“This will be the start of something amazing.”

That was my first thought when I used the iPad for the first time a few months back. The experience of touching your data, touching the internet and feeling this connection with your computer was truly astounding.

A few months later, having given the work iPad back I found myself doubting my earlier impressions. There is more the Mac can do right? Well, sorta. I have temporarily replaced my MacBook Pro with an iPad until my MacBook Air arrives next week. For the past few days I have found only 2 things I haven’t been able to do outside of work (and work will change soon by the sound of things, but that’s another story):

• Edit Airport base station settings
• Download torrents

I can only imagine that Apple will eventually find a better (nay, elegant) way to setup an Airport network, torrents may be a different thing though. That said, I have no issue paying for content if it’s made available to me conveniently and Apple are on their way to making that dream a reality.

I have read more than one interesting article recently regarding the iPad’s future and the future of Mac OS. The most notable of course was John Gruber who recently wrote a piece for MacWorld magazine. Johns basic premise is that the Mac still has a place as a heavy lifter for things the iPad can’t or won’t do and that eventually Mac OS may disappear.

I’d agree with that. Of course there are things that the Mac OS will do that the iPad can’t, but those will soon be fewer than many are crediting I believe. More than that though, Mac OS has been a testing ground for all much of what makes iOS great for nearly a decade, and I can only see that being more true as the two world slowly collide; like tectonic shifts.

The future for the iPad is bright, and I really can see it becoming integral to my personal workflow over the coming years. I have spoken about the benefits of working on an iOS device before, and I will again soon, but I really think the benefits out way the cons.

The only things I have come to dislike about the iPhone also happens to be the reason I like it so much: I get everything in one bucket. Work, play, family, it’s all available to me on my iPhone. Sadly, it means it’s all mixed up on my iPhone too which has its own issues. My personal stuff can be a small but costly distraction during the working day, while work emails can be a real annoyance at the weekend. so far the iPad has been 100% personal for me, and for now I’m happy with that.