Having spent more time than is healthy playing with the touchscreen tablet, I am thoroughly impressed. I had been sceptical about the device living up to the hype it has received over recent months, but once again Apple has pulled it off.
In the iPad, Apple, now the biggest technology business in the world, appears to have created a new way to consume media. As versatile as a smartphone and as fast as a netbook, the iPad could well become the fourth screen in many homes, occupying a unique position beside TV, PC and mobile.
Slick web browsing and ample storage for music and movies means the iPad is on track to become an 'extra leisure' device, wherever the user is.
The potential for broadcasters, publishers and other media owners to move into this space is well documented, but advertisers should also give serious consideration to investing in it.
Several brands, most notably Gap with its brilliant shopping app, have been quick to move onto the iPad, but most appear to be waiting for more users to adopt the device before getting involved. While this is, for the most part, a sensible strategy, the value of being among the first to establish a branded presence on an untapped media platform is undeniable.
In the past, marketers have rarely been afforded such opportunities, but the pace of technological change can only mean greater potential for boldness and experimentation.