Note: I have 30+ years experience in Computing and Networking and occasionally feel the desire to give my opinion on things technical, for what it is worth. Since blogging involves the use of technology, it is necessary to stay on top of the technology.

FoxNews has that very question as their main story this hour. But before you rush out to buy the appliance that Apple wants you to believe is the Next Generation laptop, consider the limitations and price of the new device.

Apple has created some innovative products, no doubt. But the iPad is really nothing more than an enlarged iPhone with it’s brain removed. Or a small version of an airport internet kiosk.

It is a $900 Internet Browser and runs some Apple Apps. And while it is smaller than a laptop, it is still too large to fit in your pocket.

To get the top of the line model that includes Wi-Fi and 3G (AT&T Only!), you will pay almost $900 and $30 per month for unlimited 3G.

And it only has an on screen keyboard.

It does replace your iPod, but a pound and a half iPod is not that cool. And if you are a SmartPhone user, the iPad will do most everything your phone does except make phone calls. And if you do any actual computing, the iPad falls short.

So, if you decide to shell out the bucks for the new Apple toy, remember. On your next business trip, you will want to bring your iPad, of course. But you will also need your iPod if you plan to go walking or jogging, your phone, obviously, and a laptop if your job requires any major spread sheet or graphics type of work. And when you use the hotel internet to video conference with your family at night, the iPad has no camera, so fire up the laptop.

If you are a blogger, as I am, and on occasion live blog, as I do, this could be a lightweight alternative to a Laptop. But an on-screen keyboard is not something on which I would relish pounding out long blog posts. Again, the Laptop is my weapon of choice.

In short, the iPad is not quite as functional as either a SmartPhone or a Laptop. It really cannot not replace either. It is simply a tweener.

And since I will still need my SmartPhone AND my Laptop, why buy the iPad?

And I would then have to refer to my SmartPhone as my mini-iPad and my laptop as my maxi-iPad. That is something I just can’t do.

About Tom White

Tom is a US Navy Veteran, owns an Insurance Agency and is currently an IT Manager for a Virginia Distributor. He has been published in American Thinker, currently writes for the Richmond Examiner as well as Virginia Right! Blog. Tom lives in Hanover County, Va and is involved in politics at every level and is a Recovering Republican who has finally had enough of the War on Conservatives in progress with the Leadership of the GOP on a National Level.

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