Well, sports fans the time has come for all of you to drool over Apple's latest tool.

Yes, the iPad is here - in Alaska, for all to use. That presumes that you either pre-ordered one, bought one and then waited impatiently for UPS to arrive on Saturday, or, heavens forbid, waited in line at Best Buy or one of the local Mac stores Saturday morning to be the first in line to buy one of the limited editions available.

Mine arrived at 11:58 a.m. - and not a minute too soon, I might add. It is a great device - and yes, I wrote this article using the iPad - really!

The iPad is a light, bright, versatile device - it is designed for consuming information, entertainment, and communications (email, social networking, etc). It fits nicely between the iPhone and the MacBook in the toolbox of computing.

To answer some burning questions for Doctor W - yes it can Citrix into your work environment, connect to Exchange, and be a very lightweight tool for computing while traveling. I have not yet purchased the word processing tool, nor the spreadsheet tool, however, I am impressed with how this device easily opens word processing and spreadsheet documents, and pdf files, without any add-ons.

And the iPad-specific software (apps) look good. Viewing several of the free publications (Wall Street Journal, The Times Editors' Choice, and USA Today) this is a winning device for the consumption of written and beautiful visual information. Yes, I have seen and used the Kindle and the Nook and they are very good devices to replace paper books - but now imagine a book, in vivid color, with hyperlinks, that brings the world to you. Yes, I know that computers, laptops, and netbooks can do the same, but I would add - those devices have been around for a long time and publishers barely paid these devices any attention - until the iPad was announced. Now we are beginning to see just what can be done with technology.

This is a device that, in my opinion, will be comfortable in the home, on the road, and in a business environment. Watch this space for more updates as we truly learn what can be accomplished with the paradigm-changing tool.

Well, I must say that I am very disappointed that SJ does not consider me a close enough friend to let me try out the new iPad - after all we didn't go to school together and we've never met - but I have given him so much money over the last 20 years, that we should be close.

I am expecting great things from Apple and the iPad - I expect it to entertain me, keep me connected and informed, much like my iPhone, only cheaper - notice that - cheaper!. Has anyone noticed that the iPad 16GB with 3G is only $29 dollars more expensive than an unsubsidized 16GB iPhone? And it has more of everything? How can that be? Is Apple trying to buy the market, or will they make more money on the back-end?

Anyway, I do expect the iPad to be an excellent computer, minus hard disk drives, expandability, viri, and update hassles - ever notice how infrequently the iPhone OS is updated? I guessd that they got it right.

Be sure to watch this space as I put the iPad  (and some software) through its paces.

Anyway, I'm anxiously awaiting April 3 (something) to get my carbon-based digits on the silicon based iPad - are you?