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Apple's iPad is a temptation we should resist

Released to feverish anticipation, Apple’s newest innovation is the iPad: a flat, black gizmo with a single button, and a touch screen that enables users to surf the internet, play games, watch videos and read e-books. As ever, many technophiles have indicated that they’ll happily fork out $499 when it goes on sale in April. But others have pointed out that the iPad doesn’t yet have a camera, a flash player, a USB port or the ability to multitask.

Along with these specific technical concerns, the development of the iPad raises wider questions about software innovation, the future of publishing and who exactly controls the internet.