app is wonderful.  I have already combed through the free offerings and have downloaded some awesome classics that I have been wanting to reread.  I am excited about the expansion of cookbooks for the iBook app.  It will be fantastic in the kitchen when I’m cooking.

I haven’t spent too many hours surfing for apps. I’m one of those one app at a time types, so I’m slowly winding my way through the store to see what’s available and what intrigues me.  I did I spend hours on the NYT Crossword puzzle app which is another fantastic free app.  I downloaded but haven’t tested Netflix yet, but the ABC app is awesome.  And just this morning, I had the chance to watch a few minutes of Star Trek on the iPad. I have to say that I was blown away.

While the DRM concerns from the masses are valid, I am willing to deal with this because the device is truly the one thing I was missing from my arsenal. Yes, yes, yes, whiny ubergeek haters, it’s a locked up, unexpandable device.  And??  Exactly.  You just have to find something to bitch about because it isn’t some sort of linux box with unlimited open source possibilities that allows you to completely bastardized the pure simplicity of something that is clearly not meant for you.  Boo freaking hoo. Qwitcherbitchin and move along now.

I’m a big time geek. There are things that I love about being able to build my own computer, tear things apart, hack and reassemble, program and enhance.  But that’s not – read it again – THAT’S NOT – what this device is for and it was never intended to be that thing.  Apple knows who they are, they have their vision and they aren’t willing to compromise it because there are a bunch of bitchy tech snobs who think they should get whatever they want just because they say so.  Apple is Apple.  Love them or hate them.  Your choice.   Make your own tablet and sell it to your goober geeky coder friends who need to tinker and leave the rest of us to love what has been delivered.

I don’t need to tinker with the iPad. It’s perfect for what it is and what it is meant to do.  Is it perfect for you?  Swing by and check one out.  We’ll be upgrading to the 3G or 4G version (whatever is available) when the next gen comes out.  We actually do need that portability for our business, but for now, we are happy with this amazing piece of technology.  I count it as one of my best purchases ever.

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