The iPad, the iPad, the iPad… that’s all I hear in this office! The hype surrounding the iPad is the biggest thing since sliced bread!

It’s even turned James into even more of an excited, dribbling wreck than usual! But when it was announced the launch date had been pushed back meaning he couldn’t buy it while he’s in America on holiday it quickly brought his oatcake-filled belly back down to earth with a bump! But just what is the new Apple tablet really going to be like and can it really live up to all the escalated chitter-chatter?

The iPad is Apple’s first tablet computer and has been hotly tipped as the device to change the game for mobile workers. With words such as “revolutionary” and “magical” flying around it seems Apple’s minions have been working hard to spread the word among the world’s techo-geeks who have, in turn, been getting very excited indeed.

The multi-touch screen is the main appeal, with the device claiming to have a “remarkably precise” viewing screen. In essence, the iPad is just a bigger, more advanced version of the iPhone with over 150,000 applications ready to download whenever. Last year the iPhone alone sold 21.5 million units and Apple have full confidence that their new iPad will have similar success.

The critics seem to agree. Some experts have even predicted that the iPad will sell as many 6 million units in 2010 alone. Not bad for a device which hasn’t even been given a UK launch date yet!

But is it really the device which is so great or is it just because it’s Apple? While there’s no doubt that the iPad is going to take the world by storm, you have to question whether there would be this much hype if it was produced by an unknown, or indeed little-known, company. I sadly think this may be the case!

There’s no doubt that Apple produces great, OK even “revolutionary”, products but I sometimes think the hype can take away from the product itself. With businessmen poised to fly to America ready for the launch on 3rd April, it seems the world and its wife will have an iPad before the end of the year.

If everyone has the same device, is it so special anymore? I think not! Maybe I’m just someone who doesn’t follow the pack but I’d rather not have an iPad if it means I end up like the businessmen you see glued to their iPhone! While I wish the iPad every success I don’t think I’ll be about to buy one any time soon (especially not at those prices!). Or maybe I want to be a businesswoman who can’t stop working… hmm, I know which James would prefer!