My preliminary thoughts are that it is not a revolutionary product, but more of an evolution from the iPod Touch and the iPhone. The new processor seems very fast, so the performance will be better than either. The starting price ($499) is very attractive.

Unlimited data for $30/month without a plan commitment is alluring. I also think that you need to touch/feel/use it in person to get the full experience of the device. Finally, it could compete well against net books, while protecting Apple’s profit margins. Oh, and the Kindle is dead and the name iPad is silly.

What was most important to the stock market today: price.  When the device was first announced, the stock fell, but it rose quickly when Steve Jobs announced the $499 starting price.

However, because the iPad (as least as I currently understand it) is not revolutionary, I doubt it will define a new category. And the goal of Apple, as stated several times today, was that this is a whole new type of device. Not yet.

Apple has now posted the video of the launch. You can watch the whole thing here.