Someday, after I wash out of journalism, I am going to go into the lawnmower business. I am going to invent a really awesome, beautifully sculpted lawnmower. I will convince the press that my lawnmower will save their imperiled business model. Then I can sit back, relax, and watch news outlets fall over themselves to liveblog the day my lawnmower goes on sale.
OK, I have some nerve writing that, as an employee of the magazine that put this on the cover. But there is a question worth asking: of all the news organizations heralding the iPad—and, more important, making apps and creating content for it—how many of their employees will actually own one, and thus be able to consume their own e-publications?
Not me, not yet. Do I want an iPad? Sure! I just don’t want to buy one. And it’s a conflicted decision because I’m not just an Apple junkie but a media writer. (That latter fact is my go-to rationalization if I give in to gadget lust and buy one tomorrow.) Since we’ve heard so much from journos who are smitten with the iPad, here are a few of the reasons this one is waiting:
