The New iPad and What It Could Mean for Travel

Dear Apple, We know that everyone is buzzing with commentary about your new iPad , and how it is or isn’t going to revolutionize the reading experience. And as a magazine, we know we’re interested in seeing how it may (or may not) reinvigorate the publishing industry. But we just wanted to pause and note what a nice job you did making our brand new website look so good on your spiffy new device. Thanks. Now, onto the commentary, after the jump. Our columnist Chris Elliott ponders whether the iPad will finally replace the need for paper, and sees the viability in its interactive maps. Jaunted did a great job putting together a point/counterpoint about how the new gadget is or isn’t going to change the way we travel. Thumbs up : Battery life (10 hours!), enhanced Google maps, its iBook app, and the fact that it will be WiFi enabled and offer 3G internet. Thumbs down : No USB port or camera, making the experience of traveling less sharable, and it’s not able to run programs like Photoshop. Plus, it’s going to require a lot of accessories to give it extra functionality, meaning more weight in your pack. But Galvanting blogger Kim Mance seems convinced that it will only make traveling better: “I can see sailing through airport security with my little carry-on and getting plenty of work done for a few hours, before chilling out with a movie on an overseas flight.” Right now, the traveling Twitterverse seems skeptical that it’ll replace a laptop for your computing needs on the road: @ JCX at 1.5 pounds (0.68kg), it’s not exactly travel -light #iPad @ nsinsabaugh When I travel next do I take my #iPhone , my #iPad , or my #MacBookPro ? @ awillett @xenijardin I have trouble believing #iPad will get me to me travel w/o laptop. What’s on-screen QWERTY typing like?
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