[tewks]

The biggest problems with these devices today are ergonomic, but these will be fixed with time and the laptop with keyboard will gradually be made obscure: tablets won't be the third device.

As the thickness and weight of the iPad decrease, it will become less cumbersome and more natural. iPad2 is already a big step forward in the latter two categories: it is significantly less awkward to hold an iPad1 but still has quite a while to go.

Typing today on an iPad is slightly awkward. Good voice recognition could eliminate this in private settings.

When these physical dimensions diminish, input improves, and screen resolutions increase, the experience will converge towards that of a truly interactive notepad or piece of paper, thereby becoming much more natural.

[technoslut]

While I'm no longer a fan of Engadget, I do find this article interesting but it's a typical response and misguided.

I agree with you that there will be such things as voice to supplement the experience but I think that the article vastly underestimates what mankind can do with a soft keyboard. While there are many that complain about the soft keyboard, younger generations will be able to adjust where today's generation cannot.

[tewks]

Agreed. I personally vary between delight and dislike of the soft keyboard. They can do nothing but improve and your note about young people adapting is absolutely true.

[jerf]

"As the thickness and weight of the iPad decrease, it will become less cumbersome and more natural."

Try this: Hold your empty hands in a "tablet position" for ten minutes.

Even if the tablets managed to converge at zero weight (presumably helium is involved), their ergonomic problems do not go away.

[tewks]

Most users can read or draw on paper for more than ten minutes. The user can still place a tablet on his/her lap or desk.