Like many, I’ve had a long, strange relationship with Apple.  Since the 80s I’ve owned Apple II’s, Macintoshes, Performas, Quadras, G4s, G5s, Powerbooks, MacBooks, iBooks, iPods, iPhones, etc etc etc.  My disposition toward the company teeters between unabashed fanboy-ism to outright fury.

Because we live in an age of rapid progress, I can’t find fault with Apple for replacing their products more frequently than I can seem to purchase them – these days, that’s the way of the world to some degree.  Still, my ‘Apple graveyard’ could fill a garage.  Premium-priced devices that never seem to serve me for more than two years before emerging hardware or software renders them obsolete.

So here comes the latest ‘insanely great’ earth-shattering product – the unfortunately-named iPad.  My initial reaction is somewhat skeptical, though I love to see new form factors – I can’t wait to play with the interface.  That said, from what I understand, it’s a iPhone on roids.  No multitasking, no Flash, and no printing are all pretty big downers from my perspective, but I may end up caving and picking one up a bit further down the road.  For now, I’ve got my iPhone for the road and my MacBook Pro for everything else, and I don’t feel like there’s a void in my life…

I guess I’m just not big on “Magic” when it comes with a price tag.