[eGeezer]

Oh, I forgot to mention (I add it here, because I know so many of you hang on my every word and wait to follow whatever lead I may provide).

Now that everyone is done saying "who IS this guy?" "What the H--- is he talking about?" "Do they really allow egos as big as that into the forum?"

What I meant to add to my previous observation is that if I were in the market for a netbook, I would be in line right now waiting to buy an iPad. As a netbook, it appears to meet all my needs without just being just another small notebook (which I already have).

However, unless I were trying to read technical publications requiring "full size page" viewing, it would not see much use in the way of ereading.

Personally, I think the majority of folks buying an iPad will be folks who wouldn't have purchased a dedicated ereader (and will have purchased it -- the iPad -- for other reasons), anyway, and will get into ereading because Apple will be pushing (hyping) the ability.

Eventually, those who would have gotten into ereading to replace paperbacks sometime in the future will realize the limitations of the iPad for ereading and will end up buying an e-inker, or whatever unforseen technology that may replace it in the next 10 years, anyway.

While e-ink manufacturers don't need to worry about the impact of the iPad, I think they also shouldn't sit on their hands thinking they have reached the best they can be. But that was true, even before the iPad came along.

Its nice, however, that the iPad is no longer a nebulous cloud and we can get on with our lives.