I have read tons of reviews about the Ipad. The problem is, many of the reviews come from people who do not own one or that have never even used one. This review is an honest review from someone who owns one hand has used it for over a month.

I received my Ipad on April 30, 2010. As I opened the package, I was still wondering of I made the right decision in spending the $858 for the 32G 3G Ipad. I am cheap and this was a huge expense and I had buyers remorse as I was unwrapping the package and preparing to sync up with my computer.

I have to say, the remorse was gone quickly after I started using the Ipad. I wake to the Ipad and I go to bed with the Ipad. This has almost replaced my PC for everything I do. I take it almost everywhere I go and with the 3G network, I am hardly every out of range of the Internet.

First, lets talk about the 3G service from AT&T. I chose to go with the $14.99 plan which gives me 250 MB of service for a month. This has supplied me with more than enough to check email, check Facebook, and play a few games on the go. This service is with no contract and you can change it at anytime. When you sign up, you sign up for automatic renewal but you can change before the plan ends and it will cancel or change plans. They use to have unlimited for $30 a month but I just noticed that the plans has changed to 2G for $25. I am guessing that too many people were watching videos on YouTube and using a lot of data. I save the videos for when I am hooked to WiFi. The Ipad will pick up a WiFi service and use that first unless you tell it otherwise. Many places have free WiFi and with either plan, you get free WiFi at any AT&T hot spot even if it normally cost money. I do not use the 3G a ton but I still think the original cost upgrade and the monthly fee is worth having it when I need it.

The next thing I want to talk about is the book reading. I have found this one of the coolest features on the Ipad. There are so many readers that my head spins. The main two I use are iBooks and Kindle. These offer tons of free books and you can also purchase new releases of top selling books. Most of the free books are classics or old titles but there are still many to choose from. I have loaded a bunch of books and find reading a joy on the Ipad. It is much easier to carry than a bunch of books. There are also many PDF apps that work great to download free eBooks. All together, there are access to thousands of books for free even if you never want to buy one.

The overall choices for apps was a bit limited when I first received my Ipad. Many of them were iPod apps that needed to be enlarged to use on the Ipad, However, more and more apps have updated or been created just for Ipads. If you are not careful, you could spend a ton of money on apps. I spend very little because there are always free apps that meet my needs or I watch for them when they go on sale for free as a promotion. Yes, there is a app for that too. I have a couple of apps that keep track of apps when they change to free so I can grab them. I check daily and grab what I want.

Gaming on the Ipad is a whole new experience. I have many games and they are fun and I could play for hours. My favorite is Bejeweled 2. Though they have not made a Ipad version yet, it works just fine expanded from the iPod version. This was one that I did purchase for $3 and it was worth the money. Many other games I have downloaded for free and I can always find something fun to play. Again, one could spend toms of money to get all the coolest games. However, I am happy with a few good ones.

Business use is another thing that I use my Ipad for. I use it to check my emails, type up short notes, and text those I need to contact for work. There are many apps that are designed to help with business needs. I have downloaded a few for free and I plan to purchase a few in the future. Apple offers their equivalent to Microsoft Office for $9.99 per app for a total of $30 for the three main ones. I plan to purchase Pages, the word type program, sometime this summer., The other two, I do not need so I will save money on those. My understanding is that you can save in work and transfer the document to your computer for printing. I just bought a wireless printer and I am going to work on figuring out how to print to the printer from the Ipad. I know there is a way but I have not had time to even hook up my printer so I will have to figure that out.

Emailing is a breeze with the Ipad. It is easy to read, reply, delete, or create. The built in email app offers multiple accounts to set up web based email from all major services. There are also separate apps for Gmail and others but I like the built in app best. I find it quick to check all my emails in the morning while getting ready for work. It saves me time from having to start the computer and I can carry the Ipad wherever I am getting ready, Yes, even the toilet.

I have always wanted to journal but hated keeping track of a journal. With the Ipad, I have added an app that lets me have a password protected journal that is fun to write in and I can even back up on my computer through the iTunes software. This was one of the other app that I sprung a little money for. This was well worth the money and I enjoy using this almost daily.

Another thing I do with the Ipad is watch videos. I love to sit and watch You Tube videos and they play nicely and are easy to load. The app is already loaded on the Ipad and it is easy to use with very little hangups. The other videos you can watch are Netflix, To do this, you must have an account with them that offers unlimited online movies. The movies play great and will be great when I start to travel more this summer. You can also check your account and update you queue for Netflix right from the Ipad.

Mapping on the go is one of the cool features that the Ipad offers. It has built in GPS locator that allows you to map from anywhere you are at. This is great when you are travelling to a new area and need to find a hotel or another location. This even picks up my house which is normally not shown when I use online mapping services. Since I normally carry my Ipad with me, I can always check for directions and I can use the yellow book app to find local diners or other attractions. I am never out of touch with the Ipad with me.

The Ipad comes with a built in microphone and offers a voice over which will speak everything on the Ipad. This feature is cool but if you fail to read the directions in the online Ipad manual, you could have some grief from this feature. I turned it on to try it out and I swiped the screen and lost my display. I could not figure out how to get the display back and stress set in. I researched online and could not find any answers. I finally found set up on the Ipad using the voice and touching around and was able to shut off voice over. This restored  my display and I laster found the reason in the manual. It seems if you swipe with three fingers, you can turn off the display and do the same to turn it back on. I did not like the fear that my Ipad was damaged so I have not used voice over since.

The sound quality is great on the Ipad and it is quite loud without any additional speakers or headphones. I have watched many videos and heard everything clearly. The volume can be adjusted on the side of the Ipad or on screen. The display rotates on all directions and can be locked in any position. This is an improvement over the iPod touch because you do not have to worry about moving the wrong way and your screen flips.

When purchasing the Ipad, I do recommend the Apple case that is made for the Ipad. It cost $40 but it fits great, offers good protection and looks good. I also would put on a screen protector which keeps the glass safe. Many people complained it was hard to install the screen protector but I did it the first time and had very few bubbles. Once in the case, The Ipad looks like a little notebook and is easy to carry. Many complaints about the case is that it is tight and hard to  remove the Ipad. This is true and it would be a pain if you use a docking station. I have found no need for a docking station so I do not need to remove it. The power cord plugs in fine and the Ipad is always protected.

I also purchased the camera connector so I can load pictures directly from my camera or a SD card. This works great and the pictures load quickly. They also look great on the Ipad. You can turn your Ipad into a digital picture frame to share the pictures with a friend.

There are loads of other things I could say about the Ipad but then I will be risking writing a book. However, I do need to add the cons of the Ipad to give it an honest review. The one most annoying thing is that just like the iPod touch, the Ipad attracts fingerprints and is hard to keep clean. The other thing that I wish the Ipad had was multitasking so that I can listen to a radio app while doing other things. As I type, I am updating my iPod touch with the newest software that now allows multi-tasking. Steve Jobs promised this for June and he delivered. He also promises the same update for the Ipad in the fall and I have no doubt he will deliver.  The final thing that is a little disappointing is that you can not load anything from the Internet that uses Flash. This can be frustrating when you find something you want to watch. However, many sites are changing so that they can be viewed by the Ipad.

Overall, I love the Ipad. I use it daily and I very seldom go on my computer to do the normal tasks. It is easy to surf the web and the key board is easy to use once you get use to typing on a touch screen. In landscape view, the keyboard is about the size of a netbook keyboard. I even sold my netbook because I found I was not suing it since I got the Ipad. For those who have trashed the Ipad as a toy, try using it for a while and see the possibilities. I can do many of the same things a full size computer can do with the ease of a tool that weighs  under two pounds and it small enough to carry everywhere. I can take it to work for notes, I can watch videos, I can play games, and I can read before bed all with this little toy.

If you are looking for a great tool or just a fun toy, the price is high but not for what you get. I highly recommend the Ipad if you are riding the fence trying to decide. It is a computer, a game, platform, and computer all built into a small compact package. I have been approached by many people as I sit using my Ipad. They are amazed at the features and the beauty of it. This is truly a worthy investment and I have not a single regret!

