Apple released its new tablet device today (Wednesday). Advance writing indicated that it might be a replacement for Amazon’s Kindle reader. While it may be that, it’s far more according to the announcement by Steve Jobs.
Jobs says the iPad falls between a laptop and smartphone, with the device capable of doing many of the same things an iPhone can but on a larger, 9.7-inch LCD screen. The tablet is a half-inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds, and comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities.
Prices start at $499 for the 16GB version. First models to ship, in about 2 months, will have wifi wireless, with a 3G model to follow a month later.
Stock traders have had a wild time with it. Tuesday’s trading saw Apple stock start the day with a big run-up from around $204 to $213, then back down where it started by the end of the day. Another jag up happened during the announcement by Jobs.
Summary: Apple puts an end to tablet rumors with iPad | Laptop | MacUser | Macworld.
