However, the overwhelming response to the announcement yesterday was that of its name: “iPad.” Throughout the afternoon, the 2nd-highest trending topic on twitter was ‘iTampon,’ a not-so-subtle play on the name. Many jokes set in along the same lines:

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/alissa-walker/designerati/apple-ipad-name-not-winning-women

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/the-ipads-name-makes-some-women-cringe/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094304575029603030082186.html?mod=WSJ_Small+Business_sections_management

This led people to question: “Who in their right mind would use this name?  Especially considering this MADtv Clip?”

Others: “Were there NO women on Apple’s naming board?”

Personally, I think Apple knew EXACTLY what they were doing.  It thrives off of the idea that “any publicity is good publicity.” Everyone now has the name iPad stuck in their mind, even if it was because they heard it in a joke somewhere.  They know what the device is, and they knew about the MADtv sketch.  As these things get passed around more and more, it will create more interest in the actual device.

On top of that, Apple’s fans are the some of the most extreme technology followers, even worse than Stallman, et. al. in the GNU/Linux world. These people, who would buy the device anyway, coupled with the tech world, who is actually impressed with the functionality, makes me think that even with the interesting choice of name, they’ve still got a hit on their hands.