Apple iPad - The Big Version of an iTouch?

The new revolution in computing?:

The new Ipad (possibly unfortunate name) was introduced this week to much fanfare and hype by Steve Jobs. It was the usual slick marketing and presentation by Apple for it's new product. The Ipad as I understand it is designed to compete with the Kindle and with Notebooks and even Netbooks for the "king of the hill" computing platform or "form".

Aside from the obvious jokes about the name and various copyright infringement claims, I have several questions and thoughts on the Ipad.

What is the market?:

Apple has always target the techno folks that want something a bit unique and leading edge. I agree that is a market but I wonder aloud if that is enough to really have a place for this device. I looked at this with my colleagues and work and wondered aloud "is this not just a big Itouch or IPhone". Most of my collegues, several hardcore Apple enthusiasts agreed with me. One colleague them wondered aloud if he would ditch his Macbook for this Ipad. I worry Steve Jobs might have reached a bit far and maybe even cannibalized his own market share here.

How is it to type on one?:

I like the Itouch and the Iphone but I find in general the touch screen typing hard to get used to and even harder to use effectively. I grant you that this is my opinion and other I know have no issue with this. I just wonder if it's hard to use it might be harder to sell. Is this the "Lisa" again: I remember the short lived Lisa, another great idea but either before it's time, after it .. or simply a unknown.

Is it fragile?:

I have not actually held one of these and I know few people have but I wonder if this is fragile. Tablets in general on the PC side tend to take a real beating. If you pay a small fortune for one of these are you going to have to protect it with after market bullet proof cases and the like. I suspect so, another negative in my book.

Battery Life:

Apple is really good at this, but I wonder in a device that thin, expected to compete with ebook readers and notebooks, will the battery and CPU combination add up to enough horsepower to make users happy.

Summary:

I think this is in general a good idea, but I'd love to see how this is going to pan out over time. I want to get my hands on one of these to review. As I titled this , I can see this either as a huge hit or a bust. I think there is no middle ground. We shall see, Mr. Jobs seems to have a gift for these things and we will see if he still has the magic touch.