iPad: well, it's a tablet...

Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the tablet-format iPad to a group of journalists and media enthusiasts today.

Several thousand people tuned in to live blogs hosted by sites such as engadet or the New York Times, myself included. I was less than impressed.

The device sports a 9.7" screen, is .5" inch thick and weighs 1.5 pounds, according to Apple. Jobs described the iPad as being a mobile device meant to fill the gap between iPod's and Macbooks, but compared to Apple unveilings of the past, it didn't revolutionize anything.

The iPad has been described by onlookers as a "giant iPhone." But a better description would be a giant iPod touch. The ipad has no SMS text messaging and no off-line phone capabilities.

There were some nice features. The iPad can run any iPhone app unmodified out of the box. It will have its own version of iWorks for sell, has access to iTunes, the app store and a new feature called iBooks which seems to be Apple's attempt to break into the e-reader market.

However, it didn't show anything that hasn't already been done by other devices before--most of them from Apple. It does movies. So does the iPod. It does the Internet. So does the iPhone and iPod touch.

Like the iPhone, it still lacks Adobe Flash support. It also can't multi-task and has no slots for removable memory of any kind. Unlike the iPhone, it doesn't have a camera either.

The one thing that I do find impressive is the pricing. The iPad will cost $500-830 according to Jobs, depending on memory size and whether its 3-G capable. In addition an unlimited data Internet plan will be available from AT&T for $30 a month without contract.

The iPad probably has a future with people who use their iPhones for playing games and browsing the internet more than for a phone. I have no doubt that Apple fanboys will buy it, but I won't be lining up anytime soon.