I never got round to trying the original iPad, but on a recent holiday a friend's iPad 2 was the only link we had with the real world - so I gave it a try. OK, so it's just like a big iPhone when you first use it - that's great isn't it? You don't have to learn a new device.
What I liked about it was that you could simply pick it up, flip open the cover and off you go - no waiting for Windows to boot up and apply numerous updates....