[kissyfish]

I have had numerous eink devices for a few years now, my main goal was to be able to carry around a lot of documentation easily, as I am often referring to regulation/best practices and project plans/reviews (security architect, IT security).

I originally bought a sony, but the pdfs did not work for me well, got an iliad ($799 is I am not mistaken, could have been less, but it was quite a bit), I loved that it ran linux, and when they gave shell access I was elated, they were porting things like staroffice to it, and chess, etc.

But it still was not adequate for my pdfs.

I was given an ipod touch for a gift, and when I was able to hook it up to itunes, which managed my podcasts for me, and gave me some PDA functionality as well, I was very happy, email, calendar, weather, etc.

But still no PDFs, I wanted a bigger format of the ipod touch, it turns commodity services like email and all into an appliance which I don't have to manage.

Voila, the ipad comes around, and I preorder, fully expecting to be disappointed, but, I now have my thousands of pages of documents on me always, for $10 I can bring docx files back and fourth to work, do some light editing from my easy chair (via pages), check my email, surf the web, and read newspapers. I did convert the PDFs to epub, which worked very well for me.

And I now only have to haul 1.5 pounds of slimness in my briefcase, and still have room for my lunch (I walk to and from work).

I like the eink better for reading, though lack of color can be problematic, but not devastating, but I am happy as a clam.

Also, do not get me wrong, I don't like the control over the apps apple has, but if that buys me some stability and security, I am ok with it. I do VOIP open source development as a hobby, and I am a BIG proponent of open source, but sometimes I just want do do simple things simply and not have things too overcomplicated. There is an elegance to simplicity.