iPad=iPortfolio

Well, I guess I'm one of those Apple nerds who got the iPad the first week it came out! I thought the devise looked really cool from the day I heard about it, but now I'm for sure convinced that this is where the laptop or portable devise is headed. User friendly and compact, the iPad is exactly how I thought it would be and more. I've heard people say its just a big iPod touch, and yes it is the same user interface as the iPod touch, but its got a 9" screen! A bigger screen means something closer to a laptop or compact flatscreen tv. Since my main purpose was to use this as a portfolio, I definitely wanted to get my hands on one to tinker around with and start creating sample portfolio's. Its cool because the Photo application allows you to sync with iPhoto much like an iPod, and create your own galleries. Since most photographers have multiple portfolio's this is great, because you can catalog, categorize and create separate galleries. Instead of having an entire separate book/portfolio for different kinds of work you can now create a separate portfolio with a button that instantly accesses your specific portfolio. I'm always trying to look forward 5-10 years into the future and this devise gives a pretty good indicator to the evolution of personal computing. I won't be surprised if we will start to see more of these types of touchscreen devises used all around us. I'm just figuring this thing out, but so far I've been using it more than my laptop for all non Photoshop, lightroom, or other professional applications. Just downloaded my first ebook and so far it has a nice feel when reading. Its also cool because I'm not adding to more household clutter with another book lying around. I just hope that the ebook store library expands quickly, right now there aren't a whole lot of titles that get my attention. Man, I wish I had one of these when I was in school, I remember carrying a backpack that weighed a ton. Now you have a virtual book case library and all you have to carry is a 1 pound flatscreen devise! Well, back to the subject of portfolio's. Right now I have a few 11x14 portfolio's that I mail out when requested. The iPad is a little pricey and delicate to be doing that right now, but for a personal meeting I think it would be really cool! I feel certain that as the price point comes down on these things, perhaps we will see a portfolio specific kind of devise that won't put you too much out of pocket expense wise. You gotta figure a nice portfolio these day will run you anywhere from $350 to $600 and thats not including the prints or carrying case! All in all I really like this thing and am excited to see where things go from here!