For me it would be great for the internet except for one problem: When I’m on the web I do a LOT of typing (e.g. this post). Those touch keyboards are as effective and will take over physical keyboards in popularity about as well as the touch pad replaced the mouse. i.e. it didn’t.
I must admit that not having to unfold a PC in your coach seat on an airplane is a big plus. For casual surfing, games, movies or “setting on the counter” stuff like using as a kitchen cookbook, I think the pads are really an awesome alternative to a PC. But if I’m only going to buy one device, it’s gonna be a pc. And as my family’s priorities continue to change, I don’t even see a pad in our near (next five years) future.
It all comes down to cost-benefit for me. I got a used iPad 1 for $350 from ebay shortly after the iPad 2 came out. The guy I got it from admitted he paid $800 for it a few months ago but just HAD TO HAVE the new one. Now that the iPad 3 is coming out the price for 1’s might come down even more. For me, $350 was well worth it. $800? Nope. But I really do like it and use it daily.