I just don't understand why it's supposed to better than anything else already on the market - tablet or not. Am I just getting old? What makes it Special besides the brand?
You could duct-tape three iPads together and you'd have roughly the size and weight of one Windows Tablet PC. This matters a lot carrying one around a hospital. And this is to say nothing of the fact that all the exposed ports and vents on the PC prohibits its use in a number of contexts, while the iPad could easily be fitted with a sealed silicone case.
• Full desktop OS vs. specialized mobile OS
Yes, Apple's platform is tightly controlled. But if you're building a web-based application, why not deploy it on a low-maintenance, streamlined device instead of something with enough complexity to run Crysis while spreading Conficker in the background?
But, more relevant to this essay: I don't know of another tablet with a screen the size of iPad's, a 10 hour battery, and a shell that's 1.5" thick. (Not that it doesn't exist, I'm just not aware of it.)
