The iPad: What were they thinking?

There's a certain Kool-Aid that comes with every tech product that was born on a napkin in the recesses of a certain campus in Cupertino, CA, and the taste is distinctly Apple. Most who support the products drink this Kool-Aid with wild abandon. For them, there is no other Kool-Aid in the world.

Everyone's entitled to an opinion on the iPad. Mine is that most people on the iPad bandwagon are Apple Co. devotees and Polly Anna types. They want to -- HAVE to -- believe everything Apple produces will be another home run. Let's not forget, even Apple knows how to crash and burn spectacularly: http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/top_10_apple_products_which_flopped.php

Some love it, some think it missed the mark. One of those camps has to be more right than the other. Right? I believe people who predict the future are asking for trouble, except we rarely hold any reviewers to the flame when it turns out later that they were way off base.

At some level, everyone's gotta be asking the same thing: What were they thinking? Even if you make all the excuses for Apple, you know you're thinking it.

You can argue that including Flash support would slow down the performance. I'd argue that the slow down would be insignificant -- use a faster processor if you have to. Everyone knows Apple products are expensive, so what's another 20 bucks?

You can argue that a webcam adds weight and cost. I'd argue that a friend of mine purchased a replacement webcam assembly online for $17 a year ago. I'm guessing Apple gets theirs cheaper. And integrated webcams weigh ... what ... less than a single grape? (Sticking to the fruit theme, here.)

You can argue that multitasking is only important on computers. I would argue that, for all this thing should be able to do -- especially for the price -- leaving out multitasking serves no greater good. It costs nothing (they already have the code) and adds no weight (okay, maybe on the atomic level).

You can argue there's no need for a built-in card reader. I'd argue that the list of things you can argue about regarding the iPad is growing quite long.

Everyone's scratching their head over the lack of USB ports. No USB??? The "U" in USB stands for Universal. How can you leave off something so U-biquitous in today's gadget world?

It's no surprise you can buy add-ons so the iPad can do more, like have a USB port. After all, the company thrives on expensive-but-practically-mandatory accessories. Here's the big question: If they see the value in adding USB support with their camera add-on modules, why not just make it part of the device in the first place? The iPad would have made the perfect photo previewing tool for photographers in the field, but now it's the IMperfect tool because something has to jut out of the frame to make it functional for photogs. A niche audience, perhaps. But has Apple forgotten who uses their products and has helped get them to where they are today?

I'm looking forward to the ads next year: The release of the iPad 2, now with USB and card reader! Or choose the iPad 2WC with included webcam. And coming this fall, the iPad 3 with all those accessories built in!

Ah, but I shouldn't predict the future.