Please feel free to share your comments about the Ipad.

I have done a lot of reading about the new Apple iPad. There are many who love it and several people who do not.

One of the biggest arguments is the price. I can not disagree with this argument. However, I am sure that this kind of technology is expensive to create for the first time. I also say that if you afford and want it, buy it. If you do not want it or can’t afford it do not buy it.

I drove to the Apple store today to see all the hype for myself. I have to admit, I love my iPod touch. With that said, I tried to keep an open mind.

I was amazed from the moment I picked up the iPad. It is an amazing device. The quality was great and the apps and videos were crisp and easy on the eyes. It was so cool when I checked out a book and it was clear and the pages even turned like a real book. I watched a YouTube video and it played larger and clearer than on my desk top computer.

I found as an iPod touch user, there was not much of a learning curb. Yes, this is like a big iPod Touch but offers a lot more features. I was hooked right away and was ready to buy. That was when I found out that they did not have any in stock. They had sold out quickly and the only way to get one was to order from the Apple website. That brought up another decision.

If I bought today at the store, I would have bought the Wi-Fi only model since the one with 3G capacity will not be available until the end of April. At&T offers a data plan that is $14.95 for 250 mg of Internet usage or $30 for unlimited access over their mobile network. The problem was, to get the upgraded model, it was an additional $130. I also needed to decide if I wanted the 16gig, 32 gig, or 64 gig memory. This too became a cost issue.

OK, you have figured out by the title, I ordered one. I ended up going with the 3G and 32 gig memory. I added on a case and an adapter for a SD card or digital camera. All total with tax, it came to $858. I know it is a lot but as I said before,  I love my iPod touch and this is just too cool to pass up. I do not spend easily and it took a little nudge from my wife but I hit the order button and placed the order. I will return to write a full review as soon as I get the iPad and use it for a few days. Until then, if you have one of the iPads, please share you likes and dislikes by leaving a comment or two.

This has to be one of the best things so far in the terms of cell phone plans. Tracfone and Walmart has come up with a great cell phone plan that will save hundreds for many cell phone users.

Straight Talk is a new plan that offers two prepaid plans with no contracts to sign and no extra hidden fees. You can choose from a $30 for 30 days plan or an unlimited 30 day plan.

The $30 plan offers 1000 minutes and 1000 texts for 30 days along with 30 meg of Internet usage. The only additional fee is sales tax unlike most regular cell plans that have all kinds of hidden fees and taxes that add another $16-$20. If you run out of anything before the 30 days, the rest of the stuff still works. You also can add a new card at anytime. This is normally more than enough for the average person.

If limits are not your thing, they offer the $45 unlimited plan. This plan offers unlimited texting, talk, and Internet usage. This is great for those who talk a lot or loves to text. The Internet leaves something to be desired and many of the applications from other carriers do not work because the phone does not have Java capability. If you are buying a cell phone to use tons of Internet features, this may not be the phone for you. However, you can search the Internet, surf most pages, and check email.

Straight Talk offers a few different phones and the prices range from $39.95-$328.88. We purchased the Samsung R451C for $99.98. This has a slider with a keyboard for easy texting. We bought it for my wife and she seems to like it quite well. If you add a micro SD card, it also becomes a full MP3 player. It also comes with a camera, that takes some descent pictures.

Overall, for the price, I see very little downside to the Straight Talk. We were on the NET10 phone for two years and it is from the same company so we know the coverage is good. The only negative was having to buy the phone for $100. I figure we will recover that over a traditional plan in very short time.

If anyone else has any experience with Straight Talk, please share by leaving a comment.

The following is a sponsored review.

I first saw Thought.com when it was first created. I thought that it was going to just be another free blog site. Honestly, I thought it would be a fly by night and not be around for long. I was wrong on both accounts. It is still around and has grown into a very interesting site.

Thought.com is a great social site that offers its member a chance to have their own Blog for free. However, unlike Blogger and the free Word press site, they have a full and active community to meet people and form bonds of friendship. Besides their free blogs, they offer very interesting forums that allow you to express opinions, share your thoughts and even have a heated debate or two.

