I just don't see how this thing is so special. ...... can someone give me some insight on this product that makes it so special
It boils down the the convenience factor for me.
If I'm in bed, I can just grab it and it instantly turns on and I'm off to browsing the web. I have 3 netbooks and 2 macbook pros and they are never on when I'm at home. 80% of most people's computer needs are just surfing the web.
No lag, no delay, instant gratification.
That is why I am open to trying out various Android tablets right now. But the iPad has some other things up its sleeves. Netflix, ABC TV streaming. and easy 720p playback. Most 7Mbit 720p H.264 play on this device with no problems. Compared to an EVO, Incredible or even a Droid X, many of them have problems playing high bitrate content.
I put about 40 or so full length movies in 720p on a webserver and I can point my browser to play them. No need to synchronize files. Android has problems streaming mp4 files. You have to do this and that like hint the files,etc. Many netbooks have problem playing HD content. I've been looking at the Alienware Mx11,few ION netbooks, and even a Thinkpad. But to even get decent HD playback, you are going to spend around $800 on a netbook. I run Linux so no netbook on Linux supports hardware GPU acceleration for stuff like VLC. You have to run Win7.
The iPad is a nice media-consumption device. Videos, Music and thew photo gallery is simply awesome. The grandparents love swiping and scrolling the photos with easy aplomb and fluidity.
Lastly,apps are optimized for the iPad.
An Android Tablet w/ 800x8480 on a 7" screen is the same app on an Android phone like the Incredible. The UI is no different whatsoever. If you run something like connectbot or vnc, it is exactly the same on the phone and android tablet. On the iPad, the apps are redesigned for the larger resolution so they have drawers, extra UI elements. I run iSSH on the IPad and there is simply no comparison.
Unless app developers make "tablet-optimized" Android versions of their apps, I think the iPad will still command the mindshare and marketshare in this space.