So I have a shiny new iPad sitting in front of me. It is sleek, smooth and looks like an oversized iTouch. What is the draw?

Plenty! The ability to read articles, books and my email without having to squint at my tiny iPhone screen to name a major one.

Now what I was looking forward to with the iPad was to be able to access the iBooks application and use the fancy new iBooks bookstore, yet sadly being in Canada, my canuck Apple ID does not let me do that.  Oh well, at least I can purchase apps for my iPad using the app store just like I do with my iPhone… Nope! Since there is no iPad App store yet in Canada, I am stuck having to purchase my apps on my computer or iPhone, then transfer those purchases to my iPad.

Looking around the internet, to see if there is any news on whether the iBookstore will be available in Canada once the iPad is released up here, I am inundated with speculations, rants and here-say: no real information or news. It may be possible for me to try to get an Apple ID that would be recognized by the American AppStore, but of course the only way to get an American Apple ID is to have an American Credit Card or iTunes Gift Certificate. Why can’t I just buy an American iTunes store Gift Certificate online to set myself up with an Apple ID you ask? Well, it is a cache-22, without an American Apple ID, I cannot purchase an American Gift Certificate, without the American Credit Card or iTunes Gift Certificate I cannot set up my Apple ID. Ah the circle of frustration – All I want to do is have my iPad function like it is suppose to!

When I open my iPad, various other applications are non-functional on it as well.  It seems that Last.fm’s app doesn’t even want to open.  Whether that is due to a non-compatibility to the iPad or my being in Canada, I am not sure, all I do know is that I am disappointed that I cannot use the Last.fm service on my iPad (which for the record, I pay for).

The big problem I find with the iPad up in Canada, is the inability to access the Canadian iTunes store.  What if I wanted to purchase some songs or purchase some apps? Nope, that can’t happen since I don’t have that fancy American Apple ID for the American iTunes Store.

All in all, everything else is absolutely amazing on the iPad, though I will be waiting with bated breath to see what emerges when Canada gains access to the iPad iTunes/App Store. Fingers are crossed that the iBook application/store will be available.

~Deanna