iPad justification

$500+ for the new iPad. Worth it? 

For those Apple Fanboys who are liquid, absolutely! Bring on the 32Gb!! They buy anything and everything Apple. First iPhone - no brainer. Upgraded iPhone 3, 3G, 4, and 4S, of course! Same for the first iPad, iPad2, the new iPad. And I haven't even mentioned iMacs and MacBooks!

For those Apple users who know a superior product, who are not afraid to plunk down the cash for a full complement of iMac, MacBook, iPod and iPhone, they might be having a second thought before plunking down that wad for an iPad which in most ways is redundant, in terms of getting the job done on their other devices.

So, is the new iPad worth it? Could it be considered the "next big thing" to change your workflow, to reinvigorate those creative juices, to restore that excitement you felt when you discovered your first Apple product? Is the iPad the potential ground-breaking game-changer that the original Macintosh computer introduced a mere 28 years ago? 

I am one of those who bought my first MacBook Pro because I needed a computer that worked. After frustrating years of crashes and viruses, I needed something that I could count on and thus started my love affair with all things Apple. I was in line for the first iPhone, now owning a 4. My children have iMacs and multiple generations of iPods. We are a Mac family. But still, I struggle with this still new product - as stunning and useful as it is.

The new iPad - pricey enough to pay to send two kids to camp. Redundant enough in app and usage to question "what can it do that my phone and computer can't?"  Do I need it? No. I do not. Do I want it? Yes, of course I do. And as silly as this sounds - do I want to jump on the iPad bandwagon? Not really. I've never been a bandwagon jumper. I'm logical and practical. But...

The new iPad - after spending only a few minutes on it, perusing my best friend's (what seems like) endless pages of colorful apps, I am hooked. While my MacBook will always be my go-to, the iPad is slim, light and even more portable than my 15" MacBook. Even as wi-fi only, it's uses are myriad. I won't extoll is technical virtues here, you need only watch the promo video to find a host of reasons to purchse, but finding myself anywhere for hours on end, able to read, draw, play, write, take pictures, or create music is something that is outstanding and endlessly fascinating. 

So, is the new iPad - or any iPad for that matter - worth what seems like an exhorbitant amount of money in the short-term, offering a long-term commitment of quality, beauty and inspiration to be more, say more, do more? I can say for me, unequivocally, yes!