Video: First Impressions Of The iPad

It's ironic that you used flash for your video, which isn't supported on the iPad.

The camera connector will also connect directly to the mini USB port on a camera, so you can download directly to the iPod. There's also an iTunes app, Photogene, that allows basic, non destructive editing. I'm leaving my laptop home on my next trip and only bringing my iPad.

Actually Vimeo, Youtube and several other flash based video players do work in the iPad, they have developed HTML5 players.

Hoping that the external USB will eventually be used for more than to connect a camera. You'd need to shoot RAW+JPEG or JPEG only in order to view them on the iPad anyway. Will check out Photogene. The Photoshop mobile app for the iPhone has been pretty useful but there is not an iPad version yet. In fact most of the iPhone apps have not adapted for the iPad yet and will load as small iPhone sized apps on the iPad.

I've been carrying the iPad all week instead of my laptop, but there are productivity limitations. It's a nice minimal device when you don't need to do a lot of work. I was thinking what to do when I travel and so far it is to bring both my laptop and iPad. But the iPad would be an entertainment and internet device and the laptop my workhorse.

The question is, "What does it replace?"

Even as a depository for images and video, it has a 64gb limit. My last trip shooting the 7D went far beyond this because of the video clips.

I'm trying to find ways to travel with less, not more.

George - i asked myself that question first as well - "what does it replace", and it does not necessarily replace anything (maybe a kindle and portable DVD player). It is a third category device and is not a productivity device for photographers. Personally I will not even consider using for images, other than to show post processed images in slide shows. So far it has been great for days that I do not want to carry a laptop and still work. It is more convenient to work on than my laptop, but more limiting. It is definitely not a replacement for most of us.

But many people don't travel with their laptops (and shoot jpegs and don't do a lot of post processing) and for them, it will hold a different place in their gear bag.

For those long haul flights - it will make this underwater photographer very happy!

I think a point we missed and also makes the iPad more appealing, one that I am only realizing now that I have taken the iPad on 20+ hour flight with me is it's battery life. I watched movies, played HD 3D games and listened to music on the iPad the entire time I was awake for my flight to Singapore (granted, I probably sleep more than the average person on flights) and I still had 40 percent battery life left. The computer and iPhone stayed in the bag the entire time (both woulda been long dead had I needed to use them)

Hi Guys,

I believe how you shoot makes no difference if you just want to see your shots. You can shoot in RAW and load the files and see your shots. Just like all the other iPods, it writes its own proprietary jpgs to accommodate its medium. You can load TIFF, RAW, JPG, whatever.
My big gripe is that once again you must go through Aperature or iPhoto to add images or else "sync" the damn thing all through iTunes. Sync is certainly the wrong word. If you don't have everything set just right, you can erase a lot of work by "syncing". With the movies you can just drag and drop. But with photos you're stuck with iTunes and every hoop you must jump to get it to work properly. MAC laptops and desktops operate so simply and then all the devices that are any fun at all must go through this useless interface (have you guessed I don't like the iTunes interface yet??).
I have actually gone to a 13" MacBook Pro now that I have an iPad. I can use this machine, with its long battery life and speedy processor, to work while on trips. One thing I hate is to have everything all set up in the room and then have someone ask to see images of the day, a slideshow or other presetntation. Its not that I mind doing it, I just hate to break everything down. I usually have speakers, extra hard drives, card readers, cooling platform and other odds and ends all set up and then I have to tear it apart. Well, not anymore. I have the adapter for a projector and I can show movies, daily images, Magazine PDF files of past work, Keynote presentations, etc. and leave my work station in the room alone. And I can show something to just a few folks with this handy little toy. Battery life is not a consideration. And with just a 13" book and this iPad, I carry smaller and lighter complimentary gear.
I used to show things from the iPod Touch, but its not the same as this nice, big screen. I think the more you use it, the moore you'll come up with. It is really just an emergency editor, so shouldn't be considered for any serious post processing. But after you're done with the in-room work station steps, this thing is really quite handy.

Hey Tim,
You are right about the format of files. Same as ipod etc... I also agree with your gripes on the iTunes interface. It seems outdated since it used to be in fact, iTunes, but now its more like an iHub for music, video and syncing. I still lug around a macbook pro to the office and then back home, so I have dock which makes helps when I don't want to break things down. Still the iPad comes everywhere with me, as it always being on and having battery power is efficient and useful. Makes me think that our basic computer module - mouse, keyboard, on/off with long start-up times is outdated as well now. After all, its been the same core system since inception.

Right on, Matt. Speaking of which, I also got a Magic Mouse when I got this iPad. Great little mouse (for the iMac, of course). Yes, hope this thread continues to grow as people come up with more ideas on how to travel with the iPad and use it to their advantage. And you're right, we're going to see more examples of "less is more" as the iPad catches on.
Best,

T