And so does my convertable laptop (touch too) ... and with 500GB storage (not just 64) ... AND it can do two things at the same time. Like rub its belly and pat its head. iPad still can't do that.
Yep, my argument wasn't a laptop couldn't, but simply that the iPad is just another way of doing those things. There are many benefits to an iPad, just because it's a touch screen and so small.
Also, the iPad has 64GB of flash storage, not hard drive storage. Multi-tasking in iOS 4 for iPad will be out in the fall.
Also, just because some one hasn't returned their iPad (and to be honest, we don't know how many of those 2mil have been returned) doesn't mean that it isn't gathering dust somewhere. Plus that 2mil sales is going to include some amount that were bought for reviews and are now gathering dust somewhere.
I don't believe those numbers include iPads bought and returned. Do you think anyone would spend between $499 and ~$860 and leave it gathering dust rather than take it back if they didn't like it or have no use for it?
Touch screens are nothing new. They've been around since the 80's at least. So once again, nothing truly ground breaking there. Just like most things now a days, there's no new advances being made... all that's changing is the cost of the technology and the marketing that surrounds it. And not every one likes the iPhoney-interface. I've tried using my wife's iTouch... and it only reinforced why I don't have one.
But multi-touch hasn't been around for that long, and particularly not with an IPS LED-backlit display on a 9.7" mobile device that you can hold in one hand. Well, if you don't like the iOS interface, fair enough.
So do the Nexus One and HTC Evo 4G cell phones, and they are drastically smaller. Isn't that more amazing?!
What I said was said in its whole context, not the snippet you quoted. It's not comparable, the iPad is a slate not a phone. You'd have a horrible experience trying to use those in comparison to the iPad (except maybe for listening to music w/ your headphones on while walking around somewhere).
I don't use a calendar, since my brain still has sufficient memory for that app
Some people who have hundreds of events in their calendar need one
here would be a use for such a device for me, but the iPad is too heavy, the battery life is too short, the cost is marginal, and the keyboard is inadequate. That might surprise people, but the use I have in mind is: Coding while hiking. If I could get a reasonably durable, sub-16oz system that ran .NET with great battery life (or possibly a solar charger), then I would seriously consider it. I happen to be a good, and fairly fast, touch typist, so keyboards are kind of important to me. The thought that an on-screen, 10", keyboard would be considered adequate for any normal person is kind of laughable, but I recognize that it is unlikely to get a normal keyboard for a device as small and light as that. Perhaps a projection keyboard could be added? Still, I would get by with the smaller, cramped keyboard, and the necessary hunt-and-peck style of coding, if the weight and power was right.
Erm, you'd have to go for a much smaller screen if you want lighter. The battery life is very long? How can you call ~10 hours short?
I'm also a fast touch typist, and I find the iPad's keyboard (albeit not everyone will) to be perfectly adequate for typing. As good as a physical keyboard? Not quite, but I can type quite fast on it.

Summary: My point is the iPad is capable of doing all those things very well. Everyone has different preferences, thus not everyone will like the iPad, they will likely find something else that suits them better.

The only thing I can't do on the iPad is work, which I also can't do on a laptop. So, for me, the better choice is the iPad. It's always connected via 3G, I can do all the same things I'd on a laptop (except for the occasional flash video), it has a better price, better battery life, its instant on etc...