Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the stage Wednesday to deliver a keynote in which he introduced Apple's highly anticipated tablet device, the Apple iPad. Jobs called the iPad his most important work to date.

All name jokes aside, the men who were in attendance had a valid reason to cheer and applaud. The iPad may first seem like it has no reason for being. It is after all just an iPod Touch on steroids. Someone with an iPod Touch wouldn't want to upgrade, and those with a full size laptop wouldn't give it a second glance.

What is so special about this new device, then? First, let's look at Apple's core business and its phenomenal growth in the past decade. Apple reinvented the way people listen to music on the go with the iPod. The iPod is what saved the company and made Apple hip and cool once more. However, the life cycle of this product line is approaching saturation, and if there's a company that's going to kill the iPod, it may as well be Apple.

There's no doubt that Jobs has one of the sharpest minds in his industry. He put his engineers to work years ago on this new product line. The ultimate goal Apple has for the iPad is to reach a new target market, namely people who oppose using computers but have to in order to stay connected with extended family and loved ones. Soon enough, the women in our lives will have another kind of pad to call a necessity.

Every January since the second coming of Jobs, Steve has been sending out his messages via a keynote to once again solidify Apple's commanding lead in the computer/personal electronics industry. This year is no exception. Perhaps it is even more exciting than ever with the anticipated arrival of a brand spanking new Tablet.

Among our Mac-geek-circle, we refer to Steve's keynote as Apple's State of the Union. And as of right now, the field of reality distortion is in full force at one special place in southern California. I'm heading there virtually to see what magic Steve has this year besides the iPad. :)