The iPad: Now that the dust has settled

I’ve been doing a lot of radio interviews around the country on the iPad and what it means for personal technology.

Click here to hear one I did today with Walt Sorg of WILS in Lansing.

My bottom line feeling is two fold:

1) I must have one. I’ll order the 64GB, WiFi/3G unit for $829 and $29 AT&T data as soon as Apple will let me.

2) It’s not perfect. I wish it had a camera and Flash.

The inclusion of a camera would have made the iPad, with Skype, a fullfledged communications device with video conferencing. I suppose I can still use the built in microphone on Skype (I’m sure there will be an improved iPad app by the time it goes on sale). But video two-ways would have been awesome and set the iPad as the coolest device yet.

As I’ve been saying in the radio interviews, the iPad first generation will surely be followed with a 2nd generation unit in six months or a year that will have the missing ingredients. But without them right at the launch, I’m not sure that the iPad will approach the iPhone in excitement when it becomes avaialble over the next two to three months.

I am also skeptical of AT&T’s ability to handle the increased data demands the iPad will add to its already overstressed 3G network. I had really hoped and even expected that Apple would have chosen Verizon for the iPad. Like many, my AT&T iPhone experience has been mixed. But maybe, as AT&T has been saying this week, they have finally figured out a solution to the dropped call problems that have plagued the network in recent months.

Overall, though, I’m seriously geeked on the iPad. I see it as a carry along notebook, planner and organizer of my life. I will surely use the iBooks feature and, depening on the cost, may try a newspaper subscription or two.

Hurry up Apple. I want the iPad now,