Now that Apple has jumped into the tablet computing game, expect to see this device everywhere.  But what good is it?  Well, basically, it’s great if you wanted a giant iPod Touch or a less portable netbook.  I keep flashing back to the Macbook Wheel.  It’s not even as useful as the other tablet computers on the market (due to its lack of multitasking ability).

While it is very light (1.5 pounds) and has good battery life (10 hours), it’s also very expensive at $499 for a 16GB model, $599 for a 32GB edition, and $699 for a 64GB edition (not counting the optional 3G data plan from AT&T).  It has built-in 802.11n WiFi and 2.1 Bluetooth support, and it syncs wirelessly.  Unlike most netbooks, it only has a 1GB processor (rather than 1.66GB as is the netbook standard), but its 9.7 inch screen makes it definitely easier to read than an iPod Touch for text purposes and playing Apple’s app store games.  There’s still no Flash support, which means you’re stuck buying those mediocre games from Apple rather than playing the equivalent mediocre game free online.

So what’s the iPad good for?  Well… if you wanted something harder to carry around than a Kindle, then you’ve got your device.  If you wanted a giant iPod Touch, you’ve got your device.  If you wanted a slightly slower netbook that has a very long profile that makes it more prone to smudges, scratches, and breaking, you’ve got your device.  If you like pretending to finger paint, you’ve got your device.