The iPad comes with a 9.7 inch screen, 1.27cm thin and weights 680 grams including the non-removable battery. Battery life is rated at 10 hours for video playback. If less CPU intensive, the battery could last longer. Standby battery is rated one month.

The iPad’s powerplant is Apple’s own silicon a brand-new 1GHz processor called the A4. This uses a ‘system on a chip’ design and was created by PA Semi, the processor firm which Apple acquired in 2008.

The iBook store will go live at the launch of the iPad and offer publications using the open ePub. The estimates of local pricing for the iPad suggest AU$649 for the entry-level model with Wi-Fi only and a 16GB drive, AU$819 for the cheapest 3G model and AU$1,099 for the primo iPad.