lately i was thinking about it. Is ipad is a must have gadget in this day and age. There is so much can be done with this little machine. When i travel around the one thing i miss is not able to access internet all the time. I actually look forward to go back to my hotel room so i can read my mails and go on PUA forum. Also its so much easier to explore a city with i pad as you get all the information you need a click away.

Want to know what others think about it?

No it's a toy, I've got a smart phone (galaxy s) for walking around with, I've got a laptop for easy use around the house and a desktop for if I'm doing any serious typing. I don't feel that I'm missing anything by not having a larger smart phone without the phone bit.

However if you want to sit around the house and do some basic web browsing, I guess it's a nice way to do this.

Still definitely not a must have though.

Yea but smart phones has limitations and there is so much can be done by ipad.

True they do have limitations, the screen size for one, but tablets also have limitations, I use both a smart phone and a proper computer. Tablets are basically extra large smart non-phones, admittedly I have heard there are some apps available for the iPad over the iPhone, but whatever.

Probably, but at what cost?

I've just bought a kindle and love it, £150 compared to £450, I have a laptop and an iphone, I see your point but don't get the price difference I suppose it comes down to why you want one.

But then again Kindle and i phone are no good in front of ipad 2. Then again depends what our individual needs are.

and disposable income

The Kindle is a dedicated e-book reader, it wins hands down for e-books. The iPhone is a phone/multi-function device. The iPad2 is a tablet, I guess you could compare it to the iPhone, but you need to factor in the differences in size, you get a more powerful device (though less powerful than a cheaper laptop) but it's less portable than the phone, and not that much portable than a laptop.

If I remember correctly, iPad 2 specs are the same as iPhone 4.. correct me if I am wrong though

I personally think iPads are a complete waste of time and effort and money and an iPad 3 would be a bad business move by Apple. Yes they look cool, and they have some cool dedicated iPad apps, and they are made by Apple, but cmon, the price tag?

I have a Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (Android) to cater for all my tablet needs (I just need a second battery cos Android is a drainer).. and a laptop and a desktop and an iPod touch 4g.. Works for me, just wish mobile data networks were better and I had more than 500mb data allowance (actually used it all this month without any tethering!)

I read the other day that Apple are releasing an iPod touch 3g (as in mobile data 3g) in September, which is basically an iPhone but without phone calls and texts.. I cannot see where they are going with this..

Also, blackberry are releasing new software on their phones next year allowing them to run Android apps. I cannot see where they are going with this.

I play chess, that is something i can't do on iphone also laptops take long time to boot and they are not very handy to carry around anyway. Watching video is not something you can do on iphone either. Apps like skype your buddy(which are free) are only available on i pad. Last not but not least ipad is a good way of being organised.

PS : I don't have to pay vat in Germany(thought worth mentioning).