As a follow-up of my previous post on the iPad, something still needs to find an answer: I am a firm believer that this device could replace the pile of magazines/newspapers we all have on our coffee tables, but when it comes to browsing, mailing or scheduling, how are we going to handle multi-users aspects of such a family machine?
Indeed it will become a family device that will live in the house: living rooms, bedrooms or kitchen (I have some doubts with the bathroom... and regarding the restroom, it's up to you ;-)
Apart the inevitable internal fights to find it back, to accuse your teens for dropping it anywhere (ok, causal business, isn't it?), we really have to address the other problem: personal vs/and family usage.
Because the iPad shares the iPhone/iTouch OS, it offers us: browsing capability (with "tabs"), email client and agenda. How those can be managed in a shared environment since it does not support (so far?) multi-users settings.
Historically, mobile devices were personal: PDA, smart phones and iPhone/iTouch. (a small exception with the netbooks which have full-fledged OS that allow for multi-users to share it thanks to multi-accounts capability).
So, I ask again: because the iPad will be shared among the family/house: how are you going to deal with your surfing tabs, mail account(s) and agenda together with the other family/house members? One simple solution Apple could propose: buy an iPad each!