So, the iPad. It is, as many of you said, an oversized iPod touch. But I'd rethink the "completely useless" part. Are you sure about that?
Before we get into it, let me ask one thing of you. When you switch on your computer, what exactly are you doing most of the time? For me, it's the Internet. Chrome OS was designed to get you on the Internet as soon as possible, but they went a bit overboard (since your computer dies when there's no Internet connection).
Now consider the iPad. You hit the lock button, and it's on. You push Safari, and you're on the Internet. That's even faster than booting a Chrome OS Netbook which takes 7 seconds. If you look at the video, although the navigation and everything is exactly like the iPhone, putting it on a 9.7" display really makes the experience completely different and totally natural. As they put it: "Like reading a newspaper, or a magazine."
There are no new technology involved with the iPad, but again, Multi-touch on a display of this size is the innovation itself. Have a look at the new Mail app. The new Photo app. The iBooks app. If you've seen the Keynote, the absolutely amazing iWork suite, iTunes and Brushes.
I'm not exaggerating it when I say this. Multi-touch is a revolutionary UI. And now Apple has brought it to a full-sized display. When the iPhone first came out, who can imagine all these amazing things it can do today? This is only the beginning. Within half a year, we will see iPad do things that we can't even imagine today. Even as of now, the iPad can already do most of what I ask from my computer. Surfing the web, listening to music, checking my E-Mail, using the Calendar. Just because I own a phone and a computer doesn't mean that there's no room for this. There is a niche.
Now, what's to prevent me from buying this upon release? Only one thing - lack of multitask. Now, this thing sports a 1Ghz processor and it's running quite a basic OS. There is almost no reason hardware-wise why this thing can't do it. It's all to do with the software, which I have confidence that Apple will add in the days to come. After all, iPhone OS 4.0 has yet to land.
So, in conclusion: Multitask will land in the upcoming months, and by then the iPad will be doing amazing things that none of us can imagine with awesome new apps taking advantage of the 9.7" Multi-touch surface. Then I'll buy one instantly.
