Myself and a few of our members/contributors were talking about the success probability of the iPad. We think that it will be big. For 5 key reason (with a few bonus reasons)

The Apple Tablet iPad will succeed mainly for the following 5 reasons:

1.  As a result of the Apple stores, almost any product Apple launches at this point has got to be a huge screw-up in order to fail.

2.  Any product that ties in to iTunes is almost doomed to success, for reasons almost similar to (1) above.

3.  The choice of WiFi-only and AT&T-embedded was very clever.  Now you can get it to work with Sprint/Clearwire and Verizon as well.

4.  The AT&T plans are innovative and a step forward.  Unlimited for $30 is a very surprising move.

5.  Killer technical feature setting it apart from a laptop? Instant-on.  Beats my laptop’s 2-minute boot time.

Bonus1 : The Cynical Angle: The product may not be right for me or you who need a proper laptop, but sadly there are many people these days who live in the Hollywood/tv/music/entertainment worlds, and never accomplish anything productive .  And the legions of these people are mushrooming by the day.  And these people will be very happy with an iPad.

Bonus 2: The Optimistic Angle:  Overall the success of the iTouch proved the market as point out in the Top 5 Reasons The Apple iPad Will Succed Big.  As the product becomes better over mulitpe versions it will become a must have for everyone who uses the web.  For example this year was the first year that I can carry  a iPhone around town and at CES all without ever using a laptop.  It was a revelation I did all my business with my iphone while at CES – a first for me.

Bonus 3: Technology and Data Plan Innovation:  the custom smartphone mobile chipset and how Apple is looking at the data plan service – building in service as a cost of goods is a great model.  The no contract model will be a standard.  As an aside I was advising all the netbook execs at CES that they need to be thinking about the two year contract as a component of the device and treat it as a COGS cost of goods sold.

My Angle: iPad will be a winner.  Wildcard:  Apple might have to change the name under massive revolt to the name -it has female issues.