Apple's iPad to 'kickstart' tablet market

Maggie Shiels is given a tour of what Apple's iPad can do

Industry watchers say Apple's long-awaited iPad tablet could reverse the fortunes of the tablet PC industry.

Microsoft introduced a tablet computer in 2001, but it failed to catch on.

However, advances in touchscreens and wireless technology mean that the market could now be right for products such as the iPad, analysts said.

"Tablets have been around for a long time and tablets have failed for a long time. This is a winning product," said analyst Van Baker of Gartner Research.

"I was nervous when they first started talking about this and thought it would be nothing more than a giant iPhone.

"It's hard to argue against. I can use it in the living room, the classroom, for light work and at the coffee shop," Mr Baker told BBC News.

'What need?'

Apple said its aim was to try to create a third category of product that sits between a laptop and a smartphone, which is the traditional interpretation of a tablet computer.

But Mr Jobs pointed out that in order for consumers to buy one, Apple's iPad had to change perceptions and offer a different experience to other devices."

Apple did what they needed to do. They gave this form factor a reason to exist," said Mike Gartenberg, vice-president of strategy and analysis at research firm Interpret.

"They answered the question immediately 'Why do I want the iPad?' And they showed why. They are leveraging the entire Apple eco-system.

"Everything they have done up until now is in this device - the iPod, iTunes, multi-touch, the applications. And then they added new features like the iBook store and productivity," Mr Gartenberg told BBC News.

"I think this is going to be a very successful product for them and exceed expectations."

Blogger and Apple watcher MG Siegler of TechCrunch had a different take.

"Is it a must have? The quick and dirty answer is: for many people, right now, no.

"Unlike the iPhone, which filled an already well-established need, there is no existing need the iPad fills."