Ipads for Teachers?

It is a slow morning, but I think writing about this topic will help me focus. I have been slowly shifting things off my desk, but I am determined to try and accelerate progress. In the meantime, I found two articles that are particularly relevant to a problem I've been having. Recently I was given an ipad because the new ipad 2 came out. It sat on my desk for a few months because I really did not have time last semester to reformat the whole thing, personalize all the apps, etc. Over the break I have become acquainted with it finally. Many who know me know that I have specific gripes with certain Apple products. This is possibly rooted in the fact that we had to produce our literary magazine in high school on ancient apple computers (which I mostly wanted to destroy with a hammer). However, I have some "real" issues with the practicality of certain Apple products for doing what I do. What is the main app that someone like me would love to use frequently? Blackboard, of course, since much of my computer-related teaching work involves blackboard. The latest version of this app is better than the first version I ever saw, but it is still limiting mostly because of the interface (blackboard is made for PCs) and the whole flash player nonsense. I do like that I can have dropbox on the ipad, but opening, editing, and saving documents still proves a challenge for me. I would love to be able to grade on an ipad, but so far I cannot see how it would be more efficient than my mini laptop (except perhaps the battery life?) because my laptop has a mouse and keyboard. Setting these gripes aside, I have made an effort to research what the most useful apps for teachers are, and to download them. I have yet to try them all out, but I will update you when I have had time to check them out.
I probably see at least one article a day on the usefulness of ipads as a teaching tool. Would I like to incorporate more technology into my teaching? Of course - I have found technology to be immensely helpful in my teaching so far. Some challenges and issues, however, include: 1) the classroom - yes, I know you can specially request a technology classroom, but even the "technology" ones can sometimes fall short of what I actually want - a computer attached to a digital projector. I realize now that ipads can project (but do not ask me how - I have absolutely no idea); 2) students - believe it or not students are not always ahead of teachers in their understanding of technology. Also, not all of them have the same technology - smartphones and ipads aside, some students still do not have access to any kind of computer in their homes. 3) pedagogy - we recently had this conversation with other teachers: is it really more effective than not? As much as I embrace technology in my teaching, I am always asking myself whether this form of technology is really helping teaching/learning or whether it is more like a gimmick.
Two articles sort of explore these two points (and also sparked this post). The first one explores the results of an experiment with ipads in a graduate class. The second explores a new teaching app and one professor's approach to incorporating ipads in the classroom. I admit, the thought of students quietly staring at their screens and communicating via this app is unnerving to me - I am used to an environment where students are looking at each other and me. Anyway, take a look at the articles and let me know what you think. Also, if you have any advice for teachers using ipads, please share!