iPad

It's pretty much what I thought and I'm happy with it. I would like to replace my laptop with it but will have to buy one and use it for a while in order to determine that.

What I dread (and I've seen some already) will be the decisive declarations of failure, mostly based on individuals' desires that were not fulfilled. E.g. no Flash. This is a polarising subject. I detest Flash and laud the exclusion of it. To declare the iPad a failure based on vague opinions not backed up by trying it in the flesh is foolish but groans and moans will racket around our world for months. I'm going to try to avoid blog comments.

Based on reading accounts from those present at the YBC & viewing Apple's video, as well as reading some after-commentary (which as with the iPhone, always seem to be a rush-to-judgements favoring disappointment with certain feature-sets not being present), I like what this Version 1 model will do now.

(For those who've not heard John Gruber's interview comments with the CBC or read his follow-up commentary on Daring Fireball about the iPad, check them out. ...Very insightful.)

The Version 1 iPad features are well suited to how I will use it - as a living room & travel web / email device.

And as with the iPod & iPhone, I expect the arc of future, iPad versions to make this platform something quite amazing. While awaiting those versions, I will happily use Version 1 WiFi.

. . . can help pump up a product. I finished watching the video stream of the event and you could really tell the pause points that Jobs builds into his presentations were notably absent of cheers/applause and general woots of fanboy joy that would accompany an announcement made at a Macworld/WWDC. And I'm sure Jobs and his staff noticed, at points he almost looked uncomfortable for the lack of positive feedback from the masses. The negative press is out there and will be until the product proves a success, Analysts never fail to live up to the first four letters of their title, especially in the tech field. Anywho, those my impressions of the event, your opinions may differ but you'd be wrong :D

Look for Apple to be back at Macworld if there's a significant consumer product announcement to be made if it falls within the Macworld time frame.