>>However all family members agree that the iDevice finally serves best as dictionary / encyclopedy and occasional gaming machine.<<

I agree. The built-in (inline/contextual) dictionary is great. I also found out that if I change the language to e.g. Japanese, then I get (industrial strength) Japanese dictionary in addition. For this reason alone, I am buying an iPad for myself when the time comes (the one I am using is company property). I used to rely on Windows computers, because only full scale Firefox or Chrome let me use the dictionary/translation plug-in. Android tablets (I have three) can't do it--they can, but I need to copy-paste and then use dictionary apps or Google translate; not as easy as Windows.

I also use my Android tablets (with ICS) to watch videos such as Korean TV dramas. I used to pooh-poohed iPad, because (I thought) it didn't have the video apps that I use (five or six) and it didn't have undiluted Firefox or Chrome. It turns out that iPad does have my favorite video apps and built-in dictionaries. So my first choice for browsing foreign Web sites (I read five or six languages) now is iPad (Windows is second). My only wish is for it to shed some weight.