• by Mark Walsh  @markfwal, April 7, 2010

Reviews of the iPad so far have ranged from rapturous to rejection but the Applet tablet hasn't failed to arouse strong opinions either way. But for everyone else the device remains a tabula rasa, according to the latest Nielsen buzz tracking data. So much for Apple's storied marketing skills.

The research firm found that the consumer sentiment, while leaning positive, is mainly neutral as users are just getting their first look at the iPad and are considering the value of its features. But "as more reviews appeared and the device was released, sentiment and overall buzz volume began to drift upward and "neutral" commentary slowed down," said Nielsen, which has been tracking online chatter about the iPad since January.

Not surprisingly, Twitter was the main outlet for online conversation about the iPad, while message boards and gaming sites like ign.com helped boost discussion around the device as people speculated about its potential as a game player. With 300,000 iPads sold the first day, the device has gotten off to a solid commercial start. The key for Apple now is getting the fence-sitters to come on board with a widening circle of positive reaction and recommendations for the iPad.

And when people start seeing the first batch released into the wild, it will naturally pique their curiosity (and perhaps envy) as they see iPad owners watching movies on a generous screen in an airport lounge or "turning" the pages of an iBook with their fingers on the train. Then they'll be more apt to wonder "how much is that thing?" How many more Apple can get to cough up at least $500 for the device is the big question.