Despite the advantages, iPad adoption appears to be going slowly among scientists. Nearly all of the researchers surveyed by Macworld say they came to the tablet in just the last few months, and most say they are pioneers among their colleagues.

Im not really seeing iPads issued in my institute, says Matthew Gorr, a , in a statement echoed by the others. Its usually somebodys personal iPad.

Holme, however, is already evangelizing the iPad to her colleagues. If youre at a conference and youre talking to somebody new, you can call up the data (on the iPad) and show it to them, she says. Scientists who have access to that will be able to be more competitive.

And others say researchers will be forced to increasingly rely on the iPadif only to make a connection with tech-savvy college students.