The site seems to have a balance between a social site like MySpace and the free blog sites like Blogger. It is a cool place to check out and a great way to get your feet wet with blogging without paying any money. Whether you want to upload pictures and videos or you just want to browse the sites, this site will provide hours of entertainment and maybe build a lifelong friendship.

The whole site is set up with an easy to navigate system and everything is very easy to find with great tags and very clearly laid out web design. If you are looking for a cool place to set up a free Blog, Thought.com just might be the right place for you.

Many professionals are too busy to do many of the chores needed around the house. This could range from gardening to cleaning to a big summer project. When this need arises, it is time to seek out some quality help to do the job or assist you with the job.

I found a great site that offers a search for local help for all areas of the country. The site, Hire A Helper.com offers a great place to connect workers an people who need to hire them. It is an easy way to compare prices and there are even reviews to see if the person you are trying to hire has a good reputation.

If you are planning to make a move and thinking about hiring one of the Moving Companies, this website has a great selection of options to find the right mover. It does not matter if you are looking for New York Movers or you need to Hire Chicago Movers or some other area of the nation, this site can connect you to the right people. By hiring your own moving truck and helpers, you could save a bunch of money over many of the major moving companies.

The process is quite easy. It is easy to navigate the site and easy to make a purchase. As a customer, you provide your payment credit card to the website. In exchange, they provide you with a code. Once the worker completes the job and you are satisfied, you give the code to the worker and they claim the money from Hire A Helper. This is a safe way to make sure the price quoted is honest and you pay nothing to the worker until the job is complete. You may cancel anytime up till the time the job is completed.

This is a great way to do business and keep your money safe until the job is done. This is the wave of the future and I highly recommend checking out Hire A Helper.com if you are in need of local help.

Here are two current coupons for the site:
$20/off coupon for military!- thx2mil
$10/off coupon for bloggers – blogme

The following is a sponsored review:

There are many games that have caught the attention of online gamers over the life of the Internet. Some of these games are played for a while and people get bored and they move on. Others just seem to disappear in time. Massively multiplayer online games or MMO are all the craze now and they offer never ending challenges that keep the players engaged. No game in this category is more popular than World of Warcraft (WOW).

War of Warcraft is played all over the world and has become of the most popular games ever. It is quite addicting. One of the most popular things now is trading both the gold and the accounts. One of the great sites to buy or sell a WOW account is Buy MMO Accounts.com.

They offer great accounts for all levels of characters. They both buy and sell accounts in a quick honest fashion. All accounts are delivered in approximately 30 minutes. They offer a lifetime guarantee for all accounts. This means that you account will not be reclaimed by a former owner or disabled or they will replace it.

Rather you want to be a druid or a hunter or any one of the many characters in WOW, this site offers all levels of both Alliance and Horde accounts. There is no other site to buy a WOW account with live phone support and a great guarantee.

If you have thought of entering the WOW world, here is your chance to grab a high level account so you do not have to start at the bottom. Have fun and happy gaming!

The following is a sponsored review:

Christmas is almost here and you may be looking for the perfect gift for your kids, NFL Uniform Set.com has something that many kids would love. They are a supplier of NFL Jerseys. I visited this sight to see what they offered.

The NFL is one of the top watched sports by Americans. Many little boys dream of playing for their favorite team when they grow up. This website feeds that imagination with some of the nicest NFL clothing I have seen. They currently only have them in kids’ sizes only so you big guys are out of luck.

NFL Uniform set offer full NFL Jerseys Uniforms for the low price of $39.95 and they only have two sizes small and medium. These uniform sets are only for the real little guys.  Their website is set up very simply so it is easy to find the team you want with just a click of the mouse.

All their sets come with a NFL helmet, shirt, and pants. For an additional $9.99 you can add a set of shoulder pads. They accept major credit cards and they offer shipping as low $7.50 for the entire order. Your order will be shipped with in three business days of the order which means you have plenty of time to order for Christmas.

If you have a little NFL fan, these NFL Uniform Sets will go over big. I know of no little boy who would not love to receive one of these. The prices are awesome and they would be a great affordable gift. Follow the links I provided to check these out for yourself.

