I'd say the iPad makes the next step harder, not impossible. Just because you wouldn't want to program on it doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. And if someon

I'd say the iPad makes the next step harder, not impossible. Just because you wouldn't want to program on it doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. And if someone wanted to write a novel, nothing is stopping them from starting to write it on an iPad, one day realizing they want an external keyboard, then making the jump to a netbook or maybe even writing on the desktop that they can (and maybe already do) sync the iPad with. Personally, I'd be more concerned that this new generation of texters, tweeters, and Facebook wall-posters doesn't have the attention span and grammatical capability to write a novel, regardless of what physical tools are available to do so. I was surprised at how many of my classmates freshman year of college were found lacking in the area of writing skills, and I don't imagine the pervasiveness of terse, abbrievieted, and often shallow communication is improving that.