It has been said many times already, but it's worth repeating: iPad is one of the most revolutionary devices that has come around in years. On the surface it seem like a cross between a tablet PC, a net book and an iPod, but comparing it to any one of these other devices doesn't do the full justice. iPad is truly revolutionizing how we approach the use of computers, and it is bound to have an impact on all of the other computing devices. iPad is an always-on, easily accessible and intuitive computing platform. Even though the ease of use is one of its hallmarks, if you have never used an iPod or an iPhone you may have some initial difficulties with using it.
This short pocket guide aims to take away the mystery behind iPad and help you make the most of it. The guide is written in an extremely accessible and to-the-point style, and from the very outset it takes you straight to the actual demonstrations of how to achieve certain actions on your iPad. It helps you navigate the plethora of settings and adjustment options, and tries to make sense of them. This is in fact one of the books's greatest strengths - it is not just a bag of tricks, but a clear and lucid explanation of the rationale behind every design option on your iPad (both hardware and software). Even seasoned iPhone and iPad users will find many valuable tips and insights, and the book is a valuable reference for the long term use.
I also enjoyed the format of the book. As the name suggests, it is rather small but I would still not attempt to put it in my pocket. The illustrations, although small, are very clear and help to illustrate all the relevant material. It is a very intuitive guide for a very intuitive device.
As a side note, I have written this entire review on my iPad. I still don't use it as a full-fledged laptop replacement (nor was it meant to be used that way), but with addition of an external keyboard it can go a long way of meeting most of your daily productivity needs.