I've been using my iPad, series 1, for over a year. I'm very happy with it. If you are a long-time PC user though, you need to get used to thinking about storage and files differently. You can't manipulate files on the iPad with the operating system. There is no tree structure of folders containing files that you can see directly as you can with Windows on a PC.

However, programmers can write applications that manipulate the file structure and there are many thousamds of application programs (APPS) available for very low cost. Since the iPad is primarily oriented toward storing and providing access to pictures and music, the standard file types used on PC's can be stored and used. I scan my collection pages at 200 bpi and store them as slightly compressed (25%) JPG files. I do this on my laptop PC using a standard photo color scanner (Epson V500). The hardest thing to understand when I got the iPad was how I could get these onto the Apple device and quickly find a view a chip. The APP that provided the solution is called Photo-sort. It was written by a guy in Europe and there have been many upgrades and improvements in the past year or so (all free to those who bought the APP).

Photo-sort implements a file structure within the APP and stores all data (JPG files in this case) within the program, not as data on the iPad as such. The method used to get the files from your PC to the iPad is called FTP, a standard protocol used by most internet applications to exchange data between devices. You put your iPad into a mode called FTP Server; this is part of Photo-sort and one tap gets you into this mode. You then connect your PC to the same network and use FTP (present on all Microsoft operating systems) to "drag and drop" your JPG files onto the iPad. You can have them in a folder structure up to 2 levels deep; I have a top level folder called 2011Chips, within that, folders named according to the type of collection (like California $2.50 chips), and within each of those the scanned pages of my collection.

Once your scans are in the Photo-sort application, you use the iPad taps and gestures to select folders, select files, open files, and enlarge or shrink photos. I can easily enlarge on chip on a page to fill the screen, making the chip about six inches in diameter. You can see everything you could with the chip in front of you. I scan both sides of a 30 pocket page so, with a couple of taps, you can see both sides of a chip.

Note that there is no text database in my system. I don't type in any descriptions, catalog numbers, or casino names. You find everything as if you had the binders in front of you and were paging through them by hand. I typically takes about 15 seconds to zero in on a chip, and as a bonus, you get to see all the similar chips that are on your collection page.

I have the smallest RAM size offered and it is more than enough. There is no disc drive; everything is stored in Flash memory. You can turn on your iPad and get to work in about 5 seconds. There is a "reboot" process, but even that takes less than a minute and you need it only if something happens that you can't easily recover from. I reboot maybe once a week or two to keep things clean.

There is no USB connector. Another revision to your thought process on computers required. There is a single universal Apple connector that you use to connect and Sync with your PC; if you have an Apple laptop, or a high-power USB on your PC, this connector will also charge your battery. Otherwise, there is an a.c. charger to recharge your batter from the wall socket. The battery lasts about 4-5 hours on a charge. You cannot replace the battery yourself. Mine still works fine after a year and a half of daily use.

I also use the iPad as a book-reader (many inexpensive books to download on line) and to read the daily newspaper. You should not plan to buy an iPad as your only computer; you still need a computer at home to provide sync'ing, scanning, etc. If you think of the iPad as a visual and audio tool that's small and easy to use, you'll do fine. You can browse the web with it, but I find it harder to use than a PC laptop with a hardware keyboard. There is an on-screen keyboard that works, but you can't really touch-type on it. I bought the external Apple keyboard ($65) that connects wirelessly via Bluetooth and it works fine, but is something extra to carry, so it stays in the hotel room when I travel.

Although Apple offers a cell-system data feature as an (expensive) option, I get along fine with just the WiFi feature. I have recently subscribed to the Clear metro-wireless service which provides a high speed data link in the cities they have service in. It creates its own hot-spot that the iPad connects to as to any other WiFi facility.

There are lots of used iPads available now that Series 2 is out. Check eBay. You can get a refurbished one for $200-400, and that's the way I'd go if I were starting out today.

I'll be glad to chat about the hardware and the way I use it if anyone is interested further.