It’s true – the Apple iPad has been hyped to oblivion.

But let’s be honest.

Did you (like me) upon seeing the commercials – or even just a print ad – in the weeks before the iPad’s release – have a twinge of hopefulness for the future of the world and maybe more than a little twinge of “I want one of those!”

But is it as good as Apple claims? Will it bring about the death of the laptop – as some believe?

Here are 8 notable features of the new Apple iPad, so you can decide for yourself.

#1) Tiny size
The Apple iPad is very easy to carry around, weighing in at one and a half pounds. So you can easily carry it in your pocket without it being a burden.

#2) Screen width
Even with its small size, the screen is a full 9.5 inches wide, which is quite large when compared with other mobile machines. While it’s obviously not as big as a laptop, 9.5 inches is easily big enough that you won’t have to strain you eyes when watching the screen contents.

The iPad’s screen width is even sufficient for more than one person to comfortably view it at the same time, so if you have friends who want to see a movie, you’re in luck.

#3) Storage space
Even the least expensive iPads contain sixteen gigs of storage.

#4) Third party applications
The iPad can use third party applications without needing the use of modifications, so it’s more adaptable than many expected.

#5) Long-lasting battery
Apple says the average lifespan for the iPad battery is about ten hours, but many users say it’s actually longer than that. Some claim you can get it to go eleven hours or more.

#6) Speakers
The quality of the sound is pretty good, even when turned up to a fairly high volume. The sound quality is not as crystal clear as a good television, but it’s pretty decent considering the size of the iPad.

#7) Cool temperature
If you are familiar with Apple laptops, you probably dread holding them on your lap for a long time. As the system heats up, they tend to become extremely warm, which makes holding them very uncomfortable. The iPad seems to stay cool even after hours of use.

#8) Built-in dictionary
The iBooks application has a dictionary that provides fast explanations of words when browsing the net. And it’s also capable of finding specific words within eBooks, which is a rather advanced feature.
The bottom line is this: while the iPad has its pros and cons – when you compare it to other mobile machines, it’s in a class by itself.

Buy.com has consistently low prices on the iPad.

Here is more information, direct from Buy.com

Apple iPad MC497LL/A Tablet Computer Apple A4 1 GHz – 9.7 – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth – iPad OS

From Buy.com: “The best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Hands down. All of the built-in apps on iPad were designed from the ground up to take advantage of the large Multi-Touch screen and advanced capabilities of iPad. And they work in any orientation. So you can do things with these apps that you can?t do on any other device.”
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Tags: apple ipad, ipad benefits, ipad features, ipad pros, ipad review, product recommendations