Jim Hamm sends us the latest info. "Here is yet another review of the iPad. It is a good read and very thorough. It's interesting to note that most--all?--articles and blogs that I read give a 'thumbs down' to AT&T's cellular service. The article states 'Dumping AT&T altogether becomes more appealing by the day.' However, it seems that Apple and AT&T have a contract through 2011 or 2012 -- it's not clear to me which year it is."

Jim goes on to comment, "We have been reasonably satisfied with AT&T and its coverage with our iPhones, but we really haven't used the 3G coverage much since it isn't available in Prescott. When we're at the condo in Scottsdale we don't need 3G as we have wifi available. We have friends here in Prescott who tried the iPhone and AT&T and went back to Verizon. They liked the iPhone but not AT&T.

"I think AT&T's cellular network was not prepared for the data load placed on it by the iPhone. And, although Verizon has more 3G coverage than AT&T, I wonder how well their network would have performed if they had been the carrier? Maybe we'll never know.

"On the iPad itself, I think it is an interesting and well-built, quality device, but the more I read about it the less enthused I become in getting one, for a variety of reasons. For me, I think my MacBook Air is more of a practical and useful device."