X ` Man wrote:
I've used my iPad "3" on the boat a few times over the last couple of
months and have found it to be perfectly suitable for "computing
needs," so long as you are in a cabin or outdoors under good shade. As
with most devices of this type, the color screen simply washes out to
invisibility in sunlight.

That being said, the device is a nice, small, very light "computer" to
have on board, especially when in a case like this one:

http://www.zagg.com/accessories/zagg...-keyboard-case

It works with wi-fi when available, or on the same networks as any
"smart" cell phone.

The screen is very bright and usable "indoors," and the Zagg keyboard
is easy to use, even for someone with clunky fingers like mine. On the
boat, I mostly use the device to find venues and services at the
various places we visit…museums, restaurants, et cetera. But it also
works as a media server, and movies on its display are very
"watchable." The sound output, though, is not that powerful, so you
either have to use earbuds or plug into an external speaker.

Most of the apps available for the iPhone are also available for the
iPad, usually in versions scaled for the latter's larger screen. There
are quite a few apps available for boaters…one of my favorites is
"Knots 3D," which, as the name implies, presents good animations for
tying all manner of…knots. There are also navigation apps, weather
apps, fishing apps, just what you'd expect. My guess is that there are
about 100 boating-related apps.

Obviously, a decent laptop computer is more utilitarian than an iPad,
but...for simple convenience, portability, et cetera, I like the iPad
better than the laptop I used to use.
This is another lie. Here's the proof:

"It works with wi-fi when available, or on the same networks as any
"smart" cell phone."

Any tablet, iPad included, with wireless capability works on only ONE
network and the iPad can only work on AT&T or Verizon.