Apple, Apple, Apple, where have you gone? You used to be a computer company, but you dropped that from your name. You've stopped innovating on the computer side to focus on the iPhone, iPad and their OS.

I realize this has been the gameplan for many years, perhaps since even before Steve Jobs rejoined the company, but it doesn't make me feel any better about it.

Don't get me wrong: I love the iPhone and iPod Touch. I don't yet love the iPad, but I see where they're going with it and it'll be an interesting product.

This topic could (and perhaps should) be a series of posts, because there's just so much here talk about, but for today I wanted to focus on my feelings towards Apple.

I've been a LONGTIME Apple fan. I started with an Apple IIc back around 1984 or so. I always championed the company and their products and eventually hit on the idea of this very 2 Guys site with a couple other Mac nerd friends.

This site started out around 2003-2004, when Apple was just starting to really hit their stride. OS X was still in it's infancy, but most of us Macophiles knew how superior it was to Windows. We "converted" people to the Mac as though it was a cult. We proudly displayed Apple stickers on our vehicles and would honk at other drivers with an Apple sticker.

We rooted for Apple, went to Apple Store openings, argued for the Mac and OS X, and religiously watched keynote events. Everyone in the Apple "club" were sort of family. Being such a tiny part of the market, we had to stick together. Early on (before broadband Internet was prevalent) it was partially to share software, but it was also about banding together against the evil forces of Microsoft. 

It truly felt like a Rebel Alliance vs. the Empire kind of thing.

Alas, I could wax nostalgic for ages about those times, but let's jump forward to the present day.

 Some dude in a helicopter took a video of Apple's new North Carolina data center. Looks huge and I can't wait to see what they are going to do with it. Hopefully soon we'll get the finished product and inside pictures. There is lots of speculation on what is going to be hosted there. I've read everything from cloud based iTunes to tying in with 10.7 with a possible code name of Clouded Leopard and having the whole OS in the cloud. I'm not sure what it's for but I'm sure it'll be something awesome.

 iPad. What is there to say other than it's an oversized iPod touch? It seems ... neat. Nifty. Swell. 

I realize that I'm not the target market for the iPad, but I feel really underwhelmed by it. As usual, Apple gave advance notice of their debut event of the iPad, saying "Come see our latest creation". Perhaps it's the fault of the media and the fanboys that such great hype was built up that no product could live up to?

I don't think so. Apple purposely built the hype. They didn't have to tell everyone about this big January 27th event. It could've been under the radar, or even just launched online. Perhaps part of a larger group of announcements. But no. Grandiosely and magnificently, Apple would deliver the ultimate instrument of panacea to the masses. Let your troubles cease and marvel in what Apple has given humanity. 

Lest you think I'm exaggerating, have you seen the iPad website? The splash text says it's, "Our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price." Whoa, Apple had the hyperbole machine running at full speed when they cranked that line out. 

Now, I'm not fully immune to the legendary effects of Steve Jobs' Reality Distortion Field®, but this day it had almost no effect on me whatsoever. Magical? Revolutionary?

Nope - just a bigger iPod touch. 

Not that it isn't a good product or a step in the right direction. It's the next logical evolution for the iPhone OS. The iPad isn't a piece of crap, nor is it revolutionary. It's just a neat device that does some things a lot of people are going to want to do. 

If Apple debuted it in a different manner, in a different tone, I might be singing it's praises and saying what a great thing they've done here. But to have it rammed down our throats like this is the best thing since Jesus Christ is a little much. 

It all makes perfect sense: Apple's forthcoming tablet is first and foremost an e-Book reader. Allow me to perorate.

If you missed it, McGraw Hill's CEO shed a little light on Apple's event tomorrow. Now, while we all "knew" a tablet was coming tomorrow, we didn't know exactly what functionality it will have and what it's main purpose is. 

And, well, we still don't know much more than we did. All McGraw-Hill's CEO said was: "With the tablet, you're going to open up the higher education market, the professional market. The tablet is going to be just really terrific". 

Meanwhile, there have been other leaks as well, like the Wall Street Journal being able to soon sell their content via subscriptions online. 

Many have wondered how Apple can make something that differentiates itself from the iPhone and a laptop  - and while I'm not saying it'll be useful to everyone, this "iBook" would be different. 

That's right, I said iBook. Just a shot in the dark, but it stands to reason that's what it'll be called. Back when Apple renamed the iBook to the MacBook, they said it was done because they "wanted Mac in the name". Which might well be true, but perhaps they had an ulterior motive: clearing up the iBook name space for later use. 

So meet the new iBook: a beautiful device with a 10" screen, the new iPhone 4.0 OS, always on data plan (via either Verizon or AT&T) that can tie into the new eBook section of iTunes. (iTunes University was just the beginning.)

Am I right or wrong? Well, it truly doesn't matter, this is just an exercise in speculation. Besides, we'll know soon enough!

This is really going to happen. Yup - 2 Guys version 2. Not sure what it'll be exactly. Most likely it'll be a collection of stuff we think is cool, but here are likely candidates:

• Apple tech news, reviews and how-to's
• Social media commentary and how-to's
• General tech news and industry commentary
• Movie reviews
• Gaming news and reviews
• Web development and open-source CMS how-to's
• Some random fiction and goofiness

As you can see, what we want to do cuts a wide swath, but swath-cutters we are. We have very large machetes for said swath; as Dad always said, "Use the right tool for the job".  

We aim to brighten your day, enlighten and inform. We're going to do it whether anyone thinks we should or not. But to assuage our inherent confidence issues ... um... whatcha think?