[mrweasel]

I would agree that the iPad isn't essential for home users, other than as a YouTube player for kids and a gaming device for old ladies.

It does however seem to have found it's way into various trades as an information device. For instance is has replaced laptop as the primary device in elder care in many cities in Denmark. It makes perfect sense to use an iPad, it's more portable, the limited interface forces developer to think hard about what input is really required, and it faster to"unlock" than a laptop.

The iPad has develop very quickly from a consumer device to an "Enterprise" solution. You basically only need it, if you can afford to have custom applications developed. For almost everyone else, there's the large screen iPhones.

Apple isn't going to tell us, but it would be interesting to learn how many iPads are going to customers, and how many to companies and governments.