Introducing the iPad (it's not what you think it is)

Earlier today, Steve Jobs officially announced the iPad, a tablet device that looks like an iPhone with a large 9.7 inch screen. For pessimists, the iPad is just an amped up version of an iTouch that falls short of true laptop capabilities (like running multiple programs at the same time). For optimists, the iPad will revolutionalize the publishing industry in the same way that the iPod revolutionalized the music industry (introducing iBooks, the literary equivalent of iTunes).

What do I think?

1. Bad name!
   I'm not the first one to mention this, but there must be a substantial dearth of female engineers at Apple. Despite Apple's great branding efforts in the past, the choice of iPad as the product name (as opposed to iSlate or any more female-friendly options) really shows a lack of customer research. As a female CNBC anchor mentioned: I don't like it...it reminds me of feminine products!"
   
   
2. Slow Rate of Adoption
   The iPad doesn't appear to represent the technology leap or experience improvement that would encourage the level of immediate mass adoption which drove the iPhone's dramatic success. In addition, the price point ($499 to $829) is substantially higher than a subsidized iPhone. In all likelihood, consumers who have been on the fence about buying a second computer, such as a netbook, will probably be among those to purchase one first.
   
   
3. e-Reading Gamechanger?
   I believe that the iPad will emerge as a dominant e-Book option for those who haven't committed to a Kindle. With numerous apps to download, plus video, iTunes & true web capability, the iPad provides substantially more utility than an e-Reader. And unlike the music industry, the publishing industry is excited to provide digital content, with 5 of the 6 major publishing houses already onboard for iBooks. The problem: the unmet need of quality e-Book reading has been already solved.
   

In the end, Steve Jobs reminds me of James Cameron. Both gentleman seem to defy the odds and tremendous amounts of schadenfreude to produce truly impressive masterpieces. And if Cameron can generate an unprecedented level of success with Avatar, a movie that many critics and the public ridiculed before its release, then perhaps Jobs can transform book publishing too.