About six months ago, we bought an iPad Mini for Carolyn to use. Her 17″ laptop had just gotten too heavy for her to use as her primary computer. (Her hands are very deformed due to damage from Rheumatoid Arthritis). We weren’t sure how she would like the iPad or a tablet in general, but we decided to go ahead and get one.
This little sub-1 pound unit has been a god send for her. She can literally do anything that she needs to do with the Internet and Email. We have a newer Brother Color Laser printer that is AirPrint certified, so she can even print any documents, web pages, etc, that she needs to.
On a recent camping trip, we even streamed video from Amazon Instant Video to it, using my iPhone as a wireless hot spot. (Not something I would recommend as it eats up the data plan).
The explosion in tablet hardware, (Apple, Android, & Windows platforms), in the last few years is incredible, and means that consumers have, and will continue to have, many choices in the future. For most people, I can see why they are so popular, and will eventually replace most desktop & laptop units.