Gift Guide: Apple iPad, the No Brainer Tablet for 2010

It's rare that a gadget feels as transformative as the iPad. With its recent iOS 4.2 update, which essentially brings the device up to speed with the iPhone/iPod interface, the iPad finally feels like the tablet we wanted from the beginning. The addition of the multi-tasking and folders functions is huge, and, if you've got an AppleTV, AirPlay should prove to be a nice way to seamlessly experience your videos and music on the big screen (and on real speakers). There are now tons of great apps available, and pairing Apple's own productivity suite (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) with a Bluetooth keyboard can even turn the 'Pad into a usable work machine in a pinch. Battery life is great (roughly 10 hours), and it's become our platform of choice for watching videos on YouTube, Hulu Plus, Netflix and Vimeo, as well as for checking RSS feeds (with our favorite app,Reeder), scanning the New York Times, and much more. It won't replace your laptop anytime soon, but it will begin to feel like an essential part of your digital life very, very quickly.