Yes, at first I thought the iPad looked like complete crap. However, reason is now dictating what I think about the iPad. When the first iPhone was released in 2007, most of us came up with all the reasons why it was a horrible purchase but yet we still purchased it. So too will be our love affair with the iPad. However, this time around things will be different. We already have the app store and are getting a new iBook store (I’m sick of all the i names). Out of the box, the iPad should run most if not all of the apps we all have for the iPhone/iPod Touch. If we take a step further, we’ll find ourselves wondering what the iPad will become rather than what it is. By doing so, any rational thinking human MUST come to the conclusion that what the iPad will become far out weighs what it is.

We all know what it is so let’s speculate what it will turn into. My first thoughts are home automation, music production, professonal/finance, medical. Home automation is a no brainer in that the iPad will function as a wonderful, albeit large, master control for everything in your home. EVERYTING in your home includes monitoring power consumption, simple electrical commands such as dimming lights, and security. While the iPhone does a bang up job at this already, it will be the iPad mom and dad and even grandpa and grandma will use to automate their lives.

After working with MTV as a freelancer for a few years I really got into music production. Mastered Pro-Tools and now I’m on Logic. In my home studio, I use the Euphonix MC Control as part of my workflow. The Euphonix device allows me to interact with Logic by adjusting levels, scrubbing, mixing, fine tuning track automation, etc. With the iPad, my $2000 Euphonix unit could be replaced with the space saving iPad should Apple or some third party create an ‘app for that’. Most of what I do on my Euphonix is touch screen anyway so a move to the iPad is a no brainer. No, the iPad does not need a full version of Logic OR Pro-Tools (although that would be nice to mix on the fly). Another way to inject the iPad into a DAW is to transform it into a completely customizable midi controller for percussion or to trigger drums. The app store is full of great sequencing apps for all skill levels. Having these apps on the iPad will expand the balloon of creativity and make the sometimes mundane process of laying tracks actually pleasurable.

I’m not entirely sold on the beauty and majesty of Apple’s iWork for the iPad. Haven’t been a fan of paying for ANY office suite since I feel in love with Open Office. With a larger screen, Open Office, Zoho, and even Google Docs could really get a lot of miles out of the iPad. I’m an avid user Apple’s hardware but for email, docs, and calendar, nothing is better for my personally than Google’s products. Regardless of your poison, a robust office suite is a necessity for professionals. Lawyers, banks, tax professionals, and the like could all stand to benefit by using the iPad. Further, I suspect all the Apple stores will employ iPads and check out terminals. Apple is already using the iPod touch to ring you up and email your receipt. If nothing more, the iPad will make it easier to sign my name on.

Years ago I was plagued by an unknown illness for a few years. While visiting various doctors and hospitals I did notice one common denominator, EVERYONE used a clipboard. WILL the iPad replace the clipboard in the medical field…who knows. COULD the iPad replace the clipboard…ABSOLUTELY! Fully networked and with the right ‘app for that’, the medical industry could eliminate paperwork by as much as 70% (just a figure to make me look smart). All that crap we as patients need to fill out each time we are at a new doctor or hospital could be streamlined by the iPad. Fill it out in our laps, the server gobbles up our info and we get better…in theory of course. View MRI info, x-ray’s, medical history, etc.

That’s my take, for now, on the iPad. We’ll see in the months to come whether or not Apple truly made a revolutionary product fit for the masses.