Instead of wasting time looking to see if Apple’s new iPad has an isight camera or comes with iChat let’s look at the bigger picture.  When the iPhone was released it was locked down so that only Apple could run native applications.  It slowly evolved by allowing the user to drop web app bookmarks on the home screen.  As time went on Apple realized there was a greater demand for native applications than originally anticipated.  This brought them to the decision to allow native 3rd party applications.  It was then we saw the explosion of applications as well as sales of the device.  Much like Xbox vs PS3 it’s all about the content.  The device will be a dud or a winner based on the content.  If developers take us from Apps to Applications (like Apple’s own iWork), then the device should be a smash.  If developers stick with the App model and we are using iPhone apps on a much larger screen, the device will fail.

Zooming out even a bit further let’s take the phone industry pre-iPhone.  It’s hard to remember, but think back.  We were thrilled with flip phones that had terrible left-right-up-down puzzle games, and 36 pixels of Tetris on them.  The iPhone not only raised the bar, but it destroyed it.  Creating an almost brand new market where it wasn’t necessarily a smart phone used for business professional and on the go people.  It created a enabling device that struck a chord with the world.  It was a gaming machine, digital camera, and a phone.  The user interface and fancy interaction drew people in, but in the end it was the apps that kept them there.

What does all of this mean for the iPad.  I see the iPad as a revolutionary device, not for the fancy user interface, or the nifty interactions.  No, it’s revolutionary for the amount of developers committed to developing for it.   This is what will set the iPad apart from the netbooks and JooJoo pads alike.  Certainly just like before other companies will play catch-up to Apple.  Google will release their own tablet with a mix between Chrome Os and Android running a top.  However, they will all not be on par with Apple’s offering simply due to the overwhelming number of Applications and Developers already writing software for the iPad.  Computers will become the niche and devices like the iPad will become everyday computers.

Feel free to leave any comments about your thoughts on this subject.