I'm actually quite shocked people are saying the iPad isn't affordable. This is probably the most affordable overly hyped product Apple has ever released. I was expecting $1,000 just like Steve Jobs said and was blown away when it was as low as it was, and even more blown away by the pay as you go unlimited 3G for $30 a month.
Yeah, Steve Jobs is a genius -- he says it's $1,000 and then you're not shocked that the minimum configuration costs nearly twice as much as a netbook.
I don't think you can easily compare a $250 netbook to the iPad. Lower quality screen, heavier, thicker, significantly less battery life, no multi-touch, lower build quality, and of course weaker software. They may serve some of the same purposes but I don't think they're directly comparable.
Weaker software, lower build quality? Have you even used the ipad? Its a beefed up ipod touch, not a scaled down laptop. The netbook wins from many perspectives.
The multi-touch is sexy, i'll admit. but form is not greater than function. Imagine chatting, posting on HN, or uploading photos to Flickr. These 3 easy actions are not easily handled on the ipad.
<edit> I have never used it and cannot comment on the build quality (which is the point i was trying to make. Sorry!)
Lower quality screen? Hmm, I thought sure there were netbooks out there with .. oh, yeah, the dell mini-10 has a true 720p option.
Unfortunately, it's not possible to get the large screen and a 3G card together. Or the higher powered CPU and an OTA tv tuner. In fact, it's pretty impossible to build a decent dell mini-10 system, so forget I even mentioned it. Or don't, and remember not to spend ten minutes futzing with their customization workflow...
The smaller models in the iPod line -- particularly the Nano and Shuffle -- have always been priced rather nicely, able to take advantage of Apple's brand prestige in the market combined with a price point that makes them affordable gifts around the holidays.
