The round table was interesting. For someone who has a problem with the iPhone, and Apple's closed OS, Michael Arrington likes the iPad.
I think they touched on the key point in the discussion, the software. The software will make or break the device. People will look past the hardware and make the decision on what the software has to offer. The better apps, the more likely people will jump to the iPad.
I wish MS offers a Word, Excel or Powerpoint app. But knowing Apple, they may say it's competing against their own office suites.