INTRODUCING…. THE iPAD! …… *ROARING LAUGHTER*

Today, CEO of Apple Steve Jobs introduced the iPad *ahem* …

The iPad; a one-piece tablet computer with a large touch screen *giggles* …

I’m sorry, but it’s hard to take this announcement seriously amid the raging Twitter conversation that has created a story within a story; is Apple really going to call its new device an “iPad”?

The first sarcastic remark I saw on Twitter was from a lifestyle freelance writer:
I’m sorry, but as much as I love #Apple, the name iPad blows. Sounds like a feminine hygiene product.

And then it happened: “iTampon” became a Trending Topic. Suddenly a war was waged between the jesters and the Jobs fans.

“Leave iPad alone! It’s going to totally revive the economy!” a senior White House reporter exclaimed just as another person joked, “The iTampon: now with 60% more absorbency for heavy data flow!”

Picking up on the irony of such a carefully massaged marketing message going awry, many people began to discuss how this epic oversight could have possibly happened. Was there a woman on the marketing team? They wondered. “I bet Steve Jobs has his head in his hands about the iTampon. I think one marketing guy is currently packing his cardboard box,” another Tweeter remarked.

Within minutes of the announcement, iTampon had become the #2 Trending Topic on Twitter, while iPad was still in line waiting to join the list.

Couldn’t Apple have just gone with the name iSlate?

Don’t get me wrong; Apple will undoubtedly experience significant growth in the weeks and months to come. And I’m sure from a technical standpoint the iPad will be a great success. But one can’t help but laugh at the irony of one of the most carefully crafted PR machines being splashed across Twitter news feeds in reference to a variety of unmentionable feminine products.

One person asked, “The iPad… Apple’s fatal mistake?”

I doubt it. But it will certainly keep us atwitter for a few days.

Susan Schreiber
Account Supervisor