History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
- Winston Churchill

I have no problem at all with you reading on an iPad. The second half of my sentence said, "or doesn't care about the advantages of an e-ink reader". I probably should have phrased it as, "or doesn't care about what others perceive to be the advantages of an e-ink reader". I don't have an iPad, so as far as being able to see it clearly in direct sunlight I am only able to go from my experience with other back-lit LCD displays and from the impression of others. This is the first time I've heard that "the iPad is quite viewable in full sun". That's great.

As I said, it's all a mater of perspective and personal preference. I don't have a tablet because I haven't seen a need for one. Much of what others use an iPad for I use my phone for. I'm sure there are others that would feel that I'm using the wrong tool, but again it's all a matter of personal preference. I have no idea what is ideal for you and that was the point I was trying to make. I agree with you 100%.

I don't see how an iPad would replace a ham radio. In the case of those other devices it's only a limited replacement. It's pretty obvious RocketRabbit dosen't do a lot of reading or doesn't care about the advantages of an e-ink reader (long battery life, less eye strain, sunlight readable). In the same way that the iPad is a half-way replacement for those other things it is a half-way replacement for an e-reader.

It's much like a Swiss Army Knife. It does a lot of things, but if you are often better off with a specialized tool. However, if you don't care about it's limitations, you can cut down a tree with one. I've known people who swear that their Swiss Army Knife is the perfect tool for all sorts of things that it appears not very good at. It's all in your perspective.

Which is riding on the back of a gigantic turtle.

If you are coding in OpenOffice Writer you already have a lot working against you. You see, that's a word processor. What most programmers uses is a text editor.