Here's Your iPad Cheat Sheet
This article was written by Erica Ogg of CNET News.com.
With the exception of the original
iPhone, it's hard to remember a more anticipated piece of technology in the last few years than the
iPad.
If it does follow the same pattern as Apple's iconic smartphone, that implies that the touchscreen tablet is going to do very, very well. Initial reports have listed the number of preorders in the "hundreds of thousands," and tech industry analysts are forecasting that Apple might sell 6 million iPads within a year. That's astounding because, first, that's how many iPhones Apple sold in the first year, and second, because the iPad isn't a must-have device like a phone or a computer. It's a nice-to-have hybrid that's an entirely discretionary kind of purchase.
The iPad goes on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at Apple Stores and most Best Buy stores in the U.S. CNET will post its review later Friday, so check back for our impressions of the device. If you're thinking about buying one, here's some stuff you should know ahead of time:
Standing in line
It's become a tradition for some hardcore types to stand in line, sometimes days in advance, to be one of the first to get the latest iPhone. There may not be a need to start queuing quite that early this time around, however. That's because for the iPad, Apple allowed the option to reserve one of the new touchscreen tablets ahead of time, so as long as you pick it up by 3 p.m. Saturday (that's how long they've guaranteed to hold the reservation), you'll get one the first day.
What's unclear is if there will be supply of iPads set aside for walk-in customers. Apple says there will be two lines: one for people who placed a pre-order via the Web (an option that is no longer available), and one that will be first-come, first serve. Though Apple will not say how many iPads will be available to sell to people who have not pre-ordered, it does sound like there will be stock for people to simply walk in and buy one.
Wi-Fi versus 3G
Though Apple has announced there will be two models of the iPad, one won't be available at first. The Wi-Fi-only version of the iPad will be for sale starting Saturday. A different model, which will have Wi-Fi and 3G access, won't be ready until late April.
But you still have some options. The Wi-Fi model comes in three different storage capacities: 16GB of memory for $499, 32GB for $599, and 64GB for $699. Buying the 3G version tacks $129 on to each.
You can read the rest of this article at CNET News.com.
By Erica Ogg