Ok, HP have pulled their Touchpad from the shelves almost as soon as it hit the streets here in Oz. Does that make it any less of a useful device?

No, it does not. In fact, if you can pick one up, say, for less than maybe $150 or $200, it probably makes it a great bargain, and great possible Fathers’ Day gift idea.

It does have a good browser. It will let you attend to your email. It includes a Facebook client. You can install a Dropbox client onto a Touchpad.

It does not have the ability to connect to the mobile phone network, so it needs to be used somewhere where there’s an existing internet connection, and so, I think that, as a device for casual browsing and email tasks, say, while watching the TV, if you can grab one at a reasonably cheap price, it could serve your dad (or you) very well.