[PG-13]

The iPad is the absolute worst tablet device Apple could possibly have released. There is literally no way they could have produced anything inferior to it. I can forgive the Apple fanboys to an extent. When you're a fanboy, it's hard to see the world for what it really is. I'm a diehard fan of certain sports teams, and I'm not able to judge them objectively. Now the non-fanboys who are predicting the triumph of the iPad are just people who fail to understand technology. They resort to imagining use cases where "their mom" loves the iPad. Your mom isn't the one preordering the iPad. You are the one preordering the iPad. And at the same time, you say it isn't suited to "tech-savvy people like you".

[cglee]

I preordered one for my mom, who's never used a computer before in her life. Finally, I found a device safe and easy enough to let her dabble with. With an iPad, she stands a chance to figuring out email and photo sharing and basic web browsing. With a regular OS, she doesn't.

[tremendo]

Another underestimated Mom? Mine is 72, uses a PC with Win XP, first used a computer about 5 yrs. ago. She's pretty proficient with it for what she needs it for: email, IM and photos. My dad (78) is more of a computer-phobe, yet he still knows what to do with the machine. The incentive of keeping in touch with distant children and grand children, and friends, is quite powerful.

[cglee]

Why do you think I underestimate my own mom? She's been trying to learn to use a computer for the past 10+ years, and she can't. I showed her my iPhone a few months ago and she began to actually do something interesting with a computing device for the first time in her life.

[joe_the_user]

Spot on. I agree despite the moderation which seems a bit slanted in this matter - do me too, I've got the Karma.