Welcome, iPad.
Hello, iPad! Welcome to the world. It’s a little different now than it was when your parents were growing up, but let me tell you, Powerbook and Macbook Pro are so, so proud of you.
You’re causing quite a stir in the world, let me tell you. People are up in arms over whether you’re the next hot new thing or whether you’re going to live your own peaceful life, keeping to yourself like your Uncle Newton.
It’s because you’re different. Now, don’t take that in a bad way, we’re all a little different. But you, Pioneer, are the first of your kind: you’re accessible to all in both price and size and you’re beautiful to boot.
But that comes not without controversy. You see, while you’re stylish and beautiful and can access the internet without a contract, you also can’t not be adapted or changed or programed in anyway. Which is good for you, and good for your everyday owners, too. You’re less likely to catch a virus and unlikely to be taken apart to be left in pieces by a novice programmer. However, this means that you won’t grow as quickly as some of your ancestors. You’re not like everyone else, you know. You’re great for reading or finding a recipe or watching movies anywhere on-the-go. And you’re going to be famous for your battery life and portability.
But you’re going to have some adversaries too, dear. You’re not good for word processing and you’re not good for creation. At least right now. I don’t want to limit you, I want you to grow! I’m telling you your limitations so you can be aware of them and work beyond them. Don’t worry, you’ll have help along the way, though not like your parents did. Most of your new upgrades and software will come from the top programmers, not from tinkerers and techies with curiosity and a drive to create and make things better. I’m not sure how this will work out yet, but I will be there to see you through.
Are you a computer? An electronic device? A giant iTouch? Honey, I’m not sure. We’re just going to have to wait and see. You’re either going to live a life of fame or go out with a bang. It’s up to your owners, now…
The Interactive Edition 
I love this approach of personifying the iPad as a newborn! I blogged about it more like a general in a coming war. Maybe I need to soften up my metaphors. Then again, maybe it’s both a newborn and a future general.
Either way, I think we’re in agreement that it could become something truly great or utterly irrelevant. It will be interesting to see in what direction it goes, and where it’s pushed to go by consumers.
I love the voice you took in this blog and the perspective it is written in! The iPad definitely has a mysterious future that many are currently debating. For now I am still a little skeptical, but I agree with you when you say that it has potential, and that its success can only be determined by the owners now.