The Un-official iPad Review

Or the computer.

Now, I have an iPad. Even though I was initially excited about the iPad, I hesitated to buy one because I just couldn’t see how I needed it. But still the (much more official) reviews insisted it was the harbinger of necessary technology. It would redefine media and movies and music and mail. It would blow my mind at the beauty of the Internet.

I wasn’t sold.

How can the Internet be any more beautiful than providing ANY information at the click of a cursor? And why does it have to be beautiful for me to look up Sam’s soccer schedule? Yes, the iPad’s media capability may be cutting edge, but do I need cutting edge when most of the songs I love were recorded more than three decades ago? By country music singers in beer halls?

I couldn’t spend $600 on a “pad” for t.v. and movies when we don’t watch them on our plasma screen in the living room.

But my laptop was old. And very cruel. I was tired of kindly asking the temperamental diva to do things like open documents, only to have her shut down for a catnap. And with a book due, I needed to be able to leave my house (and four kids that are usually attached to me) to write.

So, I took the plunge.

Now for the review you’re reading this for (actually, probably not, I mean, there are lots of official people who have reviewed the iPad who listen to more than music recorded in beer halls three decades ago)…

The iPad is fun and with the right apps it’s also productive. Of course finding those apps wastes hours (oh, the irony). I bought a wireless keyboard and Pages and can hammer out a document in a few minutes. And it’s very portable. I can check Sam’s soccer schedule while breastfeeding and ponytailing Ellie’s hair.

But you have to wonder, is all that convenience really necessary? Only time will tell if having all these apps and the “beautiful” internet next to me constantly will really simplify my life–or make me more dependent.

For now, I’m not sure.

And that’s official.