Six months with an iPad

Since getting my iPad in May, I've read about a dozen books and nearly all of those have been on my iPad. I'm happy to be able to download bestsellers, prize winners and literary works via Amazon Kindle. I shop from my couch on a Sunday morning and have the works synced within seconds to my iPad. The price is about a third of what I would pay for a print book. The reading experience is terrific: I particularly enjoy reading in bed.

I use my iPad for gmail, Facebook, Twitter, reading novels, checking the weather globally and reading aggregated news through various apps. Recently I've added my favourite reference sites to Flipboard and enjoy the magazine-style reading experience.

The battery lasts forever but I have had trouble with the home button: sometimes I can't toggle between applications, which I believe is a flaw with this version of iPad. Maybe the new operating system download will improve that - otherwise it's back to the shop for an exchange of device.

I have a wireless keyboard if I want to type for longer periods - maybe emails over a weekend, but most of the time I find the touchscreen keyboard practical enough.

I think the portability of iPad is good: it's light enough to carry in my handbag. I've discovered the pleasure of renting movies and watching these (on my couch). The elegant iPad case is useful for propping the device on a cushion and provides protection in transport.

All in all, I'm very happy with my iPad and recommend it highly as an alternative to a laptop or notebook.