iPad Travels Well
By 
I’m writing this post on my new iPad from 33,000 ft. This is a little experiment to see how well the iPad travels and if I can get the same amount of work done on my iPad that I can using my trusty MacBook Pro. So for this trip, I left my laptop at home.
The first thing I noticed while preparing for my trip was the fact that I can travel much lighter without my laptop. The iPad and case fit easily into the front pocket of my roll-aboard, which saved me from taking an extra laptop bag on board. I cut my bag total in half!
Going through security was a breeze, for once I didn’t have to take anything out of my bag. This is a big plus if you travel frequently and have to constantly get your laptop in and out of your bag. TSA rules allow you to carry smaller electronics, like the iPad, in your bag without the need for removing them at screening checkpoints.
Once on board, the iPad was stowed easily in the seat-back pocket in front of me. This is not something you can or should do with a larger laptop. I also didn’t need to worry about power. With my laptop I usually make sure I get a seat with a power port, so I can plug it in during longer flights. With the iPad, I was able to watch movies, play games and work without even chewing up 10% of the battery life.
The iPad felt very natural to use on the plane. It fit easily on my lap, or tray table, when I was typing and then later watching a recent episode of the Big Bang Theory. The Apple case worked well for protecting the iPad in my bag and was a big plus when typing this post.
Thanks to American Airlines installing GoGo Inflight Internet on board much of their fleet, I was able to quickly connect to the Internet via WiFi. I surfed the web using Safari and even put a big dent in my office e-mail. Surfing at 33,000 feet is very nice!
I was a little hesitant leaving my computer at home, but after this trip I have to admit that the iPad lets me do everything I need to while traveling. If you’re a frequent business traveler, you owe it to yourself to leave your laptop behind for one trip and see if the iPad is a good replacement. I did, and this just might become a regular occurrence.
