Apple today announced that its revolutionary iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.
Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.
“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in the press release. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”
Starting at just US$499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook — and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.
iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard or import photos from a Mac, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.
The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 150,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. Developers are already creating exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.
The new iBooks app for iPad includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile product. The iBookstore will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.
The iTunes Store gives iPad users access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 12 million songs, over 55,000 TV episodes and over 8,500 films including over 2,500 in high definition. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer.
iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $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.
iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
iPad will be available in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. International pricing will be announced in April. iPad will ship in additional countries later this year.
The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US on April 3, with additional countries added later this year.
MacDailyNews Note: In the press release accompanying the iPad’s unveiling, Apple had stated: “iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of US$499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.
Source: Apple Inc.
Amazon has very successfully convinced their customers that e-Ink is somehow easier on the eyes than LCD displays. This is completely false and totally unsupported scientifically. Many people have even convinced themselves (perhaps the ‘placebo’ effect) that their eyes “hurt” when they look at LCDs, because Amazon told them that they would.
There are many reasons why LCD screen can be easier than an e-Ink (display contrast, backlighting, etc), but as we all know, truth is always very difficult to get to, among the omnipresent, persistent marketing copy.
Expect to see tons of Kindles on eBay in the next months, going for $40…
From another thread:
ChangeWave just came out with results of a survey among e-Book users (Kindle, Nook, Sony, etc). One in three (27%) regret not waiting for iPad. Worse yet, less than half (45%) are actually satisfied with their choice and would have bought the same device even if iPad was available.
This means that half of those Kindle owners are prime targets for eventual switching to the iPad. I have no doubt, half of all kindles out there are eventually going to wind up on E-Bay. I’ll give them about a year or two.
YEEEE HAAAAA !!!
Seems to be some confusion about 3G. The first release of devices will not have 3G. You’ll have to purchase a 3G model later in April at the earliest.
Does preordering bill a credit card at time of submission or when the item is actually picked up?
@ C1
Great idea, bring down 10 to Cancun, all my friends will pay an extra $50.00, more than pays for your trip!!
and we will make sure you have a great holiday!
PS , don’t worry about me, I am an old fart, and my wife is watching as I type this!!
@C1
By the way, my wife’s name is Chrissy also, since we have been together for 25 years, you would have to go by the name of Chrissy2,
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
I’m just waiting for the typical moron to crawl out from under his/her rock and sue Apple for missing that late March target date.
Actually, Apple is 30 days late because Steve said worldwide availablity for Wifi is in 60 days. It’s now 90 days except for the US. So, reports of supplies issue must be true to launch only in the US.
Not that I care, I am going to get one as soon as it’s out, but we need to be fair.
@ HotinPlaya
In that case I’ll stay home! ;P
@ HotinPlaya
Kidding! In fact, my next Mex trip will probably be to Cancun. I won’t be going back to PV for a while.
I can just see customs stopping me, though.
“Uh, miss, why are you taking 10 tablet computers to Cancun with you?”
“Those belong to… my cousin.”
“Er… I have a lot of books, and they won’t all fit on one.”
“Those aren’t computers, they’re cocktail trays.”
“How do you expect me to trade stocks with only one flatscreen?”
“I work for Habitat for Humanity. Those are solar panels for a small Mexican village with no electricity.”
“I’m trading them for tequila.”
“They fold out into a beach chair.”
i have personally tried the e-ink and its not easier on my eyes. I prefer the LCD types.
@ Progressive Agent Provocateur
“And how old are you?”
I’m 43. Thanks for asking. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you my birthdate – I could use some ITunes cards! Thanks for caring enough to ask.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Hey it’s Mexico, just bring eleven, one for customs, no problem,
check out Playa Del Carmen, 30 miles south of cancun