The Windows client by the way is best for DirectX games only now.

Microsoft's relevance is getting dimmer and dimmer by the day. 7-8 years ago, I ran Windows, I needed to know Windows Server and .NET dev tools for my job. I even enjoyed a WinMo Phone. Today, and for the past 5-6 years, the needs for my skills have changed: Linux Mac PHP MySQL I was asked a Windows Server authentication question today, and I couldn't even remember the answer it has been so long since I admin'd Windows of any kind. Windows right now is good for: Exchange Outlook if you don't have a Mac and need integration SQL Server .NET and other "enterprise" services to maintain what is there today. Microsoft would make more money if the ported all of their services over to *nix platforms, and sold licenses as a software company. Exchange, SQL Server, AD services, .NET development environments for *nix platforms would make them a lot more money, and make enterprise orgs happier, because then they could run *nix platform solely, with MS offered services.

Sure I did. I used to own a netbook. I spent money on it, used, and eventually decided it was not for me. I have also with great interest watched the HP Slate, and all the early reviews basically said that a full Windows 7 on a small screen with no real mouse and no real keyboard is pretty much unusable. Microsoft courier would be a game changing device, if it were real, but Microsoft can't get beyond a 3D artist rendering video, no real hardware to speak of, so, that is vaporware. Finally, you have to dismiss the bulk of what I have been writing, because if you did, it would invalid the point of view you have stated to me.

Actually, I am a 'I want what will work best for me an a given scenario' fan boy. I feel no ill will toward anyone who doesn't choose an Apple product, yet you seem be quite happy to flush anything down the toilet that doesn't fit in your narrow view. I use linux at work all the time. Linux has served me well professionally. Windows serves me well for games. When I like tinkering, I play with my linux boxes. When I like playing most games, I enjoy Windows or PS3 or PSP or DS or Wii. When I like to just get sh*t done, and not have to worry about having to tinker with it, I use Apple stuff. No one platform is best for all applications. I would never write a novel on the iPad, but it has its uses, and it is extremely useful for those. Finally, I am not worried about losing my credibility with you, I was simply giving my point of view, as all are allowed to. I was not trying to get people to buy and iPad, and I wasn't trying to steer people away from the iPad. Platform theology discussions are absolutely a joke to me. It is not a religious war, and quite frankly at the end of the day, you aren't going to Heaven or Hell or wherever you think we are going because I chose an iPad, and you chose an Acer Netbook. The fact that someone could be called 'stupid' as I have seen for making a choice that best fit their computing desires quite frankly is sad, and loses all credibility with me. Windows has a place, Linux has a place, Apple has a place, Google has a place. Has anyone stopped to think that all gaming platforms (while computers) are closed? XBox, PS1,2,3, PSP, Wii et al are all closed platforms, yet no one seems to say, 'boy cot them because they are closed, or because they don't have all the other features of their competitor?'

At the bottom he says: You probably want to save your cash until then. That is awefully confident and cocky. Like everything else in life, everyone has different computer needs and habits. I personally, love my iPad, and have convinced 2 other ppl to purchase iPads since I got mine. The iPad fits my needs perfectly. I have been waiting for an device from apple to fill the voice between the phone and the laptop, and this is it. 1.5 isn't a lot when you consider how much weight you would always be lugging around to get more functionality than your phone having to carry your full fledged laptop around all the time. Is this the best iPad that can be, hell no. Hardware revisions by Apple are always thoughtful, whether we think they get all our requests/demands in, or not. But quite frankly, if everyone found the iPad so unusable that you needed to save your cash until then, then Apple would make no money off iPad G1, and they would have no interest or motivation to make iPad G2. Apple is a company first and foremost with share holders. They have to strike a balance between what the consumers want and what the share holders want. If Apple made such bad decisions, they would not be the 3rd richest company in America currently. Apple is apparently pleasing enough ppl in the world. To think that they can do it with fewer items sold than Microsoft is quite frankly, astonishing. I personally bought the iPad G1, thinking it would be a nice toy, but wanted to support them, because I know if they are motivated to make iPad G2, G3 etc, it will get infinitely better than this first one. Do I like my iPad? Yes. Do I think it's for everyone? No. However, if I show you how I use it, and you like it to then why shouldn't you buy it? Are there things I wish were different in this iPad? Yes. But quite frankly, as human beings with our own thoughts and desires, no product is exactly the way we all think it should be. People still bitch and moan about Windows 7, they still bitch and moan about iPhone 3GS et al. If you like it, get it. If you don't like it, don't get it, but don't let someone else to tell you to save your cash. Read their (lack of) usability points, go play with one, and make the decision yourself.

I pre-ordered the iPad today. Does it matter to you? Probably not. Does it matter to me that you may not? Probably not. It's all about what people like. If I used Linux as a desktop OS, I probably wouldn't purchase one. I currently use Mac OS X, and have an iPhone, and would prefer to have a consistent user experience. Does that mean I hate linux or Windows? No. Well, maybe Windows :-) The truth is I use linux for the 100 database servers I design and manage at work. But at the end of the day, I like OS X for my desktop (and I have the money to purchase Apple and Apple related products), because it is sleek, elegant, and it does everything I still want it to do. My days of spending endless hours of tweaking my hardware and software are behind me. I built hundreds of systems for me, my family, my customers over the years, and the thrill of doing that is long gone. At the end of the day, I just want to sit down to a computer experience that I don't *have* to mess with. I don't want to keep up with kernel updates, or distro updates linux, or virus updates on Windows. If that is your cup of tea, that is wonderful, and I won't knock you for it. But don't put down the ppl that want an iPad at the end of the day either. It's their choice, just like it's your choice not to purchase one.