The New iPad, Should Anyone Really Get One?

In my opinion, no. The iPad may at first glance be a nifty idea, but in comparison to the similar more open source competitor devices coming out later this year the iPad is just too limited in its abilities, especially considering its hefty price tag. One of the major limitations of the iPad compared to its up and coming competitors is that its source code, at least for now, will apparently NOT be available for outside developers to use in creating applications for the device. This is very much unlike how things are for Apple's iPhone, which has tens of thousands of applications developed for it, which is one of the reasons why that device is so popular. Apple taking a different approach with the iPad seems like an idea that will shoot the iPhone's ultimate usability in the foot before it even gets out of the starting gate. Android smart phones are beginning to overtake the iPhone in not only popularity but in user satisfaction rates as well. It is very possible that the Google Android (Linux based) iPad-like devices coming out soon will be just as user friendly and well received. Several of these devices will cost less than the iPad, though one can also expect prices for iPads to drop as well as time goes by, much as was the case after the initial excitement over the introduction of the iPhone passed. In other words, unless you really need it, and really...you probably don't, I would take a pass on buying an iPad right away, at least long enough to check out its competitors, as well as for pricing on ALL these devices to drop as they compete with each other. Due to competition, Apple also may later change its tune as regards the iPad's closed source operating system code, but by then things might be too late. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a recent purchaser and user of an iPhone and I really think it is a very useful and nifty device, but the iPad is not the same as a bigger and better iPhone. It is a different animal and so the potential iPad shopper should be very wary of buying on impulse base on any prior iPhone experience. If I myself was not an AT&T customer (and considering my wife was already an iPhone user anyway) I may very well have gotten an Android phone instead. The bottom line is that other tablet devices like the iPad that are coming out will likely be much more flexible machines than the iPad, but many users may not need or use that level of flexibility either, so what kind of user will you be?