Chris, the iPad is expensive, but it isn’t *that* much more than a netbook. Most decent netbooks are in the $300 range, and an iPad can be had for $500 if you don’t get 3G. But if you already have a netbook and a laptop, then it becomes harder to justify a device that overlaps both.

In terms of market impact, over 4 million of them have been sold in less than four months with the current expectation being that Apple will be announcing 10 million sold within the first year. Note that the total market for tablet computers prior to the iPad was about 1.5 million per year- that’s totally turned the market on its head. That said, they would probably sell more at a lower price… But Apple isn’t really in that market. I could see the price going down to $300, but I doubt Apple would ever price the iPad or similar device in the $99 range. My guess is that in 2011 there will be a flood of iPad type devices, and by year end Apple will ‘only’ account for about 50% of the devices of this kind sold.

Jim, I keep looking for the ‘perfect’ convergence device, but until we have neural interfaces (to eliminate input devices entirely) and either rollable/foldable displays, retinal projectors, or something of that sort to give me my screen size fix, I think I’m stuck. Curious question: how much of your 64 GB do you use? I still haven’t used much more than a fraction of my 32 GB, although I always fear running out.