While this article does a fantastic job expounding on reasons the Newton failed, it seems to implicitly assert that people are "prepared" for the iPad, and that there is a space in their minds for such a device now. I would challenge this assertion. My own preferences notwithstanding, the only people I've heard even contemplate getting an iPad are people with 2+ MacBooks. In other words: "yes, but."

Perhaps all this article really meant to say is that the cult of Mac is eminently more powerful today than 20 years ago - in which case yes, I agree entirely.