Since “ag geek” Willie Vogt just wrote an iPad review I figured it was time for me to provide you with another one. You really can’t have enough geek gadget information can you? I know a lot of you are trying to decide if you should get one now that the 3G version is out. I don’t have a 3G iPad because at this point I am content to use wifi only. So here goes.

To start with, I use this device quite a bit. It is great for taking to Coffee Zone in the morning where there is good wifi. I can take a productive 30 minutes to enjoy some Rocket Fuel, read my email and perhaps respond to some, check my Twitter feeds and all my news feeds. The apps I’m using for this are the built in email app, NetNewsWire, AP, NYT, Reuters, USA Today and Twitterific. I have Tweetdeck but I fell out of love with the desktop version since it’s such a memory hog and actually locked up my computer at times. I never liked the desktop version of Twitterific but the iPad app is excellent. If they come out with an iPad version of Tweetie though I will probably be switching since that’s my favorite for the iPhone and desktop. So for all you farm folks you might think of this as your tool that allows you to keep your fingers clean at the coffee shop when you catch up on news and do some online work. No more ink stains from the printed word. Apologies to my publications friends.

At home I mostly keep the iPad in the living room. I can grab it and sit in my recliner and do all the above in addition to reading books with the iBooks app (iTunes book store) or Kindle app. No Barnes & Noble app out yet but I’ll get it when it is. I’ve read several books now and both iBooks and Kindle are excellent reading experiences.

Web browsing with the built in Safari browser is fun. With good wifi you can pretty much do most of the same things you can do on your computer except anything that requires Adobe Flash. This hasn’t been an issue with me since I just reserve those things for when I’m on my iMac or Macbook Pro.

I have the iWorks apps (Numbers, Keynote and Pages) and have used them only a little bit. However, they do allow me to open and edit what you PC people know as Excel, PowerPoint and Word docs. I also use DocsToGo to sync documents with my desktop. I don’t feel a strong need to use my iPad for a lot of document work but it’s nice to know that I have these capabilities.

One of the best things about the iPad is the fact that with the push of a button and a swipe, it’s instantly on. I can check the weather with the Weather Channel app (beautiful screens) and email and Twitter quickly when I want without having to wait for my notebook or desktop to boot up.

Some other apps I’ll point to include: Netflix – I’ve watched a couple movies and you think you’re watching on a bigger screen than it is since the picture is so good. Pandora – This app just keeps getting better. It will be perfect for listening to music when we get multitasking in the next OS update this summer. Photogene – This is a great way to crop and edit photos. Works just like the iPhone version. 1Password – The best way to keep track of all your logins, passwords, etc. in a secure software option that syncs with the desktop version. Skype – Only works in wifi but it works great. Now if I could just get my bluetooth headset to pair with the iPad. Having some trouble with that. There are so many apps and they’re what have made the iPhone and now the iPad way more than just a phone or e-reader. You can find just about anything you’d like from Marvel Comics to the Roman Catholic Calendar!

Let’s move on to some accessories. The most important one is the case. I have the Apple case which you can see in the photo. I allows me to stand it up in portrait mode as well as landscape mode. This is really helpful when you’re sitting at a table or even in your lap. It also makes the iPad feel more secure in my hands when I’m carrying it or holding like a book and reading. I also have the camera connection kit. This includes two dock adapters to connect an SD memory card or USB cable. The idea was to attach your camera via USB cable but I found right away that I could attach my memory card reader and plug in a CompactFlash card and transfer photos. Like everything else about the iPad, it’s fast, even with big files. This brings up one point about the iPad that makes it totally different than a full computer. There isn’t a normal file system. However, with different apps like DocsToGo and others you can save and transfer files. Having a Mobile Me account or Drop Box account would be good options to have. I have also paired an extra bluetooth keyboard to the iPad. It makes typing a breeze and I highly recommend it. Typing on the iPad is a much improved experience than the iPhone. However, I can tell you that you get used to it very quickly.

Finally, I have to comment on the VGA Dock connector. I had hoped this would allow me to connect to a projector and do presentations. Wrong. It’s just about worthless and I’m not even sure why they sell it. I can connect to a projector. I can project a slide show using the Keynote app. But other than projecting certain types of video files, that’s it. Without being able to project the browser or any other files it’s just a complete waste of $29. Oh well. I can live with that.

All in all the iPad is just a great new tool. It’s not a phone but Skype makes it one. It’s not a desktop but the iWorks bundle gets you close. It’s not just an e-reader but the best e-reader I’ve seen. It’s something different and that’s what is making this device a “game changer.”

Precision manufacturers: Please send me a photo when you have one of these installed in a tractor or combine as the touch screen display for your software!