@ About @

I bought this iPad two years ago and decided not to wait for the iPad 2. I have since been using it every single day for hours - I use it for Internet browsing, typing up documents for work and using the apps from the app store. All of the apps you have to buy extra, you don't get pages or keynote for iPad come with it and they cost £6 each. When you get an iPad you get the very basic apps such as Internet browsing, photos a music player and that's it.

@ Using the iPad @

There are certain accessibility features that I really appreciate from apple to make it easier to use the iPad. Triple click home button allows you to change the visual display for opposite contrast, a magnifier and you get a voice to tell you what you're clicking on. On iOS 5 multitasking gestures make the use of the home button almost pointless for anything other that getting to the iPad dashboard. Four fingers up on the screen allow you to change apps and close them.

Battery life has been a key concern with me as my battery only lasts for one day before it completely dies agin. I don't have the brightness above one quarter and I rarely have the speaker volume up. Sending text messages drains your battery within hours and I never leave more than 4 apps open at one time. A bad mark for apple where battery life is concerned.

You can become incredibly organised with an iPad and it has become my hub for everything. Reminders, work, fun, and daily utilities such as a calculator and a map. It's not something like a kindle where you use it to read books and then go use other electronic devices to make up for the lack of features, you simply use this iPad as a replacement for the those other electronics. Including a computer.

@ Wear and tear @

I have actually had 2 iPads. The first one I had got ios 5 and then within days started to freeze, crash and then finally displayed several error messages before finally dying completely. I got a replacement but I can't say iPads are particularly well built. On the back of my iPad it has lots of scratches, and whilst the iPad screen has some special chemicals on it to protect from dirt and scratches, it isn't very good. Even when I first bought the iPad it smeared with dirt all over the screen and putting it in a bag without a screen protector has caused some small scratches to appear on the screen. My advice? Get a screen protector and a case as soon as possible.

@ Overall @

You are paying a lot of money for the iPad and I think it's all going in apples back pocket. It's a great piece of technology but there is room for improvement where build quality and value for money is concerned. I also wish it came with basic apps like a calculator, pages and keynote. It is however great for every part of life like education, work and entertainment. And so long as you take care of it, it is recommended.