Just as people are considering whether they need the new iPad, some Central New York residents have found uses for it in their everyday lives.

The iPad is the latest gadget from Apple, Inc. that is a tablet computer for consuming print media, entertainment, and for internet access. Since consumers lined up for the iPad April 3, some said they used their iPad as a music player, a library for books, and even, for patient care, among other uses. From some consumer’s reactions, the iPad’s major draw seems to be its convenience, screen size and the various programs on it called “Apps,” available in the iPad App Store.

Tyler Brown, a sophomore at SUNY Potsdam, said he bought the iPad the first day it came out to read his textbooks for school and take notes in class. Brown, from the town of Philadelphia, N.Y., said he would upload all of his textbooks on his iPad using the Amazon’s kindle application or Apples, Inc.’s iBook app next semester.

“In stead of carrying eight text books, I can put all my text books on the iPad,” said Brown, 20.

Apple shipped more than 500,000 iPads to stores in its first week out, resulting in a delay of the iPad’s international launch, Apple announced in a press release April 14. Because of the pressure on the supply of units, and the number of preorders for the iPad 3G, the version with a AT&T cellular network, Apple extended iPad’s international launch to the end of May, a month later than planned. Despite the promising sales numbers though, the question remains whether consumers are ready to drop at least $499 for another mobile device and if they do how will these people actually use the multifunctional device.

People have found surprising uses for the iPad. A doctor, from north of Syracuse, bought his iPad last week, and uploaded his medical books onto it to show the diagrams and large pictures accurately. He said he also wants to use the iPad to entertain the children patients who come in for a test or treatment.

For others, the iPad has become their all-in-one entertainment device.

Alden Nadolski, a senior at Solvay High School, was sitting on a bench in front of the Apple Store, at the Carousel Center mall, downloading application programs onto his iPad. Nadolski, of Lyncourt, said he bought the iPad April 12 and uses it to listen to his music while traveling.

“I never had a iPod, Nadolski said. “But the iPad is very handy, and a good way to keep me entertained when I travel. In the hotels, with computers, I could upload my pictures onto it from there.”

The device does not have USB memory inputs that allow users to upload pictures directly, but through email people are able to transfer pictures onto the iPad, which has a larger screen than an iPod to view pictures.

Apple Inc. reported higher profits this quarter with a revenue spike of 49 percent to $13.5 billion. A large portion of those profits are coming from the early iPad adopters like these central New Yorkers who are beginning to find a place for their iPad between their larger laptops and smaller cellular phones.

Some people do not want to buy an iPad at this time because of its sticker price that can cost as much as a laptop, especially the higher end models that cost more than $700.

Yuvraj Kumar, of East Syracuse, was in the Carousel Center mall’s Apple Store checking out the iPad. Kumar said the price of the iPad is too expensive to buy right now and wants to wait until the next version comes out that is more affordable.

“It’s sleek,” Kumar, the engineer said. “The user interface is very responsive and everything is good about it, but the bad part is that it’s expensive for $500 bucks.”

Despite the price though, the iPad seems to attract buyers of all ages for a variety of reasons.

Tom Lawyer, of Daytona Beach, Fla., just picked up his preordered iPad at the Apple Store in Carousel Center mall Saturday. Lawyer, 67 and retired, said he plans to use the iPad for everything it has to offer including its portability.

“I don’t have to carry my laptop everywhere I go,” Lawyer said. “Its an additional resource for travel. I don’t like to be strapped down to a computer.”

The iPad is currently sold out in the Apple Store at the Carousel Center mall, said an Apple sales representative there, who would not release her name. That is good news for Apple since the iPad was not selling out as expected in major Apple stores at launch.

“People have been preordering them, and for two weeks people have not been able to walk in and buy one,” the representative said.

Launch prices

Apple is selling the iPad starting at $499 and $100 or more for the higher end versions; the iPad 3G, available at the end of April, will cost at least $629, and $100 or more for the versions with hard drives. The 3G cellular network plan from AT&T, which is required for iPad 3G, is sold separately and costs about $14.99 monthly.