If the IPAD was 299 I think it would be the Best Ereader for me!
Since it's first generation and just came out , of course, early adopters get to beta test the thing, and so far , except for some wi-fi issues, it seems like a pretty cool device. I did go to Best Buy and handle it.
10 hour battery life with backlight is very cool, my netbook gets 2 hours.
The IPAD has changed the Ereader market, and it will take time to see that on this board. It's one week as of today that this device came out. But the fact that you can read PDF's and other formats without having to change anything makes it easy. And all the apps that have come out and will come out in future from reading standpoint will make this device only better and better.
The price is high as all apple products are when they first come out, but after a few months, the prices will start to fall and by xmas, who knows what it will be.
I might wait for 2nd generation IPAD, I don't know, time will tell.
But I agree with others, IPAD is a kindle killer and every other ereader killer.
Come on, I'm not gonna take this 500 dollar thing to the beach , where sand and other elements could screw it up, like I wouldn't take my netbook or notebook. And in the daylight in bright SUNLIGHT, my Itouch, netbook, phone, are all the same, it's hard to see, I have no problem finding shade.
So anyplace where you have a TV screen on or computer screen or any other type of LCD screen , these will be the "type" places where this IPAD will shine.
I think the IPAD needs it's VERY OWN FORUM ROOM!