If you question the iPad's purpose.. it's not for you.
Simple as that. Netbooks aren't good.. you have a screen the size of a corn chip, a CPU as fast as a mouse doing algebra.. Sure you can install Windows on it, but run it how fast and really.. what can it do?
iPad.. yeah it's not as versatile (and I'd say it is pretty useless.. but netbooks are even worse).. but it atleast can play ****ing games.. Go see that RAGE demo that got showed today... 6 months and that'll be on iPhone and iPad.. I bet you your Netbook can't do that either.
Netbooks are still well, shit. All you can do with it really is just go and read New York Times, whilst looking at 1/6 of the page. And playing GTA:IV with it... Come on, do you really want to go in public with it to get laughed at?