The Apple tablet does not exist, at least not until it receives a proper unveiling by Lord Jobs. Here is a list of reasons why I want the fabled Apple tablet and how it would fit into my life, assuming it does any of the following:

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  Rendering by Jesus Diaz of Gizmodo.com

  Comic books: I was an avid collector and fan of a number of comics in the mid to late 90′s, but for some reason stopped indulging in comics. Mac software company BitCartel makes a piece of software called ComicBookLover, which looks fantastic, but I’m holding off until I know if Apple does anything in this space. Rumors are heavy with info that Apple has been in talks with magazine publishers to save their dying industry, but I want them to be talking to the likes of Marvel and DC to reinvigorate my love for comics. I must credit Andy Ihnatko for making me near-giddy with speculation that LongBox digital comic distribution may be involved with Apple.

• Games: iPhone developers have proven to be creative in bringing a massive gaming audience to an Apple platform for the first time ever. I can only imagine what developers like ngmoco (makers of Eliminate, Rolondo, and Topple) or Gameloft can do with a larger feature set, let alone more screen real estate. The thought of playing Fieldrunners on a larger device will excite me and probably make my son wig out! I can also imagine a larger multi-touch screen giving unlimited creative uses for multiplayer gaming. Only time will tell, but Apple is a serious contender in the gaming market and it will be interesting to see if they aim to expand their offerings with games on a tablet device.
• Sofa surfing: I often times leave the laptop in my office and rely on my iPod touch while sitting in the couch. A larger device would be great for comfort as well as sharing the experience with others. I initially didn’t like the notion of a tablet, but Michael Arrington’s CrunchPad sold me on the idea of a large screened web browser, and unlike the doomed and limboed CrunchPad, the Apple tablet will do this and so much more.
• Books: This past Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to use an Amazon Kindle for the first time. I hated it. I think an ebook reader is just what I need to become passionate about non-fiction once again, but if it’s not as intuitive as a real book, then count me out. I hope Apple can deliver a device that can handle text and long hours of reading as well as it will handle other forms of multimedia. If so, they’ll have a real winner on their hands.

Aside from the items mentioned above, I hope there are a few surprises in store for us as well. We will have to wait in see. I know I will be on the edge of my seat at the end of January. 2010 is going to be an exciting year for gear heads.