About a month ago, Apple launched the iPad , and every cool kid rushed out to get one so that all the other cool kids wouldn’t laugh at them.  This weekend, Apple launched the iPad 3G, and even at $629, it sold like, well, an iPad.  The third generation iPad goes on sale tomorrow at $859.

Reports from the weekend raise questions about the second generation iPad.  Design issues prevent it from being thrown as easily as a frisbee.  And there’s that network reception issue too.  Bummer.  But the worst problem is that last month’s cool kids now look a bit dated.  After all, their iPad is merely WiFi, while the in-the-know kids are 3G.  I can hear the chuckles as they pull their outmoded iPad out and try to hide their shame in the corner.

I saw an iPad yesterday, though I’m fairly certain it was one of the old, pathetic versions since its user looked glum and wore a doubleknit leisure suit.  It’s so very hard to be cutting edge anymore with the edge in constant motion.

It was disheartening.  The iPad user was a nice guy, trying to keep up with the early bird at his children’s urging. The kids had iPhones and others gadgets with them, including a netbook from the looks of it, but they barely touched them.  They played some game on the iPad involving super heroes.  Other kids looked on.  Some looked at their parents with imploring eyes.  They probably didn’t know that the iPad was working on WiFi rather than 3G.  There was no reception there.

It must have been worth it to have every shiny new toy that appears in the store.  I know a lot of people with i-stuff, many of whom trade them up with hours of getting their first so they aren’t passe before they read the manual.

At least the original iPad buyers got a month of cool out of it.  The second generation iPad 3G users may only get hours.  And the third generation people are just losers, because by then no one will care at all.  No one ever advertises a fifth generation device.

My cellphone used to be my daughter’s.  When we renewed the contract, she got a new shiny one. I got her old one which used to be a new shiny one.  It works fine when I remember to turn it on.