Why I'll Get the iPad | Jared Hecht's Blog

Why I’ll Get the iPad

Do I need it? No. But I’m going to get it and I’ll use it everyday. Here’s why:

It’s affordable. $499-$829 with or without a 3G data plan is an astonishingly low price point. I was worried about a $999+ price range.
Reading - I need a device I can read on the subway everyday. I like to read the WSJ and NY Times in the morning and I can now do that with the iPad. I won’t be using this as a conventional eReader like the Kindle. For me, nothing will replace the feel of a real book. It’s just my personal preference.
Travel - I can hop on a plane with and iPad and leave my laptop and iPod at home. From what I can tell, this is the quintessential traveler’s device.
Entertainment & Gaming - I’m not an iPhone user (I refuse to use AT&T), but I do use my iPod touch for entertainment. My only gripe with the iPod is the small screen size. iPad solves that.
Web-browsing on the couch, in bed, and everywhere else - I bet 1.5 pounds feels a lot better than a hot laptop sitting on my lap.

That’s it. If I can do all of these things on a slick device and interface for $499-$829, then I’m sold. This won’t be my primary email or work device, but it will enable me to consume content to my hearts delight. And that’s all I want from it.