I view tablets (generically) as portable display devices. It's great to be able to sit in a comfortable chair and browse the web, read an e-book, or pick it up off the table for a quick search when you need to find out a local businesses hours or phone number, or movie times. It's the portable device you'll want to have in a doctor's waiting room.

The marine apps that are out are an amazing value, as are the mapping and other functions for geo-enabled data. I don't do much with games, but there's a whole world that will the kiddies amused, and lots of it is educational too.

But if you want to make a long-winded post on a BBS or write anything longer than a quick reply, you'll want to do it on something more tactile than the on-screen keyboard. And if you want to do any real work you'll probably want to move to a desk with a larger and more capable screen/computer.