I think the biggest problem with the iPad is... that it is made by Apple. And what is Apple's claim to fame? Computers! For this reason, some people think the iPad is just some sort of re-packaged laptop in tablet form. It isn't.
The iPad is what some refer to as a "consumption device", made for "consuming" content like movies, books and of course, music. While there are literally thousands of apps for iDevices, they still do not allow the iPad (iPod or iPhone) to completely mimic the functionality of a full-fledged computer. Even though jailbreaking will give you access to more apps and much greater flexibility and control over your iPad, it is still a consumption device at the end of the day, albeit a more powerful one.
As far as things stand now, if you just gotta have the full functionality of the MS Office Suite, a laptop / netbook might be the better way to go.
As far as the video cable, I am still searching for one. I know they exist, I just haven't found it yet. I am considering putting together an 'iPad 101" class for my local library and would love to be able to mirror my iPad's screen through a projector.
