Apple's iPad: Magical, Revolutionary and Cheap (Really)

Apple has long been known for outstanding design and product reliability at a premium price to competitive products that follow its lead. Now, Apple is out front with a new item that apparently it has no lack of superlatives to describe. However, the claim that may resonate with most consumers is low price. Yes, that's right, Apple's new iPad tablet computing system is pretty cheap, starting out at $499 retail.

"iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, in a press release. "iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before."

In many ways, as an article on Macworld.com points out, the new iPad splits the difference between Apple's iPhone and its MacBook laptop. The question is whether sales of the iPad will pull from those other products or if the company will draw enough new customers to compensate for any drain on their sales.



According to a piece in The Wall Street Journal by Martin Peers, the single most surprising development with the new iPad is its price. "Apple has found a way to meet demand for low-priced laptops without a radical price cut on its Mac line. Yet its cheaper computer not only has all the utilitarian functions of a laptop, such as word processing and email, but enhanced entertainment capabilities as well. And it can run iPhone mobile applications."

The iPad has a starting price of $499 (16GB model) with models with more advance features priced at $599 (32GB), and $699 (64GB). These versions of the unit will be available in late March. Coming in April will be and iPad with both Wi-Fi and 3G priced at $629 (16 GB), $729 (32 GB) and $829 (64 GB).

The iPad is only a half-inch thick and weighs 1.5 pounds. That makes it thinner and lighter than any netbook on the market at present. It comes loaded with 12 new apps designed for the computer and will run over 140,000 already available through Apple's App Store.

In the course of a few short hours of Apple's announcement yesterday, the RetailWire editorial email box was filled with press releases from companies announcing they would be developing consumer and commercial apps for the iPad.

Software developer Nanonation said the iPad would have applications for serving consumers in commercial ventures and the company was developing apps for that purpose.

"Apple iPad's rich multi-touch user interface, large screen, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, and attractive price point make it an ideal platform for a number of in-store and back-of-house applications designed to enhance, engage, and excite customers," said Brian Ardinger, chief marketing ffficer for Nanonation, in a press release. "The iPad expands the application possibilities from what we've currently been developing for the iPhone and gives our clients more flexibility and options for creating innovative and intelligent ways to impact their business."

Among the most anticipated elements of the iPad is its function as an e-reader. The new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple's new iBookstore, features books from both major and independent publishers. Consumers are able to browse, then buy and read books on iPad models in direct competition to Amazon's Kindle and other e-readers.

The iPad will also enable consumers to connect with the iTunes Store, giving them access to Apple's popular online music, TV and movie catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and 8,000 movies.