Alright, with all the hoopla about Apple’s new iPad, I thought I’d throw in my two cents on this new product.

Let me say that this gadget is just plain beautiful.  It’s slim, has Apple’s beautiful screen and interface.  It’s very user-friendly.  But, basically, I think Apple could have waited and just put out a better product.

In today’s world, you really need a camera on there.  How else would you Skype?  Video calls are pretty basic now-a-days.  A webcam is a basic feature.

Then, when you go to the Apple Store online, you see that there are two versions being released in the coming months.  In March, you get the Wi-Fi model.  In April, the Wi-Fi + 3G model will be released.  Why not just release the 3G model.  Apple’s been known to take leaps in technology, functionality, user-friendliness.  Compared to past innovations, the iPad’s first installment feels like a baby step to me.

Basically, other than some nice new applications (like the new Calendar, the GPS/Mapping application) this is like a big iTouch … not even an iPhone, I must say.

Then, you look at the e-book reader, and it’s clear that Apple is trying to break into Amazon’s Kindle market with this release.  That, in itself, is so un-Apple-like.

The Verdict

I’ll be waiting for more real breakthrough features from Apple before I jump in and buy a new gadget like this that I just KNOW will be replaced with a much better machine in the coming months.

In the meantime, enjoy this spoof: