Device will only improve with time as bugs are ironed out, so it might pay to wait
When an Apple iPad arrived in the office this week the crowd went wild.
Well, maybe wild is an overstatement but everyone in the room certainly wanted to touch, tap and caress the device.
That's to be expected. Apple has mastered the art of marketing its gadgets and creating new-product hype.
The buzz around the iPad has been intense so it's not surprising people wanted to get a peek at the device, especially just days after its global launch.
But my office show-and-tell also drew some interesting responses from those who gathered to view the device.
"It's great, but what's the point of it?" asked one.
"I must have one but I don't know what I'd use it for," declared another.
These were both iPhone-wielding Apple enthusiasts. They seemed delighted to have come to the iPad altar to worship, but perhaps weren't clear what they were praying for.
I felt the same way. The iPad is a pleasure to hold and use. It has the solid yet sleek, and beautiful yet functional aura we expect to emanate from an Apple toy.
The screen resolution particularly impressed me and the touch-screen performed as well as expected. It was a delight to put my feet up on the sofa, iPad in hand, and surf the web.
Screeds have already been written on the device's strong points, and its failings. My i-fan club in the office were quick to note one of the most obvious drawbacks - the lack of a camera.
We're still waiting for the 3G version to be launched and locally, the iPad still hasn't officially arrived so we're short of a mobile network partner, or any stock on local shelves for that matter.
That hasn't stopped Kiwis flocking to get their hands on the device.
Online Apple supplier Tosh New Zealand has been doing a roaring trade.
Tosh's Jens Mueller told me yesterday that the company had shipped 450 units to local buyers and had a further 300 orders on its book.
Mueller admitted he was also mulling over the question of whether the device would fill a gap in the market or if it was a nice piece of technology searching for a market.
Tosh is selling the entry-level version of the iPad for $949 (or less if they ship it to you from their Hawaii base, meaning it arrives free of GST).
This makes it cheaper than a decent smartphone, Mueller points out.
"The question is," he says, "does it have another use? I guess time will tell whether people need something between a laptop and a phone."
I'm going to suggest they will decide they do. I've given up underestimating Apple's ability to sell stuff. I expected the iPhone to bomb.
In fact Mueller seems to have part answered the "what's the point of it?" question himself.
He tells me that while he expected initial demand for the iPad would come from those buyers who were simply wanting the next great "geeky thing", he has so far had interest from schools who see it as a useful device for connecting to their wireless networks and at least one government department wanting an easy note-taking device.
I'm sure iPads will become as common as iPhones within a short space of time. The device will generate an entire industry of imitators and this will further secure its place in the world of gadgets.
Another entire industry will spring up to answer the question of what we do with the things. Within a short time they'll become an indispensable business tool for some, and a great social networking tool for others.
In the meantime my advice is to be patient. The general wisdom with Apple devices is that they get much better after the initial iteration as bugs are ironed out and functionality is improved.
So unless you've already bought one, keep your money in the bank for at least a few more months.
