What is an iPad?

Is the iPad revolutionary? Is the iPad a disappointment? Does the iPad fall a bit short of expectations? Is the iPad a serious gaming device? Will people prefer ebooks on a bright color screen? Is the iPad a netbook or notebook competitor? There are a hundred more question to be answered over the next few months.

My first impression of the iPad is that it is expensive and came nowhere near meeting the high expectations that have built up over the past months. That first impression was based on news clips, I had not watched the full presentation. So now after a few days have passed I sit down to hear the full presentation and my opinion of the iPad was changed dramatically but not in the way some might expect.

I think the iPad's success may come as a gaming device. Gaming and video were the areas that really impressed me and I will not be surprised to see the ipad's niche become gaming giving Sony and Nintendo some strong mobile gaming competition.

Of course there are other strong points of the iPad that cannot be underestimated.

Brushes for example was one of the more interesting programs. Brushes is a painting/drawing application that put in an artist's hands could be extremely interesting. The brushes demonstration actually made me wish that I could draw something other than stick figures.

Iwork with Pages, Keynote and Numbers will certainly spark some interest. Phil Schiller brought together a great presentation of iWork for iPad. I was really impressed with the ease of the automatic text wrap around in Pages. And the price of $9.99 each seems like a tremendous deal for the power in these apps.

Video and photography surely will look just as awesome as Mr. Jobs stated. I am sure that using the dock while playing a photo slideshow will make an ipad the best digital photo frame out there.

Music since the first iPod has been Apple's stronghold and I have no doubt that the iPad will continue that stronghold if not enhance it.

The data plans with AT&T at 29.99 unlimited plan and 14.99 are reasonable especially without being tied to a contract.

Working with the applications from the App Store will please those who have purchased many iPhone apps already. So it looks as though the App Store will grow from simple applications to a software super store. Microsoft meanwhile is probably thinking why didn't we do that, while Google is thinking why didn't we do that better.

That is the good and great of the iPad, but what about the bad.

The lack of a card reader in my opinion hurts the iPad. After all Job's trumpeted the how great the iPad displayed photography yet a simple card reader that you will find on all digital picture frames was left off the iPad.

Kindle killer? Not so sure that the iPad is the device I would want to read on. People spend so much time on their computers that I am not sure they will take to reading on a bright screen after spending their workday staring at their computer screen. Maybe I am wrong here but the Kindle with its electronic paper should have little worries about an iPad competitor.

Price plus data plan makes the iPad a fairly expensive device when most family's are struggling through a tough economy. Not many people are going to be willing to pay for internet service for their home computer, the a data plan for their phone then add on another data plan for this middle of the road device.

Virtual keyboard works for the iPhone not because it is liked it works because it is accepted on a mobile device. For the iPad I don't think virtual keyboard will enjoy the same acceptance.

Is the iPad your Mom's new computer? Is the iPad nothing more than an expensive digital photo frame? Is the iPad a new eBook reader? Is the iPad a television? Who knows but time will tell what exactly the iPad is but one answer we do know is that Apple has once again pushed technology ahead.