I can see replacing my 13″ MacBook with the iPad and using my iMac to do the heavy lifting.  I can see using Dropbox and Evernote even more.  I can see converting all my current OOo [OpenOffice] documents to iWork which means that it easily justifies the expense [not that I consider iWork expensive].  In fact, I think that I could buy 1 iPad for each of my family members and then set up accounts on our iMac as the kids get older.  This would allow my boys to each have one for online games and Apps and their own music selections.

While my personal transition to eBooks has been slow, this may entice me to make that move.  I am using Stanza on my iPhone & it isn’t really a compelling experience.  I also don’t have a lot of reading time and find that Audible is a better resource for me right now.  I hope that this iBook software allows for marking and notes because that would be a big failure right out of the gate if it wasn’t included.  I hope that Amazon gets on board like Audible has with Audiobooks available via iTunes; especially if they can keep the books at the low cost they already are for Kindle owners.

I think this beats the NetBook model hands down even if it isn’t quite what I thought it would end up being. Now, a few weeks ago I published my own predictions for the iPad.

I predicted that Apple would release a multi-touch device similar to the JooJoo [aka CrunchPad] that ran Apps, eBooks, with WiFi/3G, iTunes, a built in battery, Lala, and the content aspects of the Sports Illustrated Tablet demo.  I was right on some items and we could still see Lala become part of the service package MobileMe [I was not the first to suggest this].  I will admit that I am still blown away.  I love the device and look forward to heading into town in 60 Days and testing one out.  I think I will have to get a sitter & take the wife to a movie to justify the whole thing.

I know that many people will not get it until they see others using it and that I can understand.  It was the same way with the Kindle and other devices.  I didn’t get the iPod until I owned one.  Yeah, until I owned one and then I felt dumb because I had not invested in it before then.  It was a mind blowing music experience and since then, I have bought a couple dozen albums.

New Prediction, iSlate with Inkwell for writing with a finger or 3rd party stylus.  This will be more like the Axiotron ModBook.  It will be slide between the iPad and MacBook.

iron wil

So, whether the tablet device looks like any of these [Prediction 1, Prediction 2, and My Fav!] or not; we won’t know until we actually see it.  I think that Steve will present it at an Apple event after his return.  I can see it a 10″ touch Screen running OS X: iPhone with more power and functionality.  With this, I see a new version of iWork for the handhelds.  A lighter version that will meet the needs of an ultra-mobile user, simplicity in function like we have seen.  Think, the ability to edit fresh shot video on the iPhone 3GS concept, but adapted for other applications.

I don’t know what I am more excited about; the new product or the future apps that will blow our minds.  Personally, the TomTom add-on for the iPhone ROCKS!  I look forward to seeing that work and in using it!  Apple, is still on the bleeding edge.  Products that innovate, that make you say “WOW!”.  I have to be honest, no other company is there, they are not designing with users in mind.  I just don’t believe that for a minute.  The corporate user maybe; but not likely.

Okay, the New App, would have to be iWork integration for the iPhone and “MacBook Touch”.  I can picture it and how it would work; but that is why the will have to release iWork for PCs.  I also would not be surprised to see iLife for PCs too; which I wrote about in August 2007.  It just makes sense to slowly convert people, like they have been doing for years!!!  It will get to the point where people with buy a Mac because they have everything but the hardware.  It will just be why buy all this when I can spend the extra on the hardware and get great support and functionality all in one purchase.

iron wil