They carefully pull out their Apple device. I admire it, then ask: "So where do you insert the DVD, how do you bang out a long e-mail on a touch keyboard, and do you know what I paid for my little (Lenovo ThinkPad X30) laptop compared to what you paid for this iPad?"

I do understand the iPad is thin, light, and easy to travel with. I get the advantages of portable entertainment. But if you don't need the prestige of having the latest-and-greatest tech, I believe you can get all that and much more for much less than the cost of a new tablet. All you have to do is tote around another measly pound or two.

If you're willing to take a chance on used equipment, Craigslist fans have the opportunity to find slightly older laptops starting at about $200. Also check out .

Here are the top reasons I think my used ThinkPad--which I paid about $200 for--crushes your iPad 2, which new, starts at $499 and can run more than $800, depending on the configuration. (Of course, a used iPad 1's price would be lower. Prices for formerly owned original iPads started at around $400 on Craigslist the day I checked.)