whyPad?

As a PC user, I’m curious what experience if any readers have had with Tablet PCs and Convertibles. It doesn’t seem to me that the iPad offers anything obviously superior to what is already out there. Although I can see why those who already use Apple for most things would go with Apple for this as well, is there any reason why a PC user might choose the iPad over the many other options currently available?

If it were up to me, I’d have a device that could use electronic ink or full color depending on whether you were reading a book or doing something else, something that could fit in your pocket but still be used with a decent-sized keyboard when you want to type at length, and something PC-compatible. I’d like to be able to use it for reading, music, and language learning via software and audio courses. I’d like solid state memory rather than a hard drive. And I’d rather save a few years to get this dream machine than get several devices. I’m pretty sure this ideal device of my imagination doesn’t exist yet. But does anyone have suggestions about anything that comes even remotely close?