By JENNA WORTHAM, NYT (click for full article)

After months of wild speculation, Steven P. Jobs has finally given Apple fans exactly what they have been asking for — a new iPhone-like tablet computer called the iPad starting at $499.”We want to kick off 2010 by introducing a magical and revolutionary product today,” said Mr. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive.

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Should someone who writes books–or even just wants to write A book–plan to get an iPad? Well, on the “shiny things” side: It’s gorgeous, and if indeed its battery lasts 10 hours–what’s not to like?

Simply put–the lack of a keyboard. My main way to interact with my computer is via the keyboard. I type fast. I express myself easily.

I don’t need a lot of computation power. I do fiddle with pictures and videos, so I need some graphics power. But on most trips, I’d be happy with an iPhone and a keyboard.

Now the fact that one cannot connect a bluetooth keyboard to the iPhone is clearly a strategic marketing decision, not a programming challenge. I find it regrettable.

If the iPad has a similar limitation, it’ll be a while before I get one. I hope it doesn’t.

Update: Just watched the Apple iPad video. If it works as well as it does on the video, I may be ok with the on-screen keyboard. We’ll see.

Filed under: book writing • people & ideas • tech

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