You see, I can do that just fine with my £195 netbook already - and in HD 720p resolution on the excellent 1280x768 screen. It also does most things I can do on my desktop, including running all the same software.

I do love the format of the iPad, but I want it for half the price with better resolution and no one dictating which software I can run on it. I like playing Hentai games in bed, and that's a deal breaker.

The iPad has a touch screen and a nice shape - but it doesn't actually do anything I can't do already for half the price. If I had £400 to throw away then I'd buy one, and I'm sure a lot of people will. It's just annoying that it's been so deliberately and tragically crippled. I guess it's so they can sell the same thing all over again next year to the same people when they unlock the obvious missing features.

Isn't it a bit big to hold in one hand, in bed?

I'll get my coat.

There is another factor. Which few seem to have considered. Netbooks are already disappearing from the shelves or they are getting larger, so any repairs may be difficult if not impossible. The iPad at least has some semblance of being around for a while.

Boo!

Jobs: iPad can't tether to iPhone

+1 but while they offer a 3G version I cant see why they need to offer tethering. I would personally like a single account so I can tether my laptop or iPad to an iPhone. I do not want to have to have three accounts for the few occasions that I might want mobile access.