Cost and availability:

Connectivity: Two versions of iPads available-One with WiFi and the other with Both WiFi and 3G. The WiFi standard is latest 802.11n and 3G versions support speed up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. In US,  AT&T will provide the 3G service. The 250 MB data plan costs  $14.99 a month and unlimited mobile data plan will cost $29.99 a month.

Processor: iPad is powered by Apple’s  1GHz , A4 Chip, Flash memory, ranging from 16 to 64 GB .ipad photo

Dimensions and built: 0.5 Inch thick, Weighs 1.5 Pound, enclosure is made of highly recyclable Aluminium.

Display: High resolution9.7-inch multi touch screen display, LED back light, Using IPS (Inter plane switching) technology  with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle.

Keyboard: Touch screen soft keypad. The tablet uses multi-touch finger gestures and swipes like the iPhone . Facility to connect the iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

Battery backup: 10 hours long backup and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.

Applications: Bundled with 12 new applications designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. You can use the applications purchased for iPhone or iPod. Every application works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The new application iBook allows users to read ebooks from Apple’s iBook store.ipad Photo 2

In contrast, Walt Mossberg wrote, “It’s about the software, stupid”, meaning hardware features and build are less important to the iPad’s success than software and user interface, his first impressions of which were largely positive. Mossberg also called the price “modest” for a device of its capabilities, and praised the claimed 10-hour battery life.

Tech reporter Leo Laporte offered a mixed initial review, praising the iPad’s speed but panning the lack of a camera, video output, USB or FireWire ports, and multitasking, specifically the inability to run a chat application along with other applications. He also mentioned the device’s “locked down”, closed nature, noting that some at the announcement protested Apple’s “full control” of the software. He concluded that the iPad should be viewed as an “appliance” for media consumers, not really a computer in the traditional sense.

Yair Reiner said the iPad will compete against e-book devices such as the Barnes & Noble nook and the Amazon Kindle while offering 70% of revenue to publishers, the same arrangement afforded developers on the Apple App Store. (A week before the iPad’s expected release, the Amazon Kindle store increased publishers’ revenue share to 70% as well.

Others, including PC Advisor and the Sydney Morning Herald, have said the iPad would also compete with proliferating netbooks, most of which use Microsoft Windows. CNET lists ways the iPad compares unfavorably to a netbook, including no camera for video chat, no Flash, and the difficulty of typing on your lap. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer noted that the iPad will only support installing software from the App Store.

Several days after the unveiling, Stephen Fry said people must actually use the iPad to truly appreciate its purpose and quality and commented that common of the criticisms of the device fall away after use. Fry noted the iPad’s speed, responsiveness, smooth glide, richness and detail of the display, heft in his hand, and rightness of the user actions and gestures.

• Display:
  • 9.7″ widescreen LED-backlit glossy multi-touch capacitive display (with IPS technology)
  • 1024-by-768-pixel resolution @ 132 pixels-per-inch (ppi)
  • Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Processor: Apple A4 1 GHz (by PA Semiconductor)
• Memory: DDR2 RAM
• Video: Apple A4 1 Ghz (see above)
• Storage: 16 GB to 64 GB flash drive
• Wireless data:
  • Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
  • 3G version: UMTS/HSDPA (through AT&T, no contract required)
  • 3G version: GSM/EDGE (through AT&T, no contract required)
• Extra devices:
  • Digital compass
  • A-GPS (assisted GPS)
  • Microphone
  • Speaker
• Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor
• Inputs:
  • Dock connector (typical Apple port)
  • 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
  • SIM card
  • No USB port (!!!)
• Battery: Built-in 25 Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery (by DynaPak)
• Usage time:
  • Internet: up to 5 hours on 3G
  • Internet: up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi
  • Video playback: up to 10 hours
• Colors:
  • black with silver or
• Software:
  • iPhone OS (for iPad)
  • All iPhone applications are supported on the iPad
  • In addition, iPad has its own App Store
• Price level: $499  USD, 399 EUR
• Release date: April 2010, the 3G version will take slightly longer to become available