Check out the Apple iPad!

Apple's much-hyped iPad tablet computer will be available from April 3 in the United States. The device, which is 'set to replace laptops', looks like a larger version of Apple's iPod Touch.

"iPad connects users with their apps and content in a far more intimate and fun way than ever before," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We can't wait for users to get their hands and fingers on it this weekend."

Priced at $499, the iPad lets users browse the web, send emails, share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks using iPad's multi-touch user interface.

. . .

The iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds -- thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. It has 10 hours of battery life.

The iPad has a 9.7-inch (25 cm) LED backlit multi-touch display, 16 to 64 gigabytes (GB) of flash memory, bluetooth, and a 30-pin dock connector to sync with iTunes and connect wired accessories.

It runs a modified version of the same operating system (iPhone OS), with a larger and redesigned user interface.

. . .

Critics point out features that are missing from the iPad like a camera for video chat, Adobe Flash support, the ability to run more than one application at once (multi-tasking) and a more flexible wired-data port than the iPod dock connector.

While some experts point out that iPad will attract many buyers, others doubt the need for a iPad if one has a laptop or smartphone and a computer.

The iPad will compete with products like the Kindle for e-books. In terms of portable gaming, Nintendo and Sony could face competition.

. . .

The iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB.

The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.

According to Apple, the Safari web browser on iPad puts the Internet in your hands, literally. You can view whole web pages in portrait or landscape on the large multi-touch screen at a size that's actually readable.

. . .

When you rotate iPad, the page you're viewing rotates, too, then expands to fit the display.

Navigating the web is very easy as you can use your fingers. You can scroll through a page just by flicking up or down on the screen.

You can double-tap a section on a page to enlarge or shrink it, pinch to zoom in or out. When you touch and hold a link, Safari shows you the URL so you know before you go.

. . .

It connects to the web via high-speed 802.11n Wi-Fi. When you are away from a Wi-Fi network, you can surf from just about anywhere with optional 3G networking.

Technical specifications:
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