Who is more famous, the iPad or Steve Jobs?

For what seems like an eternity the press have been telling us that Apple have this really secret product and the media build up to the launch was almost reached fever pitch. But, did none of the computer press see that Microsoft announced a very similar product a few weeks before – obviously trying to steal Apples thunder, and failing.

Sure the iPad is cool, sexy, sleek and the ‘must have’ product of 2010, but I find myself asking ‘what are people going to use it for?’ and ‘if I have an iPhone, do I really need an iPad too?’

Well I guess we will see what ‘really’ unique and useful applications will become available on these new platforms – and I hope they do, otherwise I cannot really justify owning one.

• Applications: It will run iPhone software, including any of the 140,000 games, utilities and other titles in the App Store and comes with the new iBook ereader. The iWork office programs cost £6.19 each
• Processor: Apple has specified its own chip, the 1GHz A4, for the iPad.  Three sizes of memory will be available: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB
• Screen: The 9.7in colour touchscreen is big enough, in landscape mode, to display a full-size keyboard
• Battery: A claimed 10 hours’ usage, with wi-fi turned on and the screen at half-brightness