OK, you’ve got at least two months to decide whether you really want/need/can’t live without a shiny new Apple iPad. It won’t ship for another 60 days or so, but we now officially know the specs for Apple’s new tablet:
(http://i48.tinypic.com/mjlnia.jpg)
•CPU: 1GHz Apple A4 ARM-based processor
•Display: 9.7 inch IPS multitouch display, 1024 x 768 pixels with 132 ppi
•Storage: 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB
•Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, optional 3G
•Dimensions: 9.56″ x 7.47″ x 0.5″
•Weight: 1.5 pounds (1.6 pounds with 3G modem)
•Battery: 25Whr with up to 10 hours of web surfing, video, or music playback
•Other features: Accelerometer and compass
•Apps: Runs all iPhone apps plus new iPad apps including games, iTunes, iBooks, New York Times reader and others
•Video support: H.264 video up to 720p
•Input: On-screen keyboard that looks like a giant iPhone keyboard
•Optional accessories including a keyboard dock, camera connection kit, and a case that doubles as a kick-stand (Bluetooth keyboards will also work)
•Accessibility: Closed-captioning playback, VoiceOver screen reader, full-screen zoom magnification
•Environmental cred: Arsenic-free glass, BFR-free, mercury-free LCD, PVC-free, recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
The most intriguing aspect is probably the pricing. The base model with WiFi and 16GB of storage sells for $499. You can double the storage for $499, and the 64GB WiFi only model costs $699. For $130 more you can get the 3G enabled version, with prices ranging from $629 to $829.
What’s probably most impressive is that Apple worked out a deal with AT&T to make 3G access palatable. The cheapest plan is 250MB per month of data for $14.99. A $29.99/month plan gets you unlimited data (which in the US often actually means 5GB of bandwidth, but we won’t know for certain until we can read the fine print).
So… do you want one?