With Apple bringing out the new iPad, our techies were fighting over the chance to try one out, shame that the PR girl got to road test it instead……. Here are a few advantages and disadvantages!

There is no doubt that the Apple iPad looks sleek and impressive but is it just a must-have gadget or can I throw away my netbook? Designed to look like a large iPod touch, many criticised Apple for not bringing out a fresher look but for all iPod touch fanatics it’s a breeze to use.

The Apple iPad is small and portable and would definitely fit in my handbag which is a big tick. It is easy to carry from office to office, room to room with little effort, only weighing a small 1.5 pounds.

Battery life is around 10 hours, depending on your usage which I have to say, is much better than my netbook which lasts for about 4 hours.

It loads quickly, so no waiting around when you are in a hurry.

The e-books application is a big hit, I have to admit I love reading and to me there is nothing better than the smell of an old book, but it is probably the next best thing.  Realistic page turning graphics, new releases and a large screen make the experience pretty easy.

It’s easy to watch videos, Youtube already installed and raring to go and if you need a beverage, take the iPad with you, no need to pause anymore.

So, what are the down sides?

There is no SMS application so you don’t have the ability to text.

It doesn’t boast a camera either so although it looks similar to an iPod touch, it doesn’t have all the functions.

There is no capability for video conferencing which forces it to sit in the home category rather than use in the office.

Whilst the iPad could be viewed as a portable access point for the internet it does not have Adobe Flash capability, which means not all websites are viewable.

There is no USB port.

No capability for a memory card which means if you require more memory you will have to purchase a more expensive model.

Often needing the ability to multi-task, my netbook allows me to have several screens open at one time; this is not possible on an iPad.

Being a touch typist I wasn’t looking forward to the virtual keypad, it was easier to use than I expected but I did have to rest it on my knee to type, meaning I had to look down. You can buy a wireless keyboard to use with your iPad but then again this is more expense.

WiFi is not completely stable.

There is no denying that the iPad will go from strength to strength. At the moment my choice would have to fall with my netbook in terms of functionality. As the iPad develops though, I would definitely consider investing in one in the future.

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