So many gazillion electrons have been inconvenienced by the outpouring of grief about Apple iPad's "Closed Garden" approach to computing.

What's the problem?  The iPad is a device designed and manufactured to fufill a specific vision and target market.  If it doesn't suit your needs, then DON'T BUY ONE !!!

Problem solved!  As far as I know, there is no compulsion for anyone to buy an iPad.  Sure you might relinquish your membership to the Cool Club if you don't have one. 

If you really believe in the hacker ethic of total openness, then simply build a PC using standard components and install your favorite version of Linux or BSD or even Haiku on it.  My experiences with Ubuntu's Karmic Koala suggest that most notebooks are perfectly well supported as well.  If you choose to go down the notebook (or netbook) path, you might want to take a three step approach:

1. Check out the prices and specs of notebooks at your local supa-cheap-PC store, note brands and model numbers.
   
2. Google for problems with those models and your preferred OSS OS, eliminate those that look like too much trouble.
3. Return to store and buy "The Chosen One"

 Of course, you will strike problems.  But you are a hacker and proud of it.  So just fix it!  Research and download fixes, patches.  Write a new device driver or whatever to scratch your itch.  That is why you didn't buy that iPad in the first place.