Individual contributors on the Ars Technica staff discuss in detail their thoughts on the new Apple iPad here.  Of the breakdown articles I’ve seen I think this one’s the best, because seemingly everyone in this article comes from their own unique angle regarding the utility of Apple’s latest device.

At a high level I’d say the pundits are about as receptive to this thing as they were to the MacBook Air on its release (which means “mixed”).  There’s no doubt this is a groundbreaking device in several ways, but the issues continue to seem to be related to how the device fits in people’s lives, and most of the rationale flows from Apple’s choice of the iPhone OS and what that means to using the device to compute conventionally (in other words, using a fully open and functional device like a laptop).  Some naturally want to relate this as lacking in comparison to similar devices while aloud deciding if it’s a dealbreaker for their daily use.  Is it as good as my phone, laptop, netbook for what I do every day?  There’s the first question everyone always asks.  And once they determine, as everyone still does, that there is no ‘one device’ for all their computing needs, price creeps in, ‘gee whiz’ creeps in as well, and things get muddled.

Here’s what continues to permeate for me:

• Great entry level price for what you get: it’s hard to imagine getting this form factor with these capabilities at this price anywhere else.  Not even close.  And by ‘these capabilities’ I mean this: you get the best mail, contacts, word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools Apple makes (in other words, the best you can buy), plus everything in the Apple App Store with eBooks, games, productivity, and other apps you’ve already bought for $499 plus the thirty bucks for the iWork stuff.  Add in Safari and this is really unbeatable utility at the price.
• No way – this can’t be the OS we’re stuck with for a long time.  I don’t believe for a second that we’re stuck with what is nothing more than the iPhone app screen blown out and tiny little Phone apps being single tasked. When summer comes we’ll have an all new iPhone and an all-new iPhone OS.  Since Apple’s known for bumping up features fairly quickly after initial release (see the original iPhone) is it worth it to wait a few months?
• Why 4:3 resolution?  What is this?  1960?  I hate everything with a 4:3 resolution.  I’ve banished old TVs from my home with no replacement in sight just to say goodbye to the old, highly unpanoramic view.  I even chop off the top and bottom of 4:3 TV programs to make them widescreen.  And now that I’ve cast them out Apple wants to to buy a device that’ll remind me of my old letterbox watching days.  Oh sure, I can zoom in and lose the left and right edges of my widesreeen movies, but I hate watching anything in 4:3 still, so what’s the point?
• I know Apple is taking me somewhere, but how soon?  Should I buy now and enjoy the utility this device delivers or wait?  The Apple R&D didn’t promise me multitasking or a 16:9 or even 16:10 tablet, and that price is still pretty compelling for what you get.  This thing easily will go on trips, it’ll be around for casual business meetings, and it’ll be perfect for taking in media or getting the small stuff done on long car drives.

What do you think?  Is this the device for you?