Apple iPad – Giant iPod Touch

Have you ever wished that iPod is available in large size so that you can browse the internet better?  Well, the wait is over! Steve Jobs from Apple has announced the iPad recently with a price tag starting from $499 but the availability is still in the air.

iPad from the side

One of the first things you’ll notice about the iPad is how thin and light it is. With only just 1.5 lbs and 0.5 inches thin, it’s slightly smaller than a magazine and it’s easy to carry and use anywhere. There’s also a slight curve to the back. Which makes it easy to pick up and comfortable to hold.

iPad has a large 9.7 inch, measured diagonally, high resolution LED-Backlit IPS display that makes it perfect for web browsing, watching movies, or showing off photos.  Just like iPod Touch and iPhone, the iPad can operate in any orientation – portrait or landscape.  The IPS technology allows an amazing 17.8° viewing angle that allows you to hold it at any angle and yet still able to view the display with excellent color and contrast.

iPad from the front

The Multi-Touch screen is something that is to be expected and it uses the same technology as the iPod Touch or iPhone.  The only difference is that it has been customized for a larger screen and much precise and responsive. My finger is now itch to flick photos and Google Maps on it.

Battery is what concerns me the most when the iPad was announced as it has a huge screen that will likely consume a lot of power.  However the iPad is packed with a lithium polymer battery just like on the Macbook and Apple says that this thing will operate up to 10 hours while web surfing on Wi-Fi, watching videos or listening to music.

As this is a connected device, iPad will come with built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and also Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR so that you can listen to music wirelessly with your stereo bluetooth headset or headphones. In addition, some iPad models will also has an integrated 3G modem that supports up to 7.2 Mbps.

Can’t wait for this device to be available on the Apple Store. Should I pick this up or should I just wait for the next Macbook Pro with Intel Core i7?