Prior to its unveiling on January 27th, Apple's iPad was being portrayed everywhere (except on this site) as the next killer creation from Apple and would put competition to shame. With some consumers having said they would buy the thing sight unseen, you would think that after its debut interest would only grow. However, according to a recent survey, those now planning on notpurchasing the iPad has doubled.

After the January 27th keynote in which Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated the "magic" of the iPad, I was left wondering why it took so long to develop and release the thing. Other than the custom-made processor and the funky IPS screen, the technology that makes the iPad "magic" has been in existence ever since the iPhone was introduced in 2007. The iPad is simply a 10" iPod touch and doesn't offer any new tricks. It's not as magic as Apple says it is.

In a survey taken prior to the iPad's introduction and before we knew any details about the device, 26% of those asked said that they would not purchase the device. After the iPad was officially unveiled, the number doubled to 52%.



Not surprisingly, Apple has stated that the price of the iPad may be lowered in order to gain more traction with consumers. But I still don't believe that will help the iPad become ubiquitous like the iPod. We all have a computer and we all have a cell phone or smartphone and, as Steve Jobs put it, "Is there room for a third category of device in the middle?" My answer is, "No."

I like the convenience and functionality of my iPhone and I like the power and functionality of my laptop. Due to its size, the iPad lacks the convenience of the iPhone, and because of its touchscreen limitations and slower processor, the iPad lacks the power and functionality of a laptop. So, why would I want the iPad if it does what the iPhone already does but is closer to the size of my powerful laptop?

So, has Apple lost its magic? First, the iPad may still perform very well in the market once it becomes available, but even if its a flop, I don't think it means that Apple has lost its special sauce. Not every product that Apple releases hits a home run:

• Newton
• G4 Cube
• Lisa
• Flower Power iMac
• Apple TV
• Cyberdog
• Apple Pippin
• 20th Anniversary Macintosh
• Rocker (teamed with Motorola)

Apple still has a powerhouse of products. The iPod and iPhone are still hugely popular. Apple's share of the desktop and laptop markets continues to grow, and Mac Os X still spanks the most recent release of Microsoft Windows.