The iPad is a great device, but still a work in progress

After all the hype, after all the reviews, tweets and blog posts analyzing every detail of the iPad, from the placement of the headphone jack to the reflective qualities of its glass screen, you may still be wondering: Should I buy one?

In one word: no.

Well, let me revise that: not yet.

Let me be clear: The iPad is a sleek and beautiful computer that’s likely to inspire imitators and become a much-loved gadget and cultural icon, just like the iPod and iPhone. And yes, just a few days ago, I raved about the iPad, saying it’s "as fun and hassle-free a computer as I’ve ever used."

Still true? Yes.

But after using the iPad for several days (and thinking about it quite a bit, too), I’ve come to realize how much the iPad is a work in progress. It’s a computer that’s most suitable, at least for now, for so-called "early adopters" willing to lead the way in figuring out the real place of the tablet computer in the crowded mix of technology in our lives.

Will the iPad mainly be used for surfing the web around the house? As an extra computer,

shared by the family, for watching TV shows, reading books and playing games? Will business professionals use the iPad to draft documents, create presentations and watch the occasional video?

Probably all of the above, but the fact is, I’m still figuring out when to use my iPad (as opposed to my iPhone or MacBook notebook computer), and I expect it will take me weeks, if not longer, to integrate the iPad into my life for both work and play.

Certainly, if you’re a gung-ho early adopter, the iPad is an excellent computer, and you may want to think about buying one. But if you’re not so intrepid? Then I have three reasons why you should say "no" to the iPad, at least for now.

1. You don’t want to be a product tester.

Buying the first version of any product is often a mistake, as subsequent versions improve upon the initial one’s deficiencies. That’s especially true for the iPad, as it’s not just Apple’s first version of a tablet computer, but it’s the first tablet computer with widespread, mass appeal. If the concept sticks, as it almost certainly will, later versions — from Apple and from other computer makers — will benefit from the comments and opinions of those who buy the first version and express their likes and dislikes.

In blog posts and tweets, iPad users, even those who love it, are noting problems and quirks. The iPad’s glass screen is too reflective, meaning it’s hard to view when you’re sitting under a blue sky or an overhead light. It weighs too much to hold in the hand comfortably as an e-reader. It’s not so easy to sync documents with another computer. The Apple iPad case, which also serves as a stand, isn’t steady enough. And on and on.

Do you want to put up with these issues, or would you rather wait for the next model of iPad (or another computer maker’s tablet computer)?

2. The best apps don’t yet exist, and you’ll spend your money on apps you don’t really want or need.

The iPad will be judged, in part, by the qualities and capabilities of its apps — the software programs available at the iPad’s App Store. More than 1,000 apps have been designed specifically for the iPad, but guess what? The developers who created them, for the most part, did not have access to an actual iPad when they did so; they used a special simulator to recreate the look of the iPad on a traditional computer. That means there are lots of apps available for purchase that were created by programmers who’d never even held an iPad.

As these software developers play with the iPad, they’ll set out to improve their apps and create new ones, this time with the benefit of the iPad. But if you buy an iPad now, you’re likely to spend a fair amount of time (and money) downloading and trying out apps that don’t really take full advantage of its potential.

3. The iPad isn’t cheap.

At $499 (for the least expensive model), the iPad’s not even close to an impulse purchase. But a year from now, after the price drops (maybe to $399 or less), and imitators are available (for $299, perhaps), a tablet computer like the iPad will seem like a bargain.

That’s the irony here: I’m not telling you not to buy an iPad because I don’t like it. Even now, the iPad is quite reasonably priced for what it does. I love the iPad, and I think you’ll probably own a tablet computer one day. But there’s no real reason that day should be anytime soon.