When I saw the first iPhone, I just had to have it. I'd been saying for a few years that someone should come up with a digital photo display that was sharp and portable, something that I could carry around and show my various projects to prospective clients. What I really wanted was a device that was about 5x7", same size as a standard print. Well, the iPhone wasn't that big, but it sure had a sharp, clear display, and it did so much more, including being a phone. I loved it, but never really got around to using it for the intended purpose. Mostly had pics of the kids and grandkids, a few boats, etc. Seemed like what my wife would really like: MP3 player, digital photo display, personal organizer, calendar, alarm, web browser, e-mail manager, etc. But she had a work phone that was paid for, and the data plan was $30/mo. at the time.
The minute I saw the iPad I knew I was going to get it for my wife for her 50th birthday. It would do almost everything the iPhone did except make calls and take pictures. The display was huge, the picture quality breathtaking, bigger touch screen (and a bigger keyboard), eBook and Kindle ready. She'd been wanting a Kindle for a couple years now, and this seemed like the ultimate Kindle. Seemed the perfect way to say, "I love you" for her big BD. Then I went into the Apple store with her, just to get her drooling over it. The plan was to get her to want it bad and then shock her with it. Oops! She didn't like it. Too big, too heavy. Keyboard was hard to type on (she touch types at blinding speed), not easy to carry around. I was crushed, and I didn't have a backup plan.
I decided to get her the Kindle, but I had just gotten a new iPhone and I put the Kindle app on it and downloaded a couple books. She was impressed. Even though the screen was small, she didn't mind scrolling through the pages more frequently. I had to fight with her to get my phone back. So I got her one for her birthday and saved myself $300 over the iPad. She loves the thing. When they come out with the smaller iPad, I'm going to want one, but the way it is right now it's too big for my taste. I want something that will fit into a jacket pocket, with a camera, hopefully with a phone. In the meantime, we are both hooked on the little marvels that we have. Dazzling display, 5 MP camera, HD video, numerous apps, and best of all...
Angry Birds. %-P