The iPad is the newest offering of Apple, to join the iPhone and the iPod. Just what is an iPad? Some say it’s just an oversized iPhone or an oversized iPod, but it really has the capabilities to be much more than that.  The iPad enables the user to browse the web, use it as an ebook reader, watch video, play games, and more.  Businesses are looking at its functionality from different perspectives to see where they will fit in the iPad generation.

The device is an unusual size, with relatively bigger screen – at 9.7 inches -   than most cellphones, but smaller than laptops & netbooks. The size of it – too big to fit into a pocket, but small enough to go in a purse – requires you to buy an iPad case. A case like the iPad Otterbox provides protection from bumps & scratches, but also creates a platform to use it on. There are many iPad covers and cases to choose from when it comes to protecting the device.

A group quickly developing apps for the new iPad is the gaming industry. There has never been a device quite like this that will enable portable gaming. Other handheld gaming systems don’t have near the screen size that the iPad does. Its big monitor and its keyboard are ideal as a portable gaming tool.

At first it was thought that cell phones may really feel the pinch with the introduction of the iPad, but it is clear now that this system is too big for that. Apple is happy with the performance of the iPhone, and it is not their goal to damage that market.

As an eReader, some speculated that Apple has actually designed iPad to directly compete with Amazon’s Kindle. This shows the continuously increasing popularity of eBooks. There have been more sales of ebooks this year than traditional bound paper books for the first time ever. Apple would like to position itself in this emerging product line, hence the iPad. The response of the public in the introduction of the iPad has been larger than expected, and you can expect to see frenzy this Christmas season for the iPad.