Are your IT departments buying iPads?

Apple's iPad has been touted as a must-have product. Anyone who has an interest in new technology is eager to get their hands on this much sought-after item. As such, UK businesses are beginning to snap up the product to see if it can benefit them.

When silicon.com asked their CIO Jury if their IT department were planning on buying an iPad, they voted yes by a margin of 10 to two.

Stephen Potter, senior IT director at IHS, said: "Emerging platforms such as the iPad provide a great opportunity for business information companies to engage with their customers in new and innovative ways."

IT manager at Storm Model Management, Madhushan Gokool, said his company invested in a few iPod Touches when they first came out, and had very good feedback from clients and the industry about their use of the devices. "We have videos and images of our models and celebrities and as the screen is so great, it made everyone look great. The iPad is bigger, so it can only have a bigger impact," he said.

Is everyone rushing to buy an iPad?

Despite silicon.com's poll finding that the majority of the CIOs will be purchasing iPads, some aren't rushing to the stores to buy them.

Richard Storey, head of IT at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said the Trust will not be buying one immediately, although it may purchase one later as part of the Trust's strategic development programme.

Ibukun Adebayo, director of information technology at Turning Point, said rather than buying an iPad to experiment with, the first step for the CIO should be to identify a business need for the tool.

Despite the hesitation by many, the iPad is among the coolest gadgets of 2010, according to a poll by Stuff magazine's Cool List.

Apple's iPad is eleventh on the list, with the magazine describing it as "simply the most fun gadget we've used this year," the Press Association reports.

Looks like the jury is still out for the iPad.

Jodie Humphries

Jodie Humphries graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Creative Writing in 2008. She has worked for GDS Publishing for the digital group since July 2009. She has previous experience with writing for the web, running her own website since April 2007.

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