I’d been following the buzz about the new toy from Apple for a while, but from afar. So I wasn’t one of those who were up at the crack of dawn (AET time) this morning to see the iPad launch. Instead, I did my usual: I surfaced slowly, checked twitter on my iPhone and watched as a torrent of disappointment streamed through my feed.

Simply put the geeks don’t like it. My initial reaction to their opinions was that I too was a bit let down. They made it sound like a giant iPod Touch – which is what I had feared. Nevertheless I did next go to watch the iPad introduction video. As I watched, I could see that this new toy is going to be far more than a giant iPod, or an iBook for that matter.

I was now genuinely excited. Jonathan Ive and the team had designed something with me (or rather someone like me) in mind. My reaction on twitter sort of sums this up: “Who will buy it? Us old farts who like to sit & read the paper on a Sunday in the lounge with a latte“. The thing is you’ve got to watch how the guys in the video play with it. It’s designed to be used in a different way to any other computer. I reckon it’ll be picked up and put down more like a book, magazine or newspaper; not a laptop. And that’s the point. The iPad is potentially more usable than conventional print media. This is the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for!

To explain where I’m coming from, my doctoral thesis (completed way back in 2003) aimed to use the hypermedia and kiosk technology of the time to replace conventional paper-based engineering drawings and work instructions. When we piloted our solution, the users’ main complaint was that the electronic solution was not as versatile and usable as the existing technology. Today, we may well have the solution that will at least be as good as paper-based technology in the iPad.

Another key feature is the price point at which Apple has pitched it. At US$499, the iPad represents astonishing bang for your buck. This will not only enable it to compete with other eBook hardware such as the Kindle, but also encourage the traditional early adopters to buy one (even if they don’t like it, or can’t initially think of a use for it). Plus, as with the iPod, this low price will bring new users to it, creating a whole new market segment. I could even envisage my 80 year old Grandfather who’s never used a computer “because they’re too complicated” using one.

And this leads me back to my key point: it’s not for the tech geeks; it’s for those of us who couldn’t care less about the technology, but just want something to access content. This new toy is not designed for those who want to create content, or even contribute to it; it is instead for those who merely digest it. The way I see it, if you want to create content, you use your iMac; but if you want to check the footy scores or read the news, you use your iPad. It’s that simple. There’s a place for both in the home. In the workplace, it may be a different matter; and for my profession, the iPad could revolutionise lectures and seminars.

So I reckon I’ll be buying one eventually, but first I need a new iMac for the new blog I’m creating. I’ll also need a new chair in which to digest the content from my someday-to-be iPad; and I think I’ve found the perfect companion: