The tech crowd was quick to point out that Apple's iPad didn't include the features that they were expecting. They were expecting at least some of the following:

They didn't get those features, but they definitely got saddled with a bad name, which is going to be the butt of endless menstrual jokes. So, besides missing the above features, it seems they also left off the "wings." Maybe they'll be included on the device's next revision- the one with extended Wifi, the wimax-iPad!

So, Apple users didn't get what they were looking for, but they won't complain, either *. The Apple fans eat up whatever Apple dishes out. Would you like a double-helping of their restrictive DRM model? Here you go. The iPad gives the same device lock in that Apple users have become accustomed to.

An open letter from Defective by design points out that Apple's iPad is encumbered by the same DRM as the iPhone and other Apple devices. The FSF's response to Steve Jobs includes a community petition which asks Apple to abandon DRM and open up the device.

Yeah, right. Good luck with that! The community complaints have fell on deaf ears and Apple has laughed all the way to the bank. Apple has become the world-wide leader in music sales, and their new device is designed for them to be able to compete with the Amazon Kindle (an equally DRM encumbered device). Look for Apple to be a major player in eBooks. The only possible "bright side" is that competition for Amazon may force a more desirable overall outcome. For example, when iTunes overtook Amazon as a leading online music store, they responded by lowering prices and removing DRM from their music. Amazon downloads are in the standard MP3 format which is portable across a wide range of devices. Hopefully, competition with Apple will spur Amazon to compete in eBooks by offering content in the open PDF document format.

* Unfortunately, Apple's fan base and the platform's "coolness" factor allows them to get away with seriously "not cool" behavior. Their users accept whatever crap that Apple dishes out (including complete lockout, device bricking, etc.). They readily trade their freedom and rights to be among the "elite" crowd with that slick Apple hardware.

Update:
	Slashdot's coverage here

Update:
	Even Hitler was disappointed with the iPad