What would I need an iPad for that I can't already do with my laptop or PC? I understand that for certain people, they are helpful and can fit a niche for their work or play that might not otherwise be filled. For gaming though? Get out of here with that shit. I owned a Touchpad that I upgraded to ICS and after using it a few times, it has been sitting in the same spot across the room gathering dust for the last 16 months.
Well, do your laptop and PC have a touch display with games optimized for touch input? It offers something at least these two devices can not. Depends, if you're into it or not. Personally, I'm looking forward to playing Transport Tycoon and (hopefully soon) Rollercoaster Tycoon on the iPad, among others, once I get the Air in my hands. Lots of Final Fantasy games are on iOS, too. There's really so much stuff, some of it only on iOS, that you should give it a second look.
Gaming aside, the main use for me will be to display scripts and Powerpoint presentations in university lectures, with the new
Adonit Jot Script for taking some notes in those documents. I also can't wait to read magazines on that beautiful Retina display.
Actually I believe 16:10 became popular for awhile on computer displays because it was better for text reading than 16:9, and 16:9 really does come off as too large. Just 1080p got so popular and practically shoved aside other options, at least out of the realm of being high resolution AND affordable. Great for games that will just letterbox non-16:9 images though, though at the same time a 1920x1200 would've given you a 1080p image when letterboxed.
It is, 16:10 makes a small but noticeable difference for work. I hope there will still be some affordable 16:10 displays in the future if I can't get a 4:3 at a reasonable price (those Eizo ones start at $800
).