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So Apple has released their long awaited (at least by the tech community) tablet computer, the iPad. If you missed the announcement the iPad is a notepad sized device that is essentially a larger version of the iPhone without the phone. It has a 9.3 inch touch screen, runs similar software to the iPhone operating system, and is available with either 16, 32, or 64 gigabytes of storage.

This thing has been talked about and built up for the last two years so it is should be no surprise that expectations had reached a point that unless Apple released a device that could read minds a lot of users were going to be disappointed. Check the news site of our choice and you will find plenty of people complaining about the iPad having this missing feature or that missing feature. I think they are missing the point completely.

This is not a device that will be replacing your main PC. I do think that it will reduce the number of computers that you need. In our house it is not uncommon for several of us to have laptops out browsing Internet sites or researching projects. Instead of using laptops I can easily see us using a couple iPads. As long as there is a PC in the house to sync to and manage our media files you are all set.

Another major point for this device is the interface. Most people in the technology world take for granted that the average user could care less what operating system or hardware they are using as long as it is easy to use. For users who only want to check and write email, browse the Internet, check Facebook, etc. the touch interface on the iPad will be one of the most intuitive “computers” available. Add in the ability to listen to music, and watch video and they are all set.

The overshadowed feature of the iPad is the new ibook application and store. While there are several other electronic book (ebook) readers available by adding an ebook reader to a device that people are already interested in buying Apple is set to bring the concept of ebooks to the average user. Imagine someone who already has an iPad is browsing the iTunes store and sees that a book that they were waiting for has just been released and is available for download. A couple of clicks later they are reading their book without ever leaving their chair.

Just as with the iPhone the success of the iPad will be dependent on the applications available for it. By taking advantage of their existing iPhone application library Apple has a major head start already. Only time will tell but I expect that by the time the iPad is available in 60 days there will be a lot of custom applications waiting for it.

Overall I think that Apple has introduced another product that has a good chance of becoming an everyday product. When the iPod first came out most users did not see the need for it but try and convince today’s teenagers (and most adults) to go without theirs. Before the iPhone smartphones were mainly used by tech users and business people. In a couple of years tablet devices such as the iPad will be another piece of everyday technology that is taken for granted. At least that is Apples’ goal.