Here is my take on today’s iPad announcement by Steve Jobs. Reading the many responses about the announcements reveals that there are a lot of doubters. Let’s be clear it isn’t supposed to be a Netbook, or a Laptop, it’s a device for consumers — for consuming books, video, newspapers, magazines, and music, and far more people spend far more time doing that than they do hacking away at a keyboard. I look at the iPad as a device that can be primarily used in the home and on travel. It looks to be the perfect compliment to a desktop system. It’s lightweight, inexpensive and easy to use. This is the device for the people in your family who hate using a computer. It’s easier to lug around than a tablet and cheaper too. Last but not least, it is called an iPad, not an iTablet, clearly indicating that it is marketed as a consumer product.

The $499 entry price is going to put a ton of pressure on the price of eReader devices — which is good for the consumer. For starters the price for Amazon’s Kindle must drop to $199 or less. The advantages of black and white eInk device are going to be a hard sell against the glitz and jazz and sheer media ubiquity of the iPad, not to mention that 10 hours battery life will be good enough for most people.

There is no question that the New York Times and other media outlets are breathing a sigh of relief. The fact that NYT showed their new iPad version during the announcement is proof that there is a interest by the printed news media. However, it will still be a tough transition, but selling iPad subscriptions for a newspaper/magazine-like experience coupled with the interactivity of the Internet is a way forward they at least have a chance with when it comes to paid content.

Regarding textbooks and technical books, all of McGraw-Hill will be on the iPad. This will allow the new iBook store to grow potentially making many bookstores irrelevant. Once the publishing firms realize that they can make a profit without the overhead of printing and distribution, agile companies will move up and the one’s who don’t will end up as useful as a sliderule in an engineering.

The other piece of this is that the format of the eBooks currently reflect rewriting of existing printed media. Near future media will probably include interactive media, links, and video. It will no longer be business as usual. The companies and newspapers that change survive.

This is a utility device with the right software that will appeal to a wide audience from bookworms to field engineers to doctors and students. The device is something like the iPhone that seemed cool but in fact confirmed its place with more utility and capability over time. With Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Penguin, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette on board, there is a good potential of an iPad with every college student within a few years.

As to the right software, by throwing it open to all the app developers, Apple has created a device that can be whatever anyone can think of. The potential for new and expanded markets is massive.

The sky is the limit!!!

All in all, Apple is on to a winner. There are some shortcomings, such as there isn’t any removable storage, USB connector or Webcam, but it will not stop Apple from going to sell a ton of these device.