Yes, I am one of the two million people who have already purchased an IPad, and I love it! As an early adopter, I sometimes don't know what the benefits of my early techie purchase will be until it gets used for some time. Well, let me tell you, this new IPad has the capability of not only replacing my laptop, but my entire briefcase!
First of all, I have discovered an app that allows for note taking right on the device, it is called Penultimate. Notepad is gone!
I discovered an app that allows me to download files from my desktop called Dropbox (yes, I know, real techies will not be impressed with that find).
MS Word and Excel work fine on the device, Keynote/Powerpoint is still a bit of a challenge.
Only one cord is needed and no big power supply for the laptop, and the battery really does last 10 hours. So the is no need to schlep around a power cord on daylong or overnight meetings.
Bottom line - I have been on the road for a few days now and have not needed to haul out the laptop (I am carrying both to be safe on this trip, but not the next trip).
No laptop, no big cords, ability to download files anywhere anytime via 3G = an early retirement for my briefcase and all of the stuff in it. Imagine if a few people per flight were able to replace the laptop and briefcase combo with just an IPad? A few pounds less flying, perhaps 30 to 40 pounds per flight times hundred of flights per day...do the math.
Perhaps an airline should reward people for coming onboard with only an IPad and no briefcase? Ha...we can dream.