1) Why doesn't it work as a book reader? The iBooks application is better than Kindle (It's in color, and you can change the fonts and text size), but if you still like the Kindle, there's an Amazon Kindle App for the iPad.
Battery, having to stare at a computer screen to read. These screens hurt my eyes. The battery lasts 10 hours, but that's not enough when you're away from home. If I was to use this as a book reader I wouldn't want to be stuck to a wall.
2) The dock port is USB, just proprietary. There is a both a software and hardware wireless Keyboard, or Keyboard dock.
Which means, "pay a load of money to Apple to be able to use a USB port". Why not put a regular port instead? Why can't I shove a USB memory stick in one of those things so I can copy a few photos my friend wants to give me? I have to carry some adapter around? To think Apple were the first to ditch serial ports in favor of USB! Good luck with that software keyboard by the way.
3) Why doesn't it work as well as a game machine? There's no such thing as an "iTouch".
Because I don't know what it is. Is it a portable system? Is it a home system? Will it get real games? Yeah, real games. By that I don't mean stuff that will last as long as the novelty lasts.
I know you told us at the end that you were ignorant, but why post at all?
I was looking for someone who could prove me wrong. You certainly didn't help. I still can't see how the device fares better than anything else I mentioned on my first post.
It tries to be a lot but, ultimately, in the eyes of a possible buyer like me, it fails. Sure, I never used one, but given the pros and the cons which any potential buyer looks at beforehand, there's nothing here that'd make me want to spend my money.
I would try reading something on it before you dismiss it because it's a "computer screen". I also find it hard to believe that you would read for 10 hours straight, then rather than taking a break while it charges, you would keep reading while it's plugged in. How long does the Kindle battery last? I assume it's much longer, since you think 10 hours is way too short.
The card reader adapter is really small. None of my computers at home or work have built in card readers, but my TV and one of my printers do. I don't really care either way. The adapter is $29.00. If that's a load of money, then I feel sorry for you.
Nice how you glossed right over the fact that you can buy an Apple wireless keyboard, the same one they sell for Macs. If you don't like that there's a Keyboard Dock. So far since the speculation about the iPad, the biggest complaint is that there's no keyboard. I never thought I would see someone use that argument after it has been proven false. Way to go!
Gaming - It's definitely a portable system. What it can do is pretty cool, but I would prefer a hardware interface for my games. on the iPhone Apple has allowed developers to build things for the dock port. I keep waiting for a controller, but so far no one has been brave enough to build one. I think I mostly agree with you there. I don't know that anyone buys it for gaming only, though.
Here's an article about the
25 Best Launch games. They look pretty good, and "real" to me.