Are you on the fence about whether to go for the iPad or not? When netbooks first arrived in the market they addressed the need for some basic, economical and portable computing which people subsequently jumped at. Smaller than laptops, netbooks were easier to cart around and they got the job done. The iPad is a step further in the direction of an ultra-light computing device that fulfills a person’s computing needs.

It’s a thin, lean, cool-looking computing device without a keyboard, that’s light enough to be carted everywhere and fulfills a variety of functions. It achieves the goal of giving you an inexpensive device that offers you productivity without the an-all inclusive operating system. You can watch videos in stunning clarity and surf the web easily and also read e-books comfortably. The best part is that you get all this with an optimized intuitive interface in a light-weight device that looks ultra-sexy.

When you consider the price that you pay for a black and white e-book reader (the kindle currently retails for 9) and the price that you would pay for a netbook, the price point for the iPad doesn’t begin to look too bad. The iPad will definitely impact the e-book reader market by relegating them to a single purpose device. So if you were going to present a loved one a Kindle, you may find yourself considering the iPad instead, since you can do so much more with it.

Business users will find it extremely handy in office meetings since they don’t have to take any print outs of documents or slideshow presentations. It’s also easier to transport and much easier to operate in the confines of trains and planes. Children will love the intuitive touchscreen interface on the iPad and will find it much easier to read textbooks or go through multimedia with it.

What the iPad will not do is replace the iPhone, since your cellphone is a very personal device that’s designed to be carried in a pocket or purse. It won’t really kill off traditional laptops or netbooks either since we do need to work with multiple applications and require a certain-size machine to work with for extended periods of time.

What the iPad will do is bridge the gap between these devices – it’s been built designed solely for the purpose of consuming information with a little bit of information creation thrown in. It’s the answer to a particular segment of the global market that’s largely been ignored – consumers who’d like a portable device (with the choice of browsing Wi-Fi and/or 3G data) that goes beyond e-readers but who don’t need the full functionality of a netbook or laptop.

We all know people who could use a device like the iPad and that’s why Apple can expect to sell millions of iPads. You may have a parent, relative, child or friend who isn’t and doesn’t need to be totally computer-savvy but could still vastly benefit from using it. The iPad addresses the need of this market segment and does it brilliantly in a single attractive multi-purpose device that’s hard to say no to. It’s effortless portable computing at its best!