Funny, I just started thinking along similar lines.<p>I was underwhelmed initially by the iPad as well.  Then I remembered this painting program I wrote back in the '90s for my Mac IIsi, and how <i>cool</i> it was (geometrical forms with palette animation) -- and then I started thinking about a touch-based version of this program -- maybe with networking -- and then I turned to my wife, and said, "You know that new thing Apple just came out with?"