The iPad bashing has begun. Everyone (exaggeration) is trying to figure out what it is. Steve Jobs tells you what it is if you are geeky enough to watch the release at Apple.com and non geek enough to listen. But the geeksters are not listening. At least not the ones I have been reading for the last few hours.
No, it is not a feminine hygiene product. That’s typical bash talk from the folks who can’t think of something really relative to say.
I read only one geek bash that got it right. The iPad is a portal. It is not a big iTouch or IPhone but it looks and somewhat performs apps like either one, but it is not a phone. It is also not a personal computer but some geeks think it should be. It’s not an iPod, it’s too big,
It’s a new tool that we currently don’t need, that can do things with existing communication and information systems that we already own. So in many cases we don’t REALLY need what the iPad does, as we can function quite well without it, but… maybe not well enough… Gotcha!
Let me say it again. It is NOT a computer; it is a portal or a portable display. It is big enough to function like an easy to see iTouch display and small enough that it’s easier to use than a laptop. It doesn’t replace either. It is not intended to. Apple is creating a new market to tie users even closer to the “buy it from Apple” distribution monopoly.
I remember when Steve Jobs and Bill Gates sat side by side in an interview and explained how they were going to change (control) our world of communication and personal information, Guess what, this is all part of their great plans.
Steve’s goal is for the iPad owner to buy more apps from the app store, buy more tunes from iTunes, and now buy books from the iBook store. It’s not cheap but Apple has never intended its products to be in competition with the rent money. I’ll bet for some buyers they are…
This first edition iPad is like the first iPhone. It will work as advertised but I am sure Apple already has the upgrade in the works. The geeks have noticed some technical issues in the pre-release example shown. Almost all of those issues are outside the purpose (or design parameters) of the “PORTAL” intention of the iPad.
The biggest issue however, is that some keen eyed geek folks noticed during the web browsing that Steve Jobs demonstrated, the Flash Video did not function on visited web pages. Many web sites use this display medium from Adobe. If it doesn’t work in the final version of iPad at release, there will be a lot of very angry new owners. You expect an Apple product to “just work”, no excuses.
Would I buy or recommend a version 1 iPad.? The answer is a big NO! A nifty toy, yes; too expensive, yes; will it improve? Yes; give me one? SURE! I know the limitations and it is not in my budget. It’s not that I wouldn’t want to have one… free! 
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