The iPad is OUT and while I’m known to buy just about every Apple toy that comes down the pike, I’m NOT in line to buy an iPad. Why?

One reason, “Applicability”. Every once in a while Apple comes out with a product that while it wows the crowd and leads the technology curve it just seems to “miss” somehow (Lisa, Newton, MacTV anyone?)

I’ve just got a feeling about the iPad, and it’s not a warm and fuzzy. Of course I could be wrong, after all I didn’t see the need of the original iPod either. But then I came to see that while it came when other music players existed it was the iTunes store that made it cool. Remember that Apple sells hardware and the genius has always come from the fact that they create software that makes that hardware cool. But I digress (get away from me Visa card!!)

So to the question, “Why in the hell do I need one?” (I’m warning you Visa, I have a Glock!)

Well there is the cool factor I guess. But then what? After the cool factor what happens? Just what does the iPad do that my iPod touch, my Macbook Pro (unibody) and my desktop Mac doesn’t do? The answer is “Not much”. Yeah you can surf and read email, oh and books – like when is the last time I read a book except on the – well can.

(By the way, can you imagine how many of these will accidentally land in the toilet?)

Apple calls the iPad something between the iPod Touch and a Mac, but even that is a bit vague.

Of course judging from the crowds that have shown up for it and that Apple sold nearly 500,000 of them in pre-sales, maybe that doesn’t matter.

Could it be just the cool factor, or the start of something big? Of course like a lotto ticket, you have to buy one to have a chance to win.

Like I said, it’s my birthday, and I’ve got to go.

I think I may just buy the iPad anyway! Come on Visa get the car warmed up!