Apple has literally stolen the media as we come close to the official release date of the iPad. The device has generated a lot of buzz and has been hailed as a game change in multiple industries. Handheld gaming devices, e-readers, and netbooks have all been challenged by Apple’s latest innovation. The iPad is not going to replace netbooks anytime soon, but it is more than enough for those who don’t use their netbooks for more than entertainment and browsing the web.

You can’t call the iPad a pure computer. But it does seem like the ultimate internet device. It can also be a gaming device or a handheld e-reader. But the jury is still out on the device for business professionals. There are more than enough applications in iPad store to give iPad owners the chance to use their device for their business. But the device is not ready for number crunchers, and it takes some getting used for business professionals.

Many experts assume that the iPad itself will be the final nail in the coffin of netbooks. That is simply not the case. But Apple is going to open the floodgates of innovation with its latest device. HP Slate, Eee Pad, and many other tablet/computer hybrids are in the works. Companies are going to step up their game to challenge the iPad, and that means netbook makers are going to have to do the same.

The future of netbooks is not all doom and gloom. But netbook manufacturers will need to find ways to contain costs and offer more value to their customers. The iPad is only a start. Just imagine what netbooks will have to go against in a matter of a year.