The Apple iPad was officially announced in January 2010 by Apple founder Steve Jobs. The iPad is essentially a laptop sized version of the iPod touch.

The iPad went on sale in Australia in late May 2010. The cheapest iPad with 16Gb of memory and WiFi retails for $629, while the cheapest 3G compatible version costs $799.

Optus and Telstra have competitive 3G access and download rates for the iPad. For example Telstra is offering 2Gb of downloads for $20, and Optus is offering twice that amount for the same price.

iPad Pros
Apple offers a library of downloadable books through the iBookstore, however you can download books from other online retailers as well.

The device is perfect for reading rich media newspapers and emails, including videos and photo galleries.

You can easily multitask and switch between an ebook, newspaper and a video to check emails and instant messages.

The intuitive touch screen (adapted from the iPhone) makes using the iPad very easy.

iPad Cons
It is relatively expensive, with prices ranging from $629 for the 16Gb WiFi version to $1049 for the 64Gb 3G model.

Weighing in at just over half a kilogram, the device is a little too heavy to cart around with you all the time.

Apple iPad Size and weight Height: 9.56 inches (242.8 mm) Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm) Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm) Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model Apple iPad Display 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi) The iPad has a Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously Apple iPad Capacity 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB flash drive iPads Apple iPad Location Wi-Fi Digital compass Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model) Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model) Apple iPad Battery and Power The iPad has a Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system Apple iPad – In the box Apple iPad Dock Connector to USB Cable 10W USB Power Adapter Documentation