The device has it's shortcomings, but that's been Apple's MO. When Apple released the iPhone, it was unable to do basis functions like send MMS text. The iPhone still sold over 5mil units to date and have improved dramatically since. I think it has a lot of room for growth and not to mention "the Apple cool factor". :thumbup:

:iagree: Regarding it's shortcomings. Especially the no camera part but it will
likely succeed for the reasons I explained to someone in a doctors office
this morning. This article echo's some of my thoughts.

Apple's iPad Takes Us One More Step Into The Future - All Tech Considered - Technology News And Culture Blog : NPR

It sure is a pretty little bauble and I want one but purely for the gadget factor. I agree with others that it is a glorified iPhone, or a iPod Touch on steroids. It really is just a gadget, not a truly useful machine but like the rest of Apple's stuff, the design and marketing is excellent and this thing will fly off the shelves. This coming from a daily MacBook user and home-built PC user so no bias either way.

I hate it. So much hype for something that is ultimately a let down because of Apple's tiered feature introduction marketing methods.

Next year it will have a camera and be 'revolutionary' SJ: "We listened to what you wanted and (instead of just doing it right the first time) now you can have it!"

Nowhere in that article does it say what, if any, problems the ipad provides a solution for.

Again, that article doesn't state anything about why the iPad is suddenly going to make the tablet market take off when intel/windows based tablets are still serving a niche market. What does the ipad do differently? What market is it aimed at? What apps does Apple have that will compel people to buy this?

I also don't understand how anyone can say it has shortcomings when no one has clearly laid out it's benefits over what exists today.

Not hating on Apple at all, I'm a technologist, and I don't see the benefits until there is an app that works better on this style of device than a non-touch screen/tablet device, or what problem this device solves. They are the same questions I would ask when any piece of technology is hyped as much as this.

because he has macular degeneration and can't see the cursor.

Wouldn't a bigger monitor and enlarged font/icons/cursor work better? It's easy to enable in Windows. (Just in case you didn't know, no sense in wasting money on a new machine if the current one can handle it)

The obvious problem that the iPad has a solution for is it gives temporary relief to the fanboys suffering from hypo-iGadgetitis.

But seriously, my family doctor has been using a Windows based tablet system to run his paperless office for years. I don't see anything the iPad offers that would make him want to get one. For all I know he may still get one as he's a bit of a techie, but it wouldn't be for anything useful.

In all seriousness though guys, those of you thinking on buying it wait until the next model is released, don't be an early adopter like I was. I purchased the Macbook when it just came out (Intel) that POS would run so hot it would burn my balls off. After the second week the touchpad button stopped working, I would always turn up at the Apple store for some reason or another :rofl:

Word to the wise atleast wait until the next revision.