| Everything Apple does causes a storm in the tech | | | | application suite app (which includes Keynote for |
| world, but if you’re just an Average Joe (or | | | | presentations, Numbers for spreadsheets, and Pages |
| Jane), you may be wondering what all the hubbub is | | | | for word processing) that you can download. This |
| about. What’s the Apple Ipad (and do you | | | | will allow you to do some basic computer work on it. |
| want one)? Let’s take a quick look. | | | | As with the iPhone, an on-screen keyboard appears |
| What is the iPad? | | | | if you need to type in text. With the bigger screen |
| The iPad is essentially a portable entertainment | | | | size, the “keys” should be a little easier to |
| system. It allows you to watch movies, read | | | | use than on the iPhone. The iWork app costs $10 |
| ebooks and news stories, play games, listen to music, | | | | and will be available in the iTunes App Store. |
| and send email (wireless connection required). | | | | What can’t the iPad do? |
| It’s sort of a souped up version of the iPod | | | | The one thing the iPad isn’t is a cell phone. You |
| Touch, except with a significantly larger display. | | | | can’t make calls on it, and you need to have a |
| With it’s full-color 9.7-inch screen, it matches the | | | | local wifi signal in order to access the Apple store (to |
| size of the Amazon Kindle DX (one of the | | | | download more ebooks, movies, music, games, etc.). |
| largest-screened ebook readers currently on the | | | | |
| market). The iPad weighs 1.5 pounds and, according | | | | How much does the iPad cost? |
| to Apple, has 10 hours of battery life (computer | | | | The original iPad costs $499. According to Apple |
| manufacturers tend to overrate these things, but | | | | there will be an upgraded 3G-enabled iPad (meaning |
| surely you’ll have enough to get through a | | | | you’ll be able to access the internet the same |
| couple movies before needing to recharge). | | | | way a cell phone with a web browser does) in a few |
| The iPad can run most App Store apps, and its | | | | months. That version will reputedly cost $629 and |
| interface is similar to that of the iPhone, so it’ll | | | | run $29.99 a month for 3G access (unlike with the |
| be an easy tool to use if you already have some | | | | iPhone, there won’t be a monthly service |
| familiarity with Apple’s recent products (and | | | | contract that you have to sign). |
| even if you don’t, the touch-based interface is | | | | Now that you know what the iPad is, you’ll have |
| quite intuitive). | | | | to decide if it’s the right all-in-one entertainment |
| While the iPad isn’t supposed to be a | | | | gadget for you! |
| replacement for your laptop, it does have an iWork | | | | |