My first true Apple device was an iPad 2.
I'm ignoring the little iPod I was given as a gift, when I was still Windows everything, iTunes on a entry-level PC laptop nearly killed me. I couldn't understand why anyone thought this device to be revolutionary - and was completely in the camp of those criticising Apple for its locked down policies, and forcing everything to be done through iTunes on the laptop. iTunes was (still is??) absolutely horrendous on anything other than a Mac. I know that now - but didn't at the time. I was equally annoyed by the apparent lack of anything resembling a manual, and found nothing 'magical' about discovering 'shortcuts' (adding songs to playlists) accidentally months after having been using the device. In short - I was the typical Apple hater that was quite prepared to jump on the bandwagon and moan about everything being different and restricted...
When the iPad came out - I was fascinated. About a year(?) later, I changed jobs. It involved plenty of meetings, and taking plenty of notes. Loved my Moleskine notebooks - still do - but with all those meetings, it wasn't long before I sat in meeting A, and realised something that was said [and I had taken notes on] several months back in meeting G, was in notebook 1, not notebook 4 I had with me... Since I still had that entry level PC laptop, it wasn't really feasible lugging it around. So I started looking more closely at the iPad.
When a colleague bought one of the iPad 1s round to the office, I distinctly remember him showing off that Tom Cat(?) app, that repeats what you say, and interacts with you, depending on how you touch the screen. It was a kid's game - but amusing for adults too - but it was me seeing the possibilities of how you could interact with what was on the screen, that had me thinking there was no doubt scope to use this as a replacement for my notebooks.
Eventually, the iPad 2 was released, and I took the plunge.
It was easily one of the most expensive tech devices I had ever purchased, and my SO was understandably sceptical about spending so much on something that could effectively be done by a pen and paper. Consequently, I productivity-ied the hell out of that thing. Everything was incredibly locked down.
I still remember my 1st 'workflow', of which I was very proud, cobbling together things found on the web - to take care of all the ridiculous hoops that had to be jumped through to get a written [stylus] note in NoteTakerHD into PDF form, to then be emailed out and, eventually - using tags and IFTTT - to get that pdf into Dropbox, which Hazel back on my Mac, could find and send off to PDFPen to OCR for me...
That was in mid-2012, but prior to that, it really was a case of making do with what app you were using's functionality - if it didn't offer what you needed, you either swallowed, or kept looking for something similar that gave you what you needed. And this really was for basic functionality - it's quite frankly mind-blowing to see how far iOS has come on the iPad over the past several years. I know there is still much to be done - but compared to what things were like initially, it's almost unrecognisable!
When Apple announced sharing notes and photos and the like - that would have been roundabout iOS 5, IIRC - it happened to be time for an upgrade to my Blackberry. Took the plunge on an iPhone 4s. To say I was underwhelmed, would be an understatement of note.
I had always lusted after them, but in these parts - they were (initially at least) always way, way, waaayyy more expensive that the Blackberry's and Android devices on contract. So when I finally opened mine up, and switched it on - granted, my expectations were high after the wait - it was essentially a miniature version of my iPad 2. I remember finding it quite discomfiting, and took several weeks to get used to. I guess I had the "it's simply a bigger iPhone: Lame" reaction in reverse.
With iPad and iPhone in the bag, when the laptop started blue-screening, I took the plunge on my 1st Mac - a MBP. Two years later, and I bought a Mac Mini. And two iPads for the wife and daughter. Then an iPad Air. Then a MBA for the wife. Then an iPad Pro 12'9. The whole family is now full-tilt in on Apple devices, and it all started with that iPad 2.
Touching on what was said above - regarding appreciation etc. - given that I have always treated my iPads as first-and-foremost "work" devices, followed quite a bit behind as media/play devices - I have been acutely focused on iOS productivity. I am nowhere near the likes of Viticci et al in terms of their iPad use, but I know my way around iOS. And I am extremely appreciative of what it can do today, compared to where it was, a mere 4/5/6 years ago!
over 4 yrs ago when I got the iPad 3, then I jumped on the iPhone wagon 2 yrs later. On my 3rd iPhone & 2nd iPad, 'am looking forward to the 10th yr anniversary upgrades. 