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I was highly pessimistic about Apple's efforts at creating a tablet. Tablets have been around for many years, I've worked with a few and was appalled at the user experience of each and every one of them. Often because, as Jobs puts it (in regard to netbooks, but I think it equally so relates to many tablets): "It's clunky PC-software crammed into a smaller device."

I took the effort to watch the entire Keynote on it, and to be honest with you, it made me quite optimistic. Aside from the effect of the reality distortion field, I have the following reasons for it:

1. Pricing: starting at $500, with AT&T prepaid and $10 per iWork app.
2. Back-end: the bookstore is properly integrated, better than with most eBook readers.
3. Games: despite the Macintosh game deficiency, Electronic Arts appears excited about iPad integration.
4. User-interface: multi-touch, rethought tablet-focused design.

Admittedly, Apple is taking one of their greatest risks yet. After years of releasing products that became a big hit, they (as the article justly points out) are now entering a market that knows no successes, only failures and major disappointments.

However, at this point, Apple is the only company worldwide who can afford taking this risk. With major profits for several quarters in a row, and with their existing reputation in the mobile market, Apple seems the designated party that should make the attempt of "creating" the tablet market.

If this fails... tablets should be abandoned forever. For now, I would like to keep believing. But since I bought a MacBook Pro only half a year ago, I won't buy one. But truthfully, I do find it a charming device.

Edit: made a mistake closing a bold-tag...

Edited 2010-01-28 21:48 UTC