So, by now, everyone has formed their opinion on the new Apple tablet device - iPad. The general consensus is that is an awful name and that it really seems like an oversized iPod Touch. These things are not easy to disagree with. However, I bring the following to the table for your consideration.. please investigate each fully and think about them properly.

• Original iPod Reactions - a thread from 2001 showcasing reactions to the original iPod. The sentiments are, for the most part, almost identical to what you are hearing now.
• I Need To Talk To You About Computers - an incredible writeup talking about the Old World of computing (wide open Windows, Mac, Linux boxes) vs The New World of computing (less multitasking, higher stability). It really is one of the best reads I've seen on the whole topic as it goes well beyond just the iPad.
• Barack Obama is Your New iPad - a quick writeup pointing out the absurdity of hope invested in this device. This sentence nails it: "Everyone was able to project their own fantasies and aspirations on a product with which they were mostly unfamiliar, only to sour on it once they realized that it did not live up to their impossible expectations."
• Free Publicity: Who do we help? - this one is less about the iPad itself and more about where our priorities lie. The author makes a myriad of fantastic points about how we give Apple massive amounts of free publicity by constantly writing about their products but only invest about 1% of that energy into our involvement with politics.

Is the device lacking features? Is it absurd that it doesn't have a camera? Is it frustrating that the walled off system that Apple has established is just being more and more accepted? Yes to all of the above. However, I don't think the device is "the next Cube" (or more appropriately, the "the next Macbook Air") but I do think it will take some time before it comes clear exactly how such a thing might fit into your life. I'm certainly not rushing out to buy one when they become available but I'm keeping an open mind.

It is entirely possible, and bear with me on this one, that you might not need this and maybe that's why it seems so frustrating.