So a lot has been said about the newest gadget from Apple, the iPad. Unveiled last week, I thought I’d sit on it a bit and see what the world thought of Jobs and Co’s latest offering. As I figured, more people were upset by the name than anything else. The best part though was knowing that all those who were crapping all over it were more than likely going to buy it, and before I go any further, I should probably just be honest. I’m going to buy it too.

There’s no way I’m going to let this thing pass me by. But it’s not just because I’ve become a mindless Apple slave (though, admittedly I have). It’s because the iPad could save the Periodical industry, which includes the comic books I love so much.

Newspapers are dying, Magazines are dying, and single-issue direct-market comics are dying (slower than the others, but it’s coming). But by offering a minimal subscription fee, and offering these things through the iTunes system, instantly downloadable and constantly updated, these dying mediums regain their relevance.

Never underestimate the power of convenience. The ability to get iBooks, iNewspapers, iTV Shows, iComics, and iMovies all in the same place through the iTunes store is a huge selling feature. Much like the ability to buy only the songs you like makes iTunes a convenient source for music, applying the things we’re doing over at ComicPull to the iPad makes a pretty convenient way to get your monthly books.

Sure, there will always bee the collectors market that looks for the physical books to enjoy, the same way they still release albums of vinyl for those who collect records. But for the person who’s more interested in reading comics than collecting them, this is a huge deal. Plus, $0.99 for a digital comic as opposed $2.99 for a single issue helps the ol’ wallet pretty significantly. The only real question is distribution, and if there will be a third-party system to sell “iComics.” It remains to be seen if individual retailers like myself, ComiXology and others will be allowed to sell the digital content. In terms of reading though, I’m sold.

My problem with most digital comic-readers is simply that they are too small. I love comics, but I don’t want to read them on my iPhone. Give me a decent sized screen, on which I can view my comics in hi-res so I can really appreciate the art, plus the fact that I won’t be tripping over longboxes all over my house, and I’m pretty much ready to make the switch as soon as I can.

And then there’s the final point about the iPad that really surprised me: The price. $499 isn’t that expensive when you consider that an iPod Classic or Touch will be in the $300 range, and an iPhone is upwards of $300-$500 (depending who your carrier is). I think most people were expecting the iPad to cost a LOT more.

So I don’t know if the iPad will live up to the expectations, or if it’ll be one of the rare Apple missteps (AppleTV anyone?). Either way, it brings up a lot of possibilities, and I for one am excited to see what comes of them.

Even if the name is a little silly.