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For months now, people have been speaking of the imminent release of Apple’s tablet computer, the iPad. Just over a month ago, Apple announced that the iPad would hit the shelves around March or April. Since that time, consumers have been anxiously anticipating the exact due date, so to speak. Finally, Apple has announced that the iPad will be available to U.S. consumers on April 3. This certainty has seemed to create a new uncertainty for some consumers. Now that they know they will soon have the opportunity to purchase the iPad, some consumers want to know precisely what the iPad does, and how it will benefit them. There seem to be a common list of questions that consumers are asking about the iPad, and this post aims to provide some answers.
1. Is the iPad wi-fi or is it covered under a 3G plan? The answer to this question is both, the iPad will be available in a wi-fi model as well as a 3G model. The wi-fi model is priced at $499, and the 3G model ranges between $629 and $829, depending on its size. The 3G models are available in 16Gb, 32Gb and 64Gb, escalating in price respectively.
2. How does the iPad differ from the iPod Touch? Most obviously, the iPad differs from the iPod Touch in that it is significantly larger. The iPad is a tablet computer that provides consumers with 9.7 inches of screen from corner to corner. And the best part is that this size does not come at the cost of weight – the iPad weighs in at just about 1.5 pounds.
3. Will consumers be able to type on the iPad? The iPad is the most type-able touch screen device to be introduced to the technology industry. Not only is the touch screen itself highly type-able, but it has the capacity to connect with an external keyboard for increased ease to consumers who wish to use their iPad for a word processor.
4. Will Apple make e-books widely available for the iPad? One of the main selling points of the iPad is that it will offer such an excellent platform for e-books. As such, Apple has created an e-bookstore with a corresponding iPad application that provides consumers with an enormous selection of e-books to choose from. Books will be available from five of the major book publishers in the virtual bookstore, and it is likely that more publishers will join as time passes.
5. Will iPhone and iPod Touch applications work on an iPad? Most applications created for an iPhone or iPod Touch will work just fine on an iPad. Some of the older applications may not transfer over precisely, however, and could remain in a smaller size, thus taking up only a portion of the iPad screen. As far as new applications go, it is likely that they will be highly transferable between all Apple devices.
With these questions answered, consumers still have the one question left of whether they personally stand to benefit from the iPad. Time will reveal how consumers feel about the iPad, but with all that it offers, the chances are great that Apple will see success with this new device.
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