Steve Jobs touted the iPad as another iPod, a product that will innovate and become the first in its class of product. That class, according to Jobs, is between smartphones like the iPhone and traditional laptops.

But is it worth the hype? Admittedly, Jobs rarely disappoints his loyal followers. Since the unveiling of the iPod, Jobs and Apple have produced wonder after wonder. They transformed portable media entertainment, then moved on to the phone industry and dominated both. Now they move onto a very new field: the portable touchpad.

Before I review it, the purpose of the iPad must first be noted. The iPad is supposed to be easy to carry. Not quite as fit-in-your-pocket portable as the iPhone and not as powerful as a laptop, but something in between. At the unveiling, Jobs described it as something that might accompany a laptop, but not replace it.

Apple has stacked the odds in the iPad’s favor. The iPad includes several features that could revolutionize the industry, and it only needs one to be successful.

The first among these is 3G capability. Though the 3G iPads haven’t yet been released, when they are, they could alter even the laptop industry. Almost all laptops are Wi-Fi capable only. But with the publicity and buzz about the iPad, if the iPad is successful, 3G capability could become more widespread among non-smartphone devices, including regular laptops.

The second is the iPad’s e-Reader capabilities. E-books have really taken off in recent years, and have more than once been hailed as the potential saviors of the print industry. If the iPad is successful and popular enough, it might spread e-Reading to every home.

And, of course, there is the actual functionality of the iPad itself. It serves as a sort of mini-mini computer, able to display pictures and surf the web while also including the superb media player that is the iPod. The iPad might be highly successful simply for the novelty it provides; the widespread love for all that is Apple probably won’t hurt either.

The iPad is essentially a large iPod. The main differences between the iPad and iPod touch are: a larger screen, more powerful processor (1 GhZ) and a longer-lasting battery.

When you hold it in your hands, it feels light and portable, with the sleekness characteristic of many of Apple’s products. The keyboard is surprisingly easy to type on (unlike that of the iPhone’s, which drew many complaints). The display is clear and has a stunning 9.7” (diagonal) display with 1024×768 pixel resolution.

The iPad is something that could change tech, just as the iPod and iPhone have done. It’s worth buying, but not until the kinks have been worked out. Usually when Apple releases products, flaws are found and later generations are fixed, so wait a couple months.