I've always said, if the internet were nothing but IMDB, I'd STILL happily pay $30/month for it.

Is this more like what you are thinking of?

The ASUS Eee Slider tablet.

VM

Ya know, like a laptop. But in tablet form. I want to be able to do anything, and run any software that I would be able to on the old-style portable device - but on the new-style portable device.

In fact, I've never purchased an old-school portable (such as a laptop) because I felt a less-clunky portable would be coming soon. But it's gotta be just as much a computer as a laptop, and not simply a bigger display device (essentially an iPhone that can't make phone calls).

Nope. Adding a keyboard and a mouse won't cut it. Needs to be a COMPUTER. With, ya know, computing power. Not simply a glorified television screen. I guess adding a USB port is a step in the right direction. (Do iPads have any inputs at all?)

More seriously, I guess the ability to run "Apps" is sort-of computerish. But not really. My phone runs Apps, but cannot run any of the software I've been running on my desktop for decades.

I'd like to be able to take that computing power with me wherever I go. But not so much that a laptop was ever a priority for me. Too clunky. Gotta admit, iPads are dead sexy. But I'd like a portable computer, not a giant non-phone iPhone.

The question is not what can it run. The question is, what do you want to accomplish with it?

If I'm hearing you right, you don't so much want a "real computer" as you want a tablet device that is Windows based and supports all the software that Windows supports?

Because as computing devices, for the most part the current crop of tablets and netbooks have the power to run your software, it is just that for the most part nobody particularly wants them to. This is not to say you're wrong in what you want, but you aren't too likely to get it in a broadly adopted platform.

Bluetooth and WiFi take away most of the needs for inputs. Cords are old school.

I only started jonesing for an iPad upon reading in this very thread that I wouldn't have to pay for monthly internet access for my third concurrent device. I can't justify that expense. Of course, like most laptop users, I'd be happy to make use of WiFi hotspots like coffee shops and such to do all my internet-based stuff, if it would save me having to pay up for a third internet device.

Really, all those billions of people who purchased laptops for the last 20 years had no desire to run the software (Windows or Mac-based) that they also enjoyed on their work or home desktop computers? I find that hard to believe. In any event, I'd partially agree - in that most of my "work" requires concentration that can't likely be found on a bus or in a coffee shop - but I'd still like the portability to do my more project-based stuff in, say, different parts of my apartment - or to tend to 15 minutes here and there while I'm sitting on a bus (assuming I'd ever take a bus - - let's say, while I'm sitting on a monorail - much more likely in my case). :p

Specifically what I tend to do with my computer that requires more than an iPad is complex photo-shop work* and complex sound-editing and video-editing. Again, not the kind of stuff I'm likely to tackle on the go, but in order to be tempted to transition from deskbound to portable, I've got to be able to. If I had a laptop, I'd be able to - so as soon as tablets catch up with that capability, and assuming I don't have to pay for monthly internet access yet again, I'm on board. I may even use the thing to read books!




* I assume something like photoshop is available for the iPad, actually.

For example... this.

Ok, that is the first thing that has made me want to give Apple money in many years.