The four groups who will make the iPad huge

just in my own time I've run across the following uses for an ipad

1. POS system for a small shop or flea market/farmers market type business
2. assistive communication device
3. distraction for a young child stuck in chemo
4. training videos for new employees
5. PDA on a remote film set

"if textbook publishers"

Recall Fail Dave. You might need to review your own work
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/02/03/several-textbook-publishers-sign-ipad-deals/

As someone who falls into your first group, I'm very excited about the iPad but will wait until it includes a webcam. 90% of my work week is spent traveling. I carry a laptop, a Blackberry, an iPhone. At the moment I also have to carry an additional laptop. The primary function I would use a tablet for is Skyping with my wife and daughter at night. Currently this requires me to boot up my Windows laptop, which takes around 5 minutes for all everything to load. I would easily prefer an instant-on device with 3G built in.

Great info I would also suggest using GreenTextbooks.org
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I've been going back and forth wondering if i should get an iPad and I decided a few days back I am going to be getting one when the hit the UK.

One of the big things that made it attractive for me was the textbook possibilities. I will be going away to uni in the autumn (fall if you are american) and having all my textbooks on this would be crazy. Also games would be amazing.

I dont however think that "Apple is essentially handing developers a blank slate and saying, "Go ahead. Make something awesome." " As we all know too well apple's app store approval doesnt make for the most open of platforms. Lets just hope that the 'killer' iPad app doesn't get rejected from the app store.

I'm also pretty interested to see what the jailbreak scene can do for the iPad also.

According to some very fair and insightful reporting by the world's most unbiased news organisation, the iPad's about as useful as a women's sanitary product:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8601679.stm

Quotes:

"The first generation model has wi-fi but not 3G connectivity" (no mention that it is awaiting FCC approval and only 3-4 weeks away);

"which is retailing in the US at $499 - $829" (isn't that $829 the price for a 64GB 3G+WiFi model?).

I live in the UK and the BBC is usually the first news website I visit each day. The BBC has always been pro-Microsoft and very anti-Apple.

These are precisely the users that would be better off with something more general purpose, although its hard to say until killer apps arrive. My vote is for musicians, who have had to pay out the rear for touch surfaces for a while. Apps like technobox are great on the iPhone, but will rock (pun intended?) on the iPad. Sheet music would be killer for the kindle dx, but if there's a way to intelligently "turn the page" on an ipad, every pro musician will own one.

Second group is sysadmins. Apps to integrate monitoring systems are there (opennms app has promise) and you can keep the thing on your desk for easy visible access to your alarms.

1. Mobile professionals (like me): The author states in this section that he already has successfully used his iPhone as a "laptop replacement" while mobile. Me, too. Why, then, would I want to carry a second device that will not easily fit into a pocket or belt-clip carrier?
2. "Typical" computer users: By this he apparently means "non-technical, make-it-easy-to-use" computer users. Television sets are already being marketed with WiFi connectivity (probably eventually fed by the cable/High Speed Internet cable) that will browse the web, connect to social sites, handle email, photos...essentially a user-friendly computer/entertainment center (I am assuming a friendly UI...maybe not). Will a "coffee-table" device be practically necessary then? I suppose there could be a bathroom portability attraction for those who can't leave their media behind for too long a time.
3. Students: Check! I understand the iPad's attraction for this group (unfortunately for me, a return to the classroom is not at all practical at this time). That, and as an "e-Reader".
4. Developers: If the author means that the iPad provides a new, distinct platform for which to write apps, I can understand that, with the caveat that the iPad would need to find relatively widespread use (which is being debated right now) for development to be at all lucrative. If he means as a platform on which to develop, I don't know...can/will someone write an app for writing and compiling code?

Don't get me wrong. I really want to love the iPad. I'm wresting today with a feeling akin to being the only kid on Christmas morning without a package to open. My lovely wife has declared that, if I wish, I can cash in my year's worth of gifting allotment on an iPad. The problem is, I have a "practicality flaw". A new device for me really must pass the test of providing some functionality that is not provided by any other device I currently own. I keep hoping for that article or comment thread that will reveal how the iPad will fill a useful gap between my iPhone and MacBook, but...not yet.

I'm a training specialist who has to perform a lot of training in manufacturing areas. An iPad would be perfect for my job, but my cheap employer would never buy me one, and would never let me connect my personal iPad to the iPad.

Mobile professionals would be hard-pressed to go with anything that doesn't have Microsoft Office. Sure, the iPad will be handy (and fun) on the road, and it would certainly be nice if one's company would pay for an iPad. But w/o Office, and w/o a phone, it is just not workable. A cell phone and a laptop, that's the standard, work-issue bag.

And I think you are neglecting maybe the biggest group of users -- kids, and gamers. The vast majority of apps are games. Don't you think the iPad will be the most sought after Xmas 2010 item? Every kid is going to want one of these!