iTampon will destroy netbooks due to 'magic', according to Apple.

"iTampon"? can't it be called by the name apple has given it? let's be a little more mature here.

It will have its niche and adherants, but will they be enough? The newton had those, but not enough of them.  We shall see.

But it will not kill the netbook.

I'd rather a netbook over an ipad. It seems king of gimmicky to me. I don't care for apple products though, so my opinion is bound to be slanted.

I have no doubt that it will sell alot. But realistically for me, it's just not a practical option. I would get more benefit from a laptop/netbook. It does look kind of cool though. I like the thin design. Not so much the bevel though.

Why would we do that?  When the company in question is talkign about unicorns and fairy dust.

Anyone else notice in Starcraft II there are advertisements for the "iPistol?"

ok, be mature than apple. we aren't in middle school anymore.

/me never was....doesn't exist here....;)

I have more issue with Apple needing to prefix everything with 'i'.

Poor bastard Asimov is bound to get sued by Jobs one day....when the latter learns to read...and discovers 'I Robot'....;p

Hehe, I have to pay that one.  

It's getting to the point (with Jobsy, that is) where I'm scared to say ifarted... in case he claims to have invented it and the bastard sues me.

Wouldn't do him any good anyhow... cos ibroke.

Somehow, I think he'd start with these guys:

http://www.irobot.com/

The people that made the movie I Robot will get sued too right?

So when some lawyer realizes it isn't magic what do you think the resulting lawsuit will cost?

I have no idea why the iPad is so hyped.

I can't honestly think of HOW I'm supposed to use the device. Laying it flat on a table would suck (you'd have to hunch over). Even if it was propped up with something, then you wouldn't be able to type efficiently (making it an oversized iPod Touch...and I already have an iPhone). You could hold it like a clipboard, but then typing is completely inefficient. I suppose it might work this way if it had perfect handwriting recognition, but I'm doubtful to say the least.

The only practical use of this thing that I can think of is for an artist who might use it to sketch things out. Then it seems like a natural fit. But otherwise....I don't know what practical use this has.

I was reading an article on Ars and one of the editor's had the same initial thought I did- while it does fit between a cell phone and a laptop, but it takes all the worst features of both. It's too big (and not a cell phone, but let's pretend) to really replace my cell phone and/or take with me everywhere. And if I'm going to a place that I intend to do some work or kill a fair amount of time, I'd prepare and bring a laptop/netbook with me since it can simply do more. The iPad just doesn't seem to fit in anyone's lifestyle realistically.

I don't think it's hyped.  I think that since Steve Jobs called the ipad magic, the apple cultists have begun rejoicing that the second coming is happening soon.

They should be. By making a movie that all but completely disregard the book it's named after...

It's either an iphone suffering from overkill (try fitting that into your shirt/jacket/pants pocket)... or an under-cooked laptop/netbook that's too short to be on the team but still wants to play (will try sneaking on the team bus so as not to feel left out. 

In my book, it's neither here nor there and is a wannabe piece of tech that mostly iZealots (others who believe the hype) would/will buy.  Dunno if I'd take it if one were given to me... and I sure as hell wouldn't steal one... don't wanna get tarred with that (Apple/Mac zealot) brush, do I!

I never read the book but I liked the movie.

It can do so many things!  But not more than one at a time.   And it does them all pretty badly.   But it can do so many things!

Bit like Jobsy these days, eh!  Not as quick as he used to be (getting older/sick n' all), so the one task design is intentional.... so's he can keep up with it/has less to think about/remember.

That's not surprising!  'Twas to be expected, though, given Jobsy's feeble (read piss weak) ad campaign that ran down/cast aspersions on MS/Windows/Vista/Win 7.  Yup, Jobsy's gone off the boil orright.  I mean, surely he had to know that the iPad would be likened/associated with feminine hygiene products, right? 

Yet it was still named the iPad.

I can see where Jobsy was going with this one... or at least see his reasoning.... as in feminine hygiene products (such as the Kotex) have more than one use.  Like mechanics use them to mop up oil spills; surgeons use them to mop the sweat from their brow so they don't drip into the patients wounds; teachers use them to clean off the black/whiteboard, and some truck drivers carry them aboard their rigs to help stem the flow of blood in the event of a serious accident. 

Dunno that the iPad will stem the flow of Apple's life's blood (these days Jobsy looks like he could use a transfusion) but one can only hope the iPad dies a quick and painless death... before Apple/Jobsy comes up with the iCondom as protection/prevention against viruses, etc.

Bit like the 'Jack of all Trades'.... master of none!

Oh, and on the subject of Jobsy's illness, rumour (and yes, that IS the correct spelling) has it that it is AIDS (Apple Induced Diahorrea Syndrome) ans is probably terminal.

Jack of all trades?  It does less then an ipod touch and has no multitasking.

It's a jack of pretty internet surfing, and looking cool to paris hilton wannabees.

How true....;)

OK, so maybe I exaggerated a lit.... er, a lot.

See above.... Jobsy made it that way so's he can keep up.  It's a bit like me these days... getting older n' all!  If I put a load of laundry on while getting breakfast, I end up with marmalade in the washer and detergent on my toast.  Yeah, it's probably best I stick to one thing at a time.... wouldn't wanna be thinking 'afternoon delight' while having to deal with the meat grinder to make burger patties, would I!

Ah, but it's magic... so it'll appeal to Elizabeth Montgomery/Samantha Stephens wannabes, not just the Britney, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan wannabes.  One would hope the Britney Edition would have a frequent popup... to constantly remind her to put on some knickers. 

Like what's with that... starlets and singers these days, getting about flashing their bedroom bits in public?  Hehe, and getting into fashion and fragrances, etc??  Not that it did Lindsay Lohan any good... word has it her foray into fashion was/is a flop, and no amount of iPad magic is gonna resurrect that career.

On the subject of Lindsay Lohan, I saw a discussion on starletsmisbehaving.com with regard to nude pics of her circulating the internet... one commenter reckoned he couldn't see what all the fuss was about and that he'd rather see her in those fashion flops. 

Dunno what that has to do with the iPad, but it was an interesting tidbit at the time.

I was thinking shot!

The I, Robot movie ain't that bad once you realize it was meant to be a completely separate story and only got the name of Asimov's book by executive meddling a couple weeks before release, who were trying to take advantage of their newly-acquired "IP".

As for the topic at hand, it's clear Apple realizes their sales highly depend on the Reality Distortion Field they're able to project, and this is nothing but a (failed) attempt to increase its range. The loyalists continue to be loyal, the indecisive continues to not really care, and everybody else is still laughing at it. Their magic has convinced absolutely no one.