I get the point about reading LCD screens, though I've been doing just that for the last hour on my laptop at home hooked into my wireless Internet. All the tablets I've seen have on-screen keyboards but I just can't see them being that functional for working... maybe the quick email or tweet, but not working. Having the ability to get all your digital content AND a machine you can work on, seems like the best of both worlds. And that's the laptop/netbook. With a webcam, they've been working as video phones over Skype for a few years now already.

I think the eReader as a sole product will quickly die. Think about it. If I have to haul around another electronic tablet-like item, then it'd better be something like a big iphone. I see the future as "only" software. Instead of just reading websites, readers with software on a tablet will have the "feeling" of a page-flipping (or horizontally sliding) magazine/paper but so much more. I think some of the Sports Illustrated stuff might not be a big draw for readers, but some will. There's already growth in the industry about "personalizing" your magazine content; SI addresses some of this. So all-in-all, I want a tablet that can be 100 magazines at my fingertips, but more so when complemented with videos, back-lit beautiful photos and more. That's just 1/10th of what I'll use a tablet for. The rest will be that super-light laptop, but it'll be more fun, probably quickly be a video phone, digital movie player, photo album, music and more. So again, the solo eReader will be short-lived I think if a tablet can be it and much much more. (though, the cost will be significantly different too). My $0.02.

Actually ... they will be websites with authority! Well written, inclusive, and interactive. I look forward to it!

I have been using an e-reader (for books) for over a year now and one thing that many critics neglect to mention is that the e-ink display does not contribute to eye fatigue unlike a back-lit lcd screen. This is the best feature for me. As for reading magazines on it, if they were available, I would. But I must confess that since being laid off from the industry, I no longer read magazines and don't really miss them. Free online content suffices...

Good point - the tablet is really an evolution of the laptop/netbook. But saviour or not, you can bet I'll be in the apple store to play with it at least. :)

Thanks for the great link Kat. I often wonder if, in fact, the super-powerful, reasonably light-weight, standards-based e-reader is already well established and owned by millions of people. It's called the laptop. Have a look in just about any coffee shop to see who is reading what. Wireless netbooks will just entrench the trend. But I guess we'll have to see what Steve Jobs has up his sleeve.