[citation][nom]matt314[/nom]Why is it that tablets have been around for almost a decade, running software alot more useful than a phone OS, and apple is getting all this credit?[/citation]
Because you (and most of Tom's readers) still don't understand that tablets are NOT supposed to be PC/laptop replacements (at least not until speech recognition will be perfect). A tablet should not have a full blown OS and should not be intended to be used for most of the things you do on a full blown OS like Windows. A tablet doesn't need multitasking, tons of RAM, or the ability for you geeks to install Photoshop, AutoCad or SSH clients. Seriously, enough already.
A tablet is all about interface and ease of use. Weight, screen quality, performance and looks come close after. Because a tablet's primary role is to display, to present information, to allow the easiest possible way for a potential viewer to read that information.
Expect to see them a lot more in the following years, with all kinds of uses - from restaurants to hospitals, from schools to car services.
And to finally answer your question, Apple is getting all the credit because they understood all of the above and they got it right.