Here is what the iPad offers that moms understand better than the average tech reviewer: it's a tool that will help not only keep our lives organized, but will help to entertain the kids.
My first thought was that the size and functionality of the iPad is the perfect complement to my current set up. When I drive afternoon carpool, I sometimes arrive at school pretty early. Sure I can read email on my iPhone, but it's a pain to make more than a two sentence reply. My laptop is too cumbersome (and I've got the smallest MacBook for on the go use). Wireless connectivity is limited at Clover's school and nonexistent at Rocket's, which means I'd be lugging around a heavier computer only to use programs not requiring an internet connection. The iPad is the idea size to slip into my bag, allowing me to get work done during the occasional down time that would normally would be lost as I scrolled down on Twitter while waiting for school to let out.
The ability to work in the car sold me on the iPad, but it wasn't until talking to a mom friend that I thought of another huge benefit: mobile entertainment for the kids.
Yes, I hate turning over my iPhone for Rocket to play games and leave sticky fingerprints all over the screen. I'm always afraid the phone is going to slip out of his hands when I'm not looking and it will be forever lost. The benefit of the iPhone - and the iTouch, because we use both - was clear when we flew to Arizona on two flights that were too brief for us to even get the DVD player set up before we began our descent and needed to put away electronic devices. I gave one kid the iPhone and the other the iTouch and let them watch the videos from Here Comes Science. They loved it. It was so much easier than the DVD player, although a larger screen with more video options would have been ideal...which is where the iPad comes in. I could have a movie set up for them in seconds that they could both watch off the same screen.
Yes, the name is lame, but still, iWant.
