Well, I suppose "early adoption" is relative. Tablet technology as a whole was still in its infancy, but iPads had been around for quite a while, before I eventually succumbed. With hindsight, I'd have done better hanging on for the iPad 2, but the next best thing is always just around the corner, with technology.

I got a particularly raw deal, though, because I hadn't had it very long before the flawed upgrade to iOS 5, when the incurable crashing began. Initially, I expected a fix to be rolled out. It was some time before I realised it wouldn't, and I was stuck with an expensive piece of junk. Couldn't roll back the unfavourable U/G either.

T.

You pinpoint the real problem. The iPad 1 was initially very usable and, in that state, would still be. But a software upgrade has significantly impacted that usability for the worse and Apple, in their wisdom, make it an irreversible change.

Had a further blow to the usefulness of it this morning. Thought I'd watch a drama on 4OD. Clicked the application - it will no longer start. It says: "Please upgrade to iOS v. 6", which, of course, I can't...

Almost wish the thing would hurry up and die, so I could justify the price of a new tablet. Whilst it's still just about limping on, I suppose I'll make do with the incessant-crashing and ever-dwindling number of supported applications.

Just checked, and I see what you mean. Luckily, my TV does 4OD, as does my Nexus 7.

Yeah, my laptop handles it OK. But as someone who's not always very well, the beauty of the iPad was being able to watch in bed. The laptop's a bit cumbersome for that. Also more likely to go crashing to the ground and smash to bits if I doze off while watching. Just another area where the iPad came into its own, but no longer does.