It is rare to see such a polarized debate. You'd think we were talking about politics rather than technology. One day after release there are things the device won't do which are likely to be fixed and there are deeper complaints that are not likely to be fixed any time soon. I think we can all agree that they won't be rolling out Flash anytime soon.

What a device is worth is a personal question and it is particularly true when none of the competition has anything remotely close in terms of a variety of areas. If Google launched a slate tomorrow that was the same size, we have to compare a completely different list of apps and functions.

I don't think there is a person out there who could completely replace a notebook with this device 24/7, but if you are in an profession that bills by the hour, you might be able to pay for the device if it gives you X more billable hours in Y months.

I am going to jailbreak my device and buy a download backgrounder when the program becomes available, but i can stream music including radio in the background right now using a apple approved $5 app.

The big issue that I am seeing in this debate is whether Apple will open up a common place to store documents which can be accessed by every program and whether it will directly allow programs to address cloud based storage of these documents.

I own a notebook and a netbook. There are days that I would like to leave these behind and take my iPad just in case something comes up that didn't plan for. This device is very close and I think it is Apple's game to lose, but I think they are fully capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory by intentionally crippling some key features.

I can't speak for everyone, but there are many places where this device is simply easier to pull out and use than a netbook. The tablet format, the instant on/instant off make it easier to power up for shorter work cycles such as the thirty minute wait I had at my doctor's office the other day. I would never have brought a netbook there, but if I had my iPad, I could have reviewed, digitally signed, and sent back a settlement agreement which was semi-urgent.

I can recharge this device easily in my car. While I could recharge my net book, it would have required an extra brick that I rarely carry.

Knowing what I know today, I probably would have waited a month before buying an iPad, but I think the people who are blasting it are also speaking prematurely. Whether I get my full money's worth or whether I should have simply bought a Kindle DX for document review remains to be seen. What comes to mine is the old Mark Twain quote: "rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."