Originally Posted by
WebsterBikeMan
So far, the answer to the original question appears to be two letters long.
I'm of the considered opinion that only a small minority of posters on this forum actually tour. We too are trying to decide whether to get an iPad to take on tour. The key advantages are size/weight. I don't think of it as a potential substitute for a Garmin ETrex Vista (as far as I can tell there is no mapping where there is no signal, and it only runs 10 hours on a charge when in use). But as a potential substitute for a netbook or laptop, perhaps.
I too will be interested in any responses from folks who have actually used one on tour.
If you want a device to search the web, do email, watch videos, light computing, IMHO, it's a nice alternative to a lap top, or netbook. The size and weight would be a significant advantage over any laptop and most net books. (Not only is the computer itself small and light, so is the charger, and given that it's a USB style charger, you only need one charger and multiple cords to charge other devices such as a phone.)
Additionally, the 10 hour battery would be a big advantage over a netbook or lap top if you don't have consistent access to electricity.
The solid state memory would also appear to offer a durability advantage, over a device with a hard drive.
So the question in my mind would be whether you really want a computer with you when you tour, and if so, whether you can get by with just a smart phone.
I haven't taken my iPad with me on a bike trip, but I use it a lot when I travel, and it works nicely for most of my purposes.