Having recently purchased Amazon’s Kindle, I’m anxiously waiting to learn more about Apple’s new tablet device, which is expected to be introduced next week. Apple recently extended an invitation to its January 27th media event, inviting people “to see our latest creation.” The nature of the invitation and the secrecy behind the new device elicits thoughts of Willy Wonka allowing a select group into his factory to catch a glimpse of his newest creations. In his black t-shirt and blue jeans, Steve Jobs appears to be a far cry from Wonka, though they both seem to come from the same school of marketing. Will Jobs’ new device live up to the hype?

With rumors indicating that the tablet will be sold at a $1,000 price point (before the consumer would even have the opportunity to purchase content for it), recent speculation that Apple has focused on developing the device for homes and schools seems to make sense. Particulalry exciting is the notion that students will be able to utilize the tablet to read electronic-textbooks. The tablet’s larger touch screen, as well as its use of color, differentiates it from the Kindle and allows Apple to enter the e-textbook market despite the fact that Amazon has not been able to do so. Having been a History major at a liberal arts university, the idea of having had the ability to receive all of my textbooks on one device is pretty remarkable. Not to mention the amount of money I would have saved down the road on chiropractors. Let’s further discuss what the tablet can offer consumers before suggesting that the technology can prevent backpain and bring reform to our health care system.

In addition to book publishers, Apple has been in discussions with newspaper and magazine publishers to determine how their content can be included on the tablet. There’s speculation that Apple is working closely with the New York Times. Apple is also working with TV networks to make their shows available on the device for a monthly subscription service.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has focused on making the device one that users can easily share. This is practical, given the alleged price tag. I’m personally wondering whether consumers are interested in sharing such a product, or whether they will prefer to have their own iPods, Kindles and other devices. With Amazon now making a very strong push to obtain content from writers and publishers (and even offering 70% royalties to self-published authors and select publishers), another key issue to consider is the nature of the content that will be available on Apple’s device, as well as how Apple charges for it.

I’m currently enjoying my Kindle. I’m able to read Edgar Allen Poe’s Complete Poetical Works and many other classics for free (which is good because I’m not sure when I’ll actually get too deep into them), and I just started the acclaimed novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, which I bought for $9.99. Like all other technology, I’m sure something bigger and better will be introduced as soon as I’m getting comfortable with my new purchase, but for now, I’m more than content.