One of the absolute greatest thing about my iPad is the ability to carry around my docs finally! I have a reader for it that reads PDF files so I've loaded on my Carrara, Poser, and Silo docs and can now carry them around and read them (reading at about the same size as a paperback novel) when I want, in bed, at the table, in a waiting room etc. I can also have them open in front of me while working in the software without flipping back and forth

Another thing I really like is that apps for my favorite magazines. 3Dcreative, 2D Artist, Digital Artist, and 3D Artist all have iPad readers. The software is low priced and includes a free sample issue and you can buy back issues and new issues for about 1/3 of the prices in the store. The only real drawback is you don;t get the attached disk, but the tutorial files are usually available on a website, even if you miss out on the freebies. But again the are all portable on a single small reader.

Barnes and Noble, Boarders, Amazon and many comicbook companies also have reader apps, and you can browse and buy thousands of books. If you have the 3G version you can do this anywhere, I have the wifi version and don;t find it much of a drawback, there is usually a wifi  available to tie into, Starbucks etc.

I'm not a big fan of Apple computers but I do find this to be a useful device.