iPad for Dummies

The wait for Apple’s iPad is finally over. Apple has rolled out its highly anticipated iPad device — which the company proudly proclaims as its “most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price.”

What does that mean? Well, to some, it means a device that combines the best features of a notebook or netbook computer and an iPod touch, wrapped up in a gorgeous, ultrathin, light-as-a-feather package. Apple claims it’s the best way to experience the Web, e-mail, photos, and video.

And, with its 9.7-inch, LCD-backlit Multi-Touch screen; up to 10 hours of battery life; and the availability of Apple’s iPad-optimized versions of Apple’s iWork productivity suite of apps (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote), it looks like you’ll be able to do real work without lugging around 10 pounds of laptop computer, charger, spare batteries, and such.

The iPad uses an on-screen soft-keyboard like the iPhone or iPod touch; but there’s an optional, full-size keyboard available. And because the iPad has built-in Bluetooth 2.1, it works with the Apple Wireless Keyboard, as well.

Pictures of the iPad are deceptive for a couple of reasons. The most significant is that while most of the pictures make the iPad look like an oversized iPhone or iPod touch, they don’t give you a sense of scale. So just for the record, the iPad measures 9.56 inches by 7.47 inches by 0.5 inches and weighs just 1.5 pounds (1.6 pounds for models with 3G wireless networking).