Turn it sideways and it is about the same size as reading a paperback book. What's the problem?
For me, its not portable, its luggable. I have 4 laptops of varying degrees of portability and capability and do not need a "fragile" glass faced device that I have to worry about dropping or breaking.
It is too big to be held in one hand conveniently for long periods of time while reading. I like to read in bed and on the airplane. The smaller size of the IPONE or the Kindle along with lighter weight works fine for me.
Personally I think that the IPAD is aimed at non-computer users. Its designed to be dumbed down so it is optimized for semi literate non-computer users. It opens up a new market for them.
From a marketing viewpoint they dont want to kill their other successful paroducts. It needs to be differentiated from the higher end IPODs and Iphone. I dont see it being buffed to the point where it will compete with their laptops either.
I think that there were a lot of dicsussions about "why" before they locked down the configuration of the IPAD. It makes no sense to invest a ton of money in bringing out a new product that just kills off other successful devices that are already far down the profit curve. The return on investment is bad.
I can see the IPAD being attractive to early adopters, hell we will buy anything that looks cool and has a display . .. just because. Then figure out what to do with it later.
But I think its really directed at least initially at grandma who wants to see the grandkids pictures and is afraid or unwilling to learn how to use a Mac. Its designed to be an appliance like device. Push the right button on the pretty screen and you can see the kids pictures. Easy.
I can also see Apple watching the data carefully and at some point deciding to bring out an IPAD2 or 3 that starts to bring in the capabilities of a low - mid range laptop. I could even see a gradual migration to the IPAD becoming the new standard for a laptop, but I think it will have to change to get there.
People who are power users, business users spend hours a day typing on a keyboard. No keyboard means they will NOT adopt it as a laptop replacement. It needs to have a real, high quality keyboard and mouse to be a laptop replacement.
It needs to be truely portable and that means some kind of integral protection for the display.
It needs to have a mouse and usb ports and sound and if you go that far it needs HDMI.
But I think that is for later. They are purposly limiting its functionality right now and watching where to take it next.
I have decided to wait another couple of months to see what the next IPAD looks like, if the price comes down like the IPHONE did and how Dell and others react. If Dell or HP actually bring out a true tablet PC with business capability it will be very attractive. Unfortunately I dont think that will happen and I am still thinking its an IPAD for me, but it will be mostly for my wife who is not a power user and a netbook replacement for her.[/QUOTE]
Have you held one in your hand to validate those comments? At 1.5 lbs I don't think it will be all that much of a strain. As far as I can tell it is no bigger nor heavier than a hardcover book and a lot thinner. Yet books are considered the ultimate portable media. Get a case to protect it...the binder case apple is selling is reinforced and soft on the inside to not scratch the screen. Wouldn't be any more inconvenient than carrying a periodical...throw it in a bag or briefcase, or carry it under your arm. I think you are overthinking what the device is and how large it is....it's not big at all.
