The iPad is now firmly in the hands of 300,000 people, and millions are likely to follow. We could see a deluge of new tablet devices in the coming months and years as Google and Microsoft, among others, move heavily into the tablet game.

Pretty soon, tablets could be everywhere.

But now, as you read this, people are just figuring out how they’re going to handle what is arguably the first mainstream tablet – the iPad. There are the guys and gals who see themselves sipping coffee at Starbucks while they read the New York Times. Others who envision long plane rides watching movies and playing games.

There are also the people who are going to do the exact same things while sitting on the porcelain throne.

The question is, what’s the proper etiquette involved? Can you take it into the bathroom at home? At work? Do you wash the tablet afterward? Do you wash your hands first? Do you warn other people before they handle your tablet? Do you even let others touch the device at all? How is it different from taking your smart phone or e-reader to the bathroom with you? Are there different etiquette policies?

I’ll be the first to admit this isn’t the most comfortable of topics, but hey, somebody had to ask the question.

Kudos to the person who uses the most creative euphemism for going to the restroom in the comments.

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