Two iPad articles on my blog. I mention my N800 on there a couple of times so I thought perhaps some readers would be interested:

http://soandsuch.blogspot.com/2010/0...uggestion.html

http://soandsuch.blogspot.com/2010/0...ad-issues.html

I've been surprised at how fast I could (touch)type on the ipad in landscape mode. The case (which can set the iPad at a slight incline) helps a lot. (So did trimming my nails)

Yeah. Once I got it propped up I was surprised as well. mutli-finger and everything.

seems to confirm my suspicion that the monkey arm only really applies to touch screens set at "normal" screen angles. When i first read about the case, i knew it was a "winner".

I have to say that I've been very pleasantly surprised with the iPad...

I originally bought mine for the main use of subscribing to digital magazines through Zinio and I didn't expect to use it much for anything else. But I've found myself using its email and browser a LOT due to its form factor and great UI design.

I wouldn't say the experience is as far out as what Steve claimed as 'magical', but there's something about direct manipulation of the UI with the fingers. I guess it's not surprising since the cursor and the mouse\trackball\etc were designed as interface bridges in the first place. The size is just right, it's not the same as trying to tap small ui elements with the tip of your nail or with a stylus.

Yes, the lack of familiar features and open-ness of conventional OSes would come as a shock to many power users, but this is obviously a device that's designed for a whole different ecosystem in mind. There's still much to like from the iPad, despite its many limitations.