iSave print news media?

What’s awesome, magical and revolutionary? What is super responsive and super precise and downright phenomenal? What was called every positive adjective possible upon its unveiling? That’s right folks, it’s the iPad and no – never mind, you’ve probably heard that one before.

As with any product revealed by Apple, its conception was veiled in mystery. Not one word was spoken about the specifics of the device until last week. Many thought it would be called the iSlate or the iTablet – it even evoked imagery of the Ten Commandments – as though this one piece of technology could change the world.

Which was exactly the kind of speculation Apple wanted. Before the launch, Steve Jobs, the father of all of Apple’s brainchildren, had been reported as saying that the tablet will be the most important thing he’s ever done. But with siblings such as the iPhone and iPod, those are some high expectations.

So the questions persist: Does the iPad live up to the hype? Putting the junior-high jabs at its name aside, the device seems to lack some important components. Where’s the camera? Why can’t it support Flash? Is this really necessary for someone who already has a smart phone for their pocket and a laptop for their desk (probably in addition to a desktop computer for their home)?

Apple claims the iPad seeks to create a new category of personal-use technology. It attempts to excel at media consumption and Internet access but fails as a viable product of choice for content creation.

With such limitations, how can this device create market space for itself? It might be too early to tell, but there’s reason to believe the iPad could very well be the answer to the dying print media’s prayers.

Newspapers have struggled with adapting to the digital age. They made the mistake of giving away material for free, and now the industry is finding it hard to get any return at all. The iPad might in fact be the lifebuoy it needs – an opportunity to apply a pricing model (like iTunes) to the increasing digitalization of newspapers. The New York Times has already partnered with Apple to pioneer this concept.

There are endless opportunities available to print media with the iPad. A 10-inch screen suddenly becomes a library, a newsstand and a magazine rack.

Instead of loading up on heavy textbooks, students could load everything they need onto one device. Purchasing a cookbook? Imagine having video tutorials alongside each recipe.

Certainly, these realizations are far off, and certainly the iPad remains an imperfect device. But the print industry should be sure to look toward the model Apple has provided as inspiration to move forward instead of continuing to try to cultivate growth in a dying industry.