It's much easier to lounge around reading or watching tv on an ipad than a laptop
I'm going to have to disagree, at least for 13"-sized computers like the base macbook or smallest macbook pro. The only situation where I see it potentially being "easier" is perhaps if you're lying on your back, and even then the ipad demands a lot more arm movement that you generally wouldn't need to do with a touchpad-based device.
Matter of opinion of course, but I just can't see dropping the money on an ipad when you can get a drastically more capable device for not that much more money. I like the ipad from a purely gadgetlust perspective, but I just can't relate to the niches it supposedly fills. I also feel like using a 10" touchscreen requires a lot more physical effort than a 3-4" touchscreen. Just not my cup of tea.