iPad 2: Just a Hyped Up E-Reader?

Since the launch of the iPad 2, my husband and I have had ongoing conversations about whether or not to buy one. We would always reason that we did not need it and that we could do the same things on our computers or phones. Basically, we’d feel materialistic if we bought one. Period.

At one point we even tried to allay our want by getting an Amazon Kindle for FAR less (never leave your husband and daughter for together time – they may come home with new electronics…). We really liked it but found that it was not our cup of tea. While it was much more sanitary than borrowing books from the library, it was certainly more expensive as books to download were on par with prices to own a hard copy. Several of the items we wanted to read were not available in this format and took extra time to convert to the right one. Plus, the plain e-ink display was clear but painfully boring. At first days, then weeks, our Kindle sat unused in it’s very cool green cover. It was evident that, even with the lower price, this e-reader was not a worthy investment for us.

With the upcoming release of the Kindle Fire, we again revisited the tablet discussion. After weighing several pros and cons including apps available, usage needs, and size vs. functionality we decided that the iPad could actually be an asset in our household.

One condition in buying an iPad was that we first sold our Kindle to use those funds toward the new purchase. Fortunately, for us, we were able to sell the Kindle for very close to the price we originally paid before the ‘new’ price for the Kindle dropped a couple of weeks later (sorry to the buyer but thank you).

Verdict? We love our iPad 2 and use it daily. Well, not so much me as it is with my husband and daughter. My husband watches the news and comedy skits, reads online magazines, checks email, does research, studies articles, keeps in touch with family and close friends, etc. My daughter does her math homework on the iPad, looks up definitions while reading, plays games, draws, and more. I will periodically refer to weekly ads, pull up driving directions, or jot down blogging notes. All in all this has proved to be a wise purchase for us. Since we bought the iPad the use of our laptop is close to null, though we still need it when traveling.