from gizmodo.com

Let me start by being perfectly clear: When the iPad hits streets in April, I will probably buy one. Because I am weak and need the comfort of sexy technology to fill the emptiness of this modern life. But existential crisis aside, the device disappoints on a few fundamental levels, particularly for the creative mind.

Aside from the crushing lack of Flash, removable memory, or even a freakin' USB port, the biggest failing is that this device has been crafted into one of pure media consumption. Not creation. Granted, we have desktops and high-end laptops for creation purposes, what I had hoped for was a device that would allow for some on-the-spot creative generation and sharing opportunities. A device that would allow me to use the tablet as a journal, to send the goodness that I've gathered with the device out to others in a collaborative environment. Such endeavors seem wholly impossible on the iPad. But I realize that this desire is unfair to the little tablet from Apple. It's because my expectations for what i wanted it to be had already been fulfilled by another, the Microsoft Courier. And I was yearning for Apple to rise to the challenge and create something even better. But what we got was a big iPhone.

In and of itself, this isn't evil. Hell, it's sexy. And I still want one. But if I can only buy one computer product this year, my choice has been made already. Courier wins. EASILY. Check out the attached videos below to see what the future of creative collaboration looks like. It looks like a win sandwich, with pickles and a side of hell yeah.

Microsoft's Courier is rumored to release mid-2010 at about the same price point as the iPad.

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