The popularity of the iPad can be measured by the fact that it has already made a number of appearances on TV over in America. Watch the videos below to see the iPad on TV.

The Apple iPad was released today in the USA (Wifi only) and there has been a huge amount of hype surrounding the release of this device. Many people have already had time to review the iPad and I have gone around the inter-webs and found a whole bunch of video reviews of the iPad just for you to watch.

The iPad isn’t due to be released in Australia until the end of April and pricing is yet to be announced for the device. Also, the iBook store wont be available in Australia, at least for the moment.

After watching some reviews of the device I am yet to see anything that makes it compelling to get as well as a laptop. Maybe as well as a desktop and instead of a laptop. But I don’t see it replacing a laptop. Sure it looks amazing and super fun, but I think that’s about it…

Keep reading below the break to watch the 7 videos that I have found reviewing the iPad.

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There has been so much hype surrounding Apple’s latest toy.

Questions about how much it will change computing.

And so much hype about whether it is the best thing ever or the devil.

For those of you who may have missed this, here’s a video that they made showing it off.

Lot’s of people have been complaining about what is missing from it, but I think there are serious advantages to what Apple has left off the device.

1. No Flash Support

Flash is the part of the internet that makes Flashy and pretty things. Some of these include miniclip games, youtube videos, most video players and a bunch of other things. The iPad is able to watch youtube videos, but that’s about it.

Why is this good? Because Flash is dangerous, it accounts for most website crashes and also uses up a lot of power. Flash is a backward technology that is getting replaced by HTML5. Apple is contributing to the demise of flash. That is good.

2. No USB

Apple has gone for a very minimalistic design with the iPad and the only ports you will find on the device are an iPod connector (like on the iPhone/iPod) and a microphone/headphone connector.

Why is this good? Because this allows the device to look so incredibly clean. The lack of any other ports also allows the the incredible thinness of the device (1.34cm). Apple has once again made a beautiful product

3. No Multitasking

Multitasking refers to a computers ability to have more than one application open at a time. Any desktop computer or laptop can multitask, but an iPhone cannot. Some other smart phones can, but alas, the iPad cannot either.

Why is this good? The iPad has a chip made by Apple inside, and it is extremely quick, so quick that I assume closing and opening applications will be as quick as any multitasking could be, and it has the advantage of not allowing multiple programs to slow down perfomance.

4. No full Operating System

The iPad runs off a modified version of the iPhone Operating System. Many people were wishing that the iPad would run a version of MAC OS10, but it does not.

Why is this good? The iPad is not a full powered computer, it is not designed to edit movies or do anything else that powerful computers do. It is designed to do email, and web surfing very well. As well as doing anything that a developer wants it to do, we have seen what people have made iPhones do, imagine what will be done with a screen that is 5.12 times bigger! The lack of full operating system makes the iPad simple.

5. No open source applications

Once again, like the iPhone, to make an application for the iPad, developers will need to go through Apple’s approval process to get something onto the device.

Why is this good? This will allow the device to be completely stable! There will be no viruses, and consumers will be able to trust everything that they can do with the iPad.

6. No 16:9 Aspect Ratio

For a device that is so good for watching movies, it is missing the aspect ratio that we have become used to. The iPad has reverted to a 4:3 aspect ratio like that of old “square” TVs.

Why is this good? The iPad is a versatile device, and is not just meant to be viewed in landscape, but also in portrait. Holding something with a 16:9 aspect ratio in portrait would just be awkward, but from all accounts, the iPad feels good to hold.

7. No Camera

The iPad does not have a camera, forward or rear facing. No video conferencing, and no taking happy snaps on the device. Ever.

Why is this good? I have enough cameras, my laptop has a camera, my phone has a camera, and guess what, I have a digital camera that is actually a camera. Maybe in the future for video conferencing, but for now, I have enough.

Conclusions

The iPad is the computer for everyone. It is not the computer for the tech geek out there, who wants complete control. This is the computer for Mum and Dad and Grandma and anyone else who doesn’t understand computers. The iPad will be so easy to use, and so simple, that it will take over casual computing use in homes, and may even break into the workplace.

For me, I currently have a laptop that works well, but I think that an iPad and a desktop could replace my laptop in a year or two. The desktop for powerful video editing and large storage, and the iPad for casual web surfing around the home, and presentations on the road.

What do you think? What is the iPad missing?