Leave it to Apple to invent something that I've always wanted but never heard of before. Actually, I don't have any problem monitoring my applications/databases/servers -- I have scripts and tools set up on my main desktop at work. Sitting at my desk, I can have answers in seconds. When I'm working from home, I can Remote Access the desktop and have the answers I need in a minute more. And outside of working hours, I rarely need fingertip access to what's happening at work. But, there is one occasion when I wish I could have direct access to everything ... picture this with me:

I'm heading out to a meeting/lunch/break/whatever, running late as usual. Suddenly, out of the shadows steps a User....

User: Did the Kansas data get uploaded this morning?

-or-

User: Exactly how many characters is the Name field in the Network table?

-or-

User: Can you give So-And-So access to the metadata repository right now? I promised it to him two days ago.

Me: Ummm.... Can I get back to you on that? I would need to go back to my desk....

Now, I could carry a laptop with me wherever I go. But ergonomically, a laptop is designed to require ... well, a lap to sit on top of, or at least some clean, stable surface. When one is accosted in the parking lot or bathroom, laps are in short supply (at least those that one would want to take advantage of ... let's not go there.)

So, leave it to Steve Jobs to realize that I really need a device I can tuck under my arm wherever I roam. Now, when the inevitable User delurks, I can just whip out my trusty iPad, finger a few arcane gestures, rattle off some figures, then smile and say, "Anything else I can do for you?"