The Apple iPad will be available to buy from early April, the company said today.
The device, which was launched amid much fanfare in San Francisco in late January is a tablet-style computer that sits in the gap between mobile phones and laptops.
Just 1.27cm thick and weighing 680g, it has a screen that measures 24.6cm across the diagonal. This makes it lighter and thinner than any PC currently on the market.
Apple said the iPad will go on sale in the US on April 3rd and be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK later that same month. No release date has been given for Ireland as yet.
Starting at $499 for the 16GB model, iPad lets users browse the internet, read and send e-mail, share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and more.
“We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before,” said Apple chief executive Steve Jobs in a statement.
The 16GB version will sell for a recommended $499, the 32GB model costs $599, and the 64GB iPad will be $699.
The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB, $729 for the 32GB and $829 for the 64GB version.
