Yes, I was one of ‘those’ lining up to have a play with the iPad when it got released here in Australia. I was a bit so-so about it all, but had to see for myself what all the fuss was (is) about. What I discovered was that it’s not so much about seeing for yourself, it’s about interfacing for yourself. That’s the thing with the iPad: it’s not just a viewer or a portal or a ‘web device’, it’s something that you interact with in feeling and touching. It’s not just about seeing.

I’m hooked. Unfortunately it’s beyond my means to buy one myself and so I’ve been living vicariously through first a lovely professor at uni, then my parents (I have visitation rights), and now a friend’s as I babysit her children. I’m currently updating this blog from it, and although I’m a bit frustrated that I can’t easily flick between apps and put in Flickr pics etc, I know it’s because I haven’t set up the back end of my blog to make that easy rather than a limitation of the iPad itself (athough multi-tasking in iOS 4 will be nice!). And sure, typing isn’t the easiest and the iPad’s corrective spelling can be annoying, but wow. I’m impressed!! I struggle to write extended text on my iPhone whereas this is a joy in comparison. I can see the iPad as being a practical tool in field work, especially observational work because it’s not as obtrusive as using a laptop and much easier to use than an iPhone.

Here’s hoping another team of students take up my iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad project next semester: I’m looking forward to trying out Jot It Down on this “magic and revolutionary device”!!