Even before Apple pulled back the curtain on its new iPad--the iconoclast himself holding the brand new device and calling it "a truly magical and revolutionary" product--the anticipation for the Apple Tablet was enormous. The publishing world in particular was gaga in the days leading up to the announcement, a lot of industry leaders wondering whether or not the Apple tablet will revolutionize the distribution of newspapers, magazines, and books in the same the iPod transformed the music industry.

Whether the iPad ends up revolutionizing the way we buy and consume digital content of all kinds remains to be seen. But at first blush I do believe Steve Jobs has once again done something extraordinarily well. He hasn't just created a device; he has tapped into our imaginations. By calling the iPad "magical" rather than "useful" or "universal," Jobs has soared above the ordinary by placing this device--and let's face it, the iPad is just a device--into the realm of wonder rather than utility. If Steve Jobs is to be believed, the iPad isn't a device to merely help you do things more efficiently. It is device that will help you dream of doing things better.

You can bet that technical teams all over the world are already thinking of new applications designed just for the iPad. Granted, many of these Apps will be dumb, some will be a waste of time, but many will be amazing.

There are hundreds if not thousands of creative enterprises and individuals who are this very minute dreaming of ways to leverage this magical device for new and engaging content that will instantly transmit timeless and transcendent themes.

And you can be sure that there are social justice organizations who are already imagining ways the iPad can help them more effectively and creatively communicate their messages of hope and healing.

This isn't the first time a device has triggered such worthy and potentially revolutionary change. Before Steve Jobs, inventive change-agents like Johannes Gutenberg and Philo Pharnsworth stirred the human imagination with their devices. It's not that the iPad necessarily belongs in the same breath as the printing press or the television. But the concept behind it and the potential it has to challenge and stir people to stretch their imaginations definitely puts the iPad in the same conversation.

So am I going to get one? Absolutely. The only downside is that the Wi-Fi models won't be ready for two months, and the 3G version will be available in 90 days. Until then, I'll just have to watch the iPad video and dream.