Anyone who has been following Apple Inc. closely the last few years had heard the rumors. There was talk about a “wonder” tablet-style computer for several years now. Supposedly it’s been a project that has undergone many revisions along the way. At one time, it was said that Steve Jobs killed the project outright because, well, it just wasn’t quite right.

The buildup to the January announcement was typical for Apple. Once the Hype machine got going, it became clear that this “tablet” computer DID exist and was going to be unleashed on the public. Apple fans went into a frenzy. Nobody was quite sure what features this gadget would have, how big the screen would be, or how much it would cost. Conflicting information was being flung from all directions.

As with the iPhone before it, supposedly “inside” information “leaked” out along the way. The problem was, there was know way to know what to believe. Apple never officially comments on unannounced products and the people who really do know about secret projects are legally bound by Apple to keep silent about them.

Based on the information I had heard and read online in the last couple of years, it seemed that most people agreed that this new computer would be larger than the iPhone and iPod Touch, but smaller than the Macbook. My biggest gripe against the iPhone IS its small screen. While I have played with the Touch on a frequent basis, I always thought it would be a much better experience if only the screen were larger.

The release of the iPad shows that Apple also believed that there was room for a mobile product with a larger screen. Although I haven’t seen it in person yet – it’s on my to-do list upon release – I’m now wondering if the screen will be TOO large at 9.7 inches! An iPad is not something you can fold up and/or stuff in a pocket. On the other hand, you can’t enlarge the iPhone screen either. If it were me, I’d have selected a 6 or 7 inch size screen as “just right”. Rumors were flying that the iPad would arrive in multiple sizes. Guess that one didn’t pan out – at least not for version 1.0.

So what do I think of it, now that it has been officially unveiled? My take is that it’s a great product and will have a good but not great following. The pricing and 3G options are crucial in making this happen – that was a good move. But in reality, it won’t have the same effect as the original iPod or the iPhone had. Those were game-changing products and made Apple into the powerhouse company it is today. Without those products, the pundits who were writing Apple’s obituary a decade ago may have seen the day arrive. But the iPad? I can’t see it making the same waves of interest. Why? Well, despite the denials to the contrary, it really is just a larger version of an iPod Touch. No, that’s not a criticism, just that it’s not a revolutionary product either. That may sound a bit jaded, or like “been there, done that”, but even so, I’d still want to have an iPad over a Touch. It would be more worthwhile to me with the larger screen.

As far as the other features, I doubt I would be using it much for an ebook reader, though I think it’s a good feature to have. Amazon, no doubt is concerned that it will put a significant dent in Kindle sales – and rightfully so. But I don’t think I would want to buy, download and play movies on it – perhaps maybe when my kids are older, it would be nice. As a music purchasing and playing device, it’s really overkill. I (as well as most people) already have a “regular” iPod for that. For me, I’d probably use it as a remote device that has web access for surfing and staying in touch with email. It’s far easier to grab the iPad and go somewhere than have to pack up the old, bulky iBook, along with it’s ancillary gadgets. It could have great potential as a super PDA and I find that compelling.

So the big question for me is, do I really NEED to have an iPad? Realistically, the answer is “no.” Do I want one? Of course. The next question is, should I wait for version 2.0 to see if they add in the rumored video camera? Probably not worth the wait, especially since there’s no guarantee that ANY feature will get added in the next version. So that brings up one final question – what flavor of iPad to get? The WiFi or the 3G? Hmmmm… It would be nice to have 3G coverage in places where WiFi doesn’t live, BUT, I don’t like the idea of having yet another monthly subscription to pay for. If it were a business gadget, I could make a case for it. I guess that means I’d get the WiFi only. But how much storage to get? Sheesh! It does get pricey the higher you go. Perhaps I could make do with the entry level 16GB model. Too bad you can’t add more storage later, but I think it would be fine.

Well, at this point, it’s all just dreaming anyway, since at the time of this writing, the iPad cannot be purchased. We are a few weeks away from that. Plenty of time for people to change their minds and decide that they really don’t need to be first in line to get one. It’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out in the months to come.