So, for a person who ..., could the iPad replace a computer?

[BacklitFirefly]

Let's say someone exclusively uses her Macbook pro for things like Facebook, iTunes, email, Internet surfing, reading, chat, and putting photos on it. Do you think the iPad is the sort of device that would replace the laptop?

I know there's no iChat for the iPad. That sort of freaks me out. Will there be a way around that? Say, using something like AIM express via the Web? Or maybe the chat built in to Facebook?

I'm a writer, too. And I love Pages, and will use it over anything made by anyone else, just because I want to and it's Apple software.

Whataya think?

[EssentialParado]

There are a lot of people who think it can replace a computer if you're only doing casual things that you listed.

It doesn't have iChat, but there are plenty of App store apps that let you chat on the major IM networks. I'm pretty sure you'll also be able to use facebook chat.

The only thing I'd be concerned about is using the touchscreen keyboard for extended IMing periods. I really want to go into the Apple store and try it out first. But you could always get a bluetooth keyboard or the keyboard dock.

[rdowns]

I bet it replaces a computer for a many, many users. Of course, you'll need a computer to sync and backup the iPad but I bet that becomes the main use of their computer.

[avaloncourt]

Originally Posted by EssentialParado

It doesn't have iChat, but there are plenty of App store apps that let you chat on the major IM networks. I'm pretty sure you'll also be able to use facebook chat.

Unfortunately, with the current lack of multitasking, all you can do is chat unless you're relying on push notifications and they'd you'd be in and out of the chat client every time you received a messsage. I tried a lot of the early chat apps when push was released but they were fairly unreliable and lagged quite a bit. I don't know if the reliability level has increased significantly.

[scottness]

If you intend to use an iChat alternative, keep in mind there is not currently multitasking. Can't browse the web, write or whatever and chat at the same time.

[4DThinker]

I have a 1% theory. A few features you only use 1% of the time, and if you do the math it seems as though satsfying your needs 99% of the time should be enough. Yet not being able to do that 1% task may cause 99% of your aggravation over the product. My Touch is like that. It does 99% of what I need it to do while casually computing. I don't need it to word process or run AutoCAD. Those tasks aren't in the 100%. All I need it to do is print out an email or attachment from an email. Only rarely, say 1% of the time. Yet when I need to I need to, and it means I get a little angry at my Touch and go boot up my PC.

It will be those 1% aggravations that make iPad not quite the perfect replacement for the user described.

[Bleu]

I'll be using it as a replacement computer for most of those things. It'll be my "around the house" device for web, facebook, mail, etc. That's 90% of my computer use. Finding out Netflix is coming was a nice surprise.

Of course for heavy lifting, like working with photos in Lightroom or actually writing full length documents it's not going to replace my Macbook Pro.