Aside from the presentation on Wednesday, I was also looking forward to seeing what new product Apple would release at their media event.  If all of the rumors were to be trusted, we could expect a tablet computer that could cure all disease, save the world from destruction, and would allow for easy integration into our digital lifestyles.  What we got was something else entirely.

I want to get this out of the way before I go any further.  Contrary to popular belief, I don't own every Apple product ever made.  I don't have the Apple logo tattoo.  I don't have a shrine to Steve Jobs in my basement.  I do like the occasional shot of apple-flavored Kool-Aid, but only because I find it refreshing and delicious.  While it may seem to some that I'm an Apple fanboy, I'm not.  I've come to that realization over the past year, noting many areas that I'd like to see Apple improve not only their products, but some of their practices.  That being said, the idea of an Apple tablet computer didn't interest me at all.  Until yesterday.

I have yet to watch the full video from the presentation.  Wednesday night was the earliest opportunity I had to dig into the details a bit more and talk to a few people to get their impressions of the new device.

After a spirited Twitter conversation, and reading reviews and thoughts of the iPad, I had written the device off for my own use.  Apps are limited to those found in Apple's App Store (as opposed to being able to freely install anything I'd feel like installing on a typical computer), no Web-cam, no multitasking, no replacement value for any device I already own.  I didn't need it.  It was too restrictive.  I didn't have this and it doesn't do that.

I quickly found my feelings for the device changing.  Between some more conversation in the hallway at work and listening to other thoughts on the device, my interest is turning around.  I also stopped focusing on what the iPad couldn't do and turned to what it can do.  While it still doesn't replace anything that I have or fit into any area of my life that isn't already covered by an iPhone or laptop, I can think of many people who's lives it does fit into.

• The Traveler - With a screen that's larger than a smartphone as well as many GPS units on the market, this may be a perfect device to take with you in the car or on a hike.  Not only can you find your way with it, but you'll be able to entertain yourself and others along the way.
• The Educator (and the Student) - There will be a time in the future when paper books will no longer exist.  I'm not going to venture a guess as to when this will happen, but we've already seen the beginning with the Kindle and Nook.  Take that a step further with a device like the iPad.  Teachers can have their plans and itineraries on them while their students can use them as text and workbooks.  When working in groups, the tablet style is much more inviting than that of a laptop, making conversation and technological tools great partners rather than awkward neighbors.
• The Businessperson - Right after my hallway chat, I found myself needing to print out a booklet for an afternoon meeting.  With a device like the iPad, that could go away.  Relying on email and the built-in PDF reading capability, countless reams of paper could be saved.  Drawing from the earlier student "group-work" example, I have a feeling a tablet device would be received better in a meeting environment than say, a smartphone or laptop.  I've tried using a laptop in face-to-face meetings before.  The key word there is <i>tried</i>.  Not only was it an awkward experience for all parties involved, I felt like I was alienating a person that I wanted to share ideas with, simply because of the monitor that was propped up in between us.  Imagine running an app like Bump on an iPad during a meeting, and quickly exchanging information in an interactive way.
• The Doctor - Saw this one coming a mile away, didn't you.  Monitor patient information as well as get any other type of info you'd need on something that's slim and relatively lightweight.
• Families - One minute it's a digital photo/movie frame, the next minute you can pick it up and take it with you to read the latest news or share photos with family members.

All that being said, I'm excited to see where this device goes, and who takes it to new heights, whether it be developers or consumers.  Regardless of the vehicle, I can see many paths that the iPad can take, and most of them point upward.