Agreed. Gates had been pushing the tablet concept for 10 years, and it went nowhere. In contrast, the iPad smashed its way onto the marketplace within months of release.

The only thing more astonishing than the iPad's success is that it comes off the heels of a dozen astonishing successes prior. The iPod was the first volley. The iTunes Store then revolutionised the entire freaking music industry. The iPhone then revolutionised the entire mobile marketplace.

And how the #$*! is Apple dominating the laptop computer segment? Why is Apple the only ones making a compelling notebook that doesn't have a product name ripped from pages of a lawnmower parts supply catalogue?!?