The international release date for the iPad has been pushed back to mid-May. Boo hoo. Apple attributes this to the huge success of sales in the US - people apparently needed to get an iPad urgently to do some really important things.
The new press for iPad has set off another round of reviews making the now common quip, "there's nothing the iPad can do that you can't do with an iPhone and MacBook." Well, yes; but in another, more accurate way, no.
The iPad is a like a laptop, except it's cheaper and lighter, with better battery life than Macbooks. Yes, there are downsides, but they're sacrifices made to accommodate a more user friendly, nuts and bolts platform; you know, kinda like the iPhone OS. If I traveled a lot, I definitely be on board with getting one. (Not just yet though, I discovered after buying an original iPod touch that 1st gen devices are for suckers.)
Anyway, I feel Steve Jobs was very clear on this matter during the iPad keynote. The iPad is being targeted at a new market segment, not to Apple fan boys who already own several of every piece of hardware Apple has ever released. If you already own an iPhone and Macbook, you don't need an iPad. If you want a computer with basic functionality, (web surfing, media, basic word processing, etc.) that doesn't suck, (netbooks) and doesn't cost an arm and a leg, (all Apple products) the iPad may be for you.
Saying the iPad isn't a good product because it's not useful to a veteran Apple follower is like saying scuba gear isn't a good product because it's of no use to marathon runners. No one is claiming that the iPad is a necessary, or even useful product if you already own a laptop and smart phone. Although, I'm sure that Steve Jobs wouldn't mind if every Apple user with a couple extra hundred dollars ran out to buy one.
Oh, wait...isn't that what just happened?
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