It is that time of year when I have problems with the local coyote population. I had to get the rifle out and be on alert to protect my farm animals and my dog. I decided this year I need to get a quality scope to go on my rifle to be able to get a better shot.

I went on a local search and could not find what I needed so I decided to check a site that was recommended to me. Tactical Accessories.com offers a huge array of gun related merchandise and has just about anything a person could need when it comes to tactical equipment. They offer some of the best tactical scopes on the market. I was looking for one that I could use at a good distance with clear accuracy. .

I decided to go with a V-point red dot scope. This gives some of the best accuracy on the market and I should have no problem hitting a coyote from a great distance. I hate shooting animals but these things can do some damage to a flock of chickens or the neighbors goats. I am also a wee bit worried about my dog getting tangled up with a pack of them and getting hurt.

Tactical Accessories.com also offers a wide selection of other items that can complete your shopping for the outdoor enthusiast on your Christmas list. They have many gun accessories from lasers to specialty mounts to flash lights. This site offers many items that allows a gun enthusiast to add features that are not always available locally.

The one thing I love about the Internet is that you can have access to things you can not find in the general area. I was pleased with finding the scope I was looking for on Tactical Accessories.com.Their site is well set up and the categories are clearly listed in the sidebar so you can find what you need without spending a ton of time searching. They accept major credit cards and they do have a phone number to reach them if there are any problems.This site also offers wholesale to dealers and discounts to both military and police officials.

So far I am pleased with their company. Has anyone else ever used their website?

The following is a sponsored review:

Have you ever heard of World of Warcraft (WOW)? If you haven’t, you are missing out because it is one of the hottest MMORPG Online games around. This game is so popular that many sites have popped up to catch the wave. One such site that is sweeping through the gaming world is Buy MMO Accounts. I recently checked out their website and it was interesting.

First thing I noticed was the unique design and layout. This site screams gaming with characters sprayed all over the pages. It is bright and attractive to the eye. For any serious gamer, this site will attract you as soon as you open the page. The site is also an ease to navigate and one can find what they need from just a few clicks.

This website specializes in selling and buying WOW character accounts. They have an easy to fill out quote form for those wishing to sell their accounts and they offer several levels of accounts for purchase. From the Horde Druid all the way up to the Elite Hordes, this site offers multiple levels and characters to get you into the action of the game.

There were a few unique things I discovered on this site. They own all the accounts they sell. They are not a broker and the accounts are not up for auction. The price you see is the price you pay. They also offer a toll free telephone number for support. This is in addition to their email and live chat support. I have never seen a WOW account retailer that offered a live phone support.

They not only offer excellent support, they also back up what they sell with a 100% lifetime guarantee. This protects you from having a faulty account that you can not use.

I found this site quite unique and a gamers dream when it comes to buying and selling WOW accounts. I suggest if you are trying to sell your account or wanting to buy a new account, you should check out this site first for your account needs.

Starting a new business can take lots of time and energy. The new entrepreneur spends all their time creating the business but then comes the trick of how to spread the word about the business.

One company that is very helpful in doing that is Click Promo Gifts.com. They offer a vast array of Promotional Gifts to pass out to your clients. This works in a twofold method, you are showing appreciation for their business and others will see your gift and your business name. This is one of the best forms of advertising.

One of the best looking and most visible promo gifts that they offer is the Promotional Umbrellas. This is highly visible product that can display you logo to the world. This is also a highly usable gift that will be appreciated by any of your customers.

Of course Click Promo Gifts also offers many other promo gifts. Their items are well priced and you can go from as low as the simple pen to a more elegant gift. If you are planning a big meeting or a conference, one of the ways to make your company stand out is by ordering the elegant and sleek Conference Folders. These can be passed out to all the participants and can send your company’s advertisement home with them.

Promotional gifts are one of the cheapest ways to advertise while reaching a large array of business clients. These items are often displayed proudly on office desks for all their colleagues to see. Finding these types of items for your business is quite easy by checking out the  Click Promo Online Store. No matter what you are looking for, they have it all.