Tablets are weird. To me a tablet is a consumption device and I just can’t imagine myself doing more than navigation, light Internet research, or reading a book on one. And I can do all of that on my phone! Combine that with the price points and I'm left a little cold over them. The Nook Color at $250 has come closest to getting my attention. Woot had a good deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7-inch recently and I grabbed one for my wife, who has enjoyed using the Nook app.

An Apple iPad has never been in the running as a possible purchase: too expensive and I refuse to put iTunes on my computer. The Steve Jobs cult of “you’re gong to do things my way or not at all” has never held any appeal and I just can’t afford the cost of being an Apple devotee. If you can, I have nothing against that.

A laptop is far more attractive to me.

When I saw that HP were selling-off the TouchPad for $99 I immediately tried to buy one. For that money there is no thought needed and it doesn’t matter that there are almost no apps available. I’m sure that within a couple of months someone will have figured out a way to install Android and even if they don’t it is only $99! This is the price point where you can image any number of things to do with one, or why not buy two or three.

• Put one on the fridge as a family message center
• Keep one near the TV to check the schedule and see who that actress was in the last movie
• Have one lying around for Google-ing stuff instead of running upstairs to the PC
• Etc, etc

If you managed to get one, congratulations! I didn’t, but I’m vainly watching for the rumored second wave coming in from the warehouses …