Sometimes Apple can’t really out do itself. It’s like going to see an M. Night Shamalyan movie hoping that it will be as good as the Sixth Sense and  then leaving the theater disappointed once again.

The iPad is Apple’s latest announcement (since three years ago)and to many tech reviewers suggest that it isn’t the transformational device Apple enthusiasts were hoping for.

According to tech guru Walt Mosseberg from the Wall Street Journal he says:

It’s about the software, stupid. While all sorts of commentators were focusing on how much Apple’s new $499 iPad tablet computer looks like an oversized iPhone, the key to whether it can be the first multi-function tablet to win wide public acceptance probably lies in whether consumers perceive it as a suitable replacement for a laptop in key scenarios.

So here is my take on this new device:

The Pros:

1. Price-well sort of $499 is a good start
2. iBookstore
3. SDK-Software Developer Kit

The Cons:

1. No Camera
2. No Multitasking
3. Doesn’t support Flash-which could be a good thing  because of Macs crashing with flash.
4. Lack of physical keyboard except by attachment
5. No USB/SD Card Slot

After hearing the first few minutes of  hearing Steve Jobs keynote he still hadn’t mentioned anything I can’t already do with the iPhone in my pocket. From the audience’s muted response, I suspect many of them were thinking the same thing. Even Jobs’ Reality Distortion Field failed to hide the fact that we’re talking about an over-sized iPod touch.

So in my opinion, it’s like having a third or fourth car in a two driver house.  Do you need it? Probably not, but it’s nice to have options.  I opt to stick with my laptop and my iPhone.