iPad not first tablet
The Apple Newton was a handheld tablet as was the Palm handhelds. The PalmPilot interface was very Mac like. So yes, the iPad has built on what went before but so did those build on what Apple had designed and influenced before. That's technology, for you.
Rightly, there were MP3 players before iPods but the originators hadn't figured out the finesses and possibilities to present the best product. Apple saw the possibilities and revolutionised their platform catching the others off guard. Apple bought Soundjam and turned it into iTunes, the killer software that integrated iPods and computers so smoothly.
Interestingly, Apple has been working on the iPad way before they introduced the iPhone, which was an early iPad shrunken with added phone ware.
T'will be interesting to see how iPad fairs over the next few years to see if it can keep its lead. I have a steady understanding of the progress of the iPod in mind wondering if the same route will be followed such that the iPad can head the competition off at the pass. The competition may or may not be quick enough to thwart Apple's intentions; but it will be a great ride, either way.
