It should go without saying that I have not handled an Apple iPad yet.  It was only announced yesterday, and will not ship for nearly two months as of the date of writing this (if everything goes according to Apple’s schedule).  Even though I have not yet used an iPad, I’m as sure as a instant-read thermometer that my day-to-day activities would benefit from a device like the iPad.  In essence, I think I want one. 

Before I get to why I want one, and why I think other people will want one, I’d like to briefly identify what I like and what I don’t like about Apple’s newly-announced product (these being listed in no particular order).

THE LIKES:

I like that the device is not too big.  I carry a full laptop far to often, when all I really need is a screen to make some text available to me.
I like that the device is not too small.  I also carry an iPod Touch and it constantly requires me to zoom and scale and re-center.  It does all of this well, but would be much easier to simply have a larger screen.
I like that the battery can handle a day’s work.  I don’t like carrying a power adapter with me to court.  10 hours (or even 3/4 of that) gets me through all but my longest days.
I like that it is flat.  It is frustrating to have to hold a laptop up when standing in court.  It is distracting to have a laptop on the podium when questioning a witness or arguing to a jury.  It is annoying to not be able to open up my Macbook Pro’s screen beyond 110º.  The iPad appears to fix these issues.
I like that it has a color screen.  Color is better.  My eyes are capable of seeing color.  I’d like to continue to take advantage of that capability.
I like that it can do more than just text.  I may be a lawyer, but I’m not a robot.  I like music, photos, and video quite a bit.  I like the internet way more than I should (just ask my wife and kids).  I like that the iPad can handle these entertainment tasks with aplomb.
I like that it doesn’t cost $1,000.00.  While I will seriously consider whether I need more than 16GB of space and a 3G antenna (I suspect that I do), I like that I could get into an iPad for just over $500.  If I wait long enough, a refurbished iPad will be less than $500.  Nice.
I like that it can handle an external keyboard.  It remains to be seen how well it handles text entry on the software keyboard, but having the ability to use my Apple Bluetooth keyboard is a dreamy proposition.
I like that my iPod Touch apps will work on it out-of-the-box.  I have spent too much already on apps.
I like that it is said to have a blazingly fast processor.  I assume that those people saying it is blazingly fast are speaking relatively.  Surely it isn’t blazing compared to a high-end desktop computer.  My guess is that it is fast compared to other mobile computing devices.  Speed is a good thing.

THE DISLIKES:

I dislike the highly styled calendar and contacts apps.  From the screenshots on Apple’s website, they appear to be overdone to me.
I dislike the fact that it is running only app store apps.  I’d like to be able to install some of the software that my job requires, including Adobe Acrobat 9.  I highly doubt Adobe is working on porting Acrobat 9 into the app store as a .99¢ download.  This is frustrating to me because unless and until Acrobat is available, my current workflow in court and in the office is severely hampered.
I dislike the fact that it doesn’t sync over-the-air.  I’m tired of connecting my devices to ANOTHER COMPUTER to get content added.  When I use Dropbox and see how seamlessly it delivers and syncs content from my various computers I wonder why Apple can’t incorporate something similar in the iPad.  I want to be able to add songs to a folder on my computer and have them instantly sync down to my iPad for listening.  I understand that I can get some over-the-air syncing through various applications, but it is fragmented and not consistent through the entire system.
I dislike the fact that the screen is glossy.  I just don’t like glossy screens.  I don’t.  And no, I won’t apologize about it.  They bother me.
I dislike that it doesn’t have any video out ports (DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI).  It would be nice to have a way to connect it to a projector without tying up the dock connection port.  I would imagine that enough people will share in this problem that, if permitted by Apple, a third-party will develop a connector to handle this issue.
I dislike that it doesn’t have a front-facing camera.  I think it would be fabulous to use this device to communicate via video chat.  It would be dreamy to have such a device in this form factor.

THE WHY I WANT ONE:

I want an iPad because I constantly find myself wishing my laptop and my iPod Touch were more like what the iPad promises to be.  Sure, I won’t be hammering out HTML and CSS on the iPad.  I also won’t be using it to pretend like I know how to use Photoshop.  But beyond those more specialized tasks, I would use a device like this all of the time.  I would use it while reading RSS feeds.  I would use it to check and process email.  I would use it to stay up-to-speed on all of my work-related reading.  I would read cases on it.  I would read articles on it.  I would read scriptures on it.  I would prepare documents on it and print them in court.  I would sketch on it.  I would review photos on it.  I would share things with my wife on it.  I would play games on it.  I would use it in the kitchen and chop carrots on it.  Or I would use it to display a recipe involving carrots, but leave the chopping to the cutting board.  I would use this at home, at work, in court, in the car (movies for the kids while driving, anyone?).  I would essentially use this everywhere I go.  And because it is more portable than my laptop, and less intrusive, I would feel less encumbered and weighed-down by it.  I wouldn’t feel so conspicuous with it in public places (school, church, etc.) because it lies flat.

So, I think I have a need for something like this.  Do I think that applies to anyone else?  I do think other people I know would like to have something like this.  I think my mom would enjoy having one of these.  I think she would understand it even more than she does the Mac Mini I have hooked up at her house.  I think my wife would LOVE one of these.  I think my sons would eat one of these up (literally for our youngest).  I think students would much prefer taking a device like this to class, with all of the textbooks on it in digital format, with notes and highlights backed up and wirelessly synced. 

In general, I think this is going to be a winning device.  Could it be better?  Sure, just see my dislikes above.  Could it be worse?  Sure, just take a look at many of the products that have come before it.  Is this the end of the road as far as portable electronic devices are concerned?  Not remotely.  Will I purchase one in March?  Let’s wait and see.