So after months of rumors and speculation, the wraps have finally come off Apple's latest big idea. At a launch in San Francisco, the iPad was fanfared with typical Apple hype.
"It's unbelievably great, way better than a laptop, way better than a smart phone, and you can turn an iPad anyway you want, up, down, sideways. It automatically adjusts however you wanna use it."
As predicted the iPad is more like a giant iPhone than a tradition laptop. Measuring just under 10 inches, it's a touch-screen with a virtual keyboard. It runs on Wi-Fi and 3G, and combines Mac software and iPhone applications. It plays movies and allows you to read electronic books or e-books.
"This is gonna be something you can watch videos on, you can browse the internet, you can read books on it, newspapers and everything. So it's a real opportunity to have a device which you can take in your house, you can have out in the street, and just do everything with it."
Apple have a history of innovation rather than invention. All their products tend to take existing ideas and make them sleeker and more desirable, and they'll be hoping history will repeat itself with the iPad.
"They've spent so much time on designing their products very carefully, observed the markets that they're about to enter very carefully, so they know what they're getting into, they can kind of learn from the faults other people have made, mistakes that people have made."
The iPad is expected to go on selling in two months time. Prices will start at around 500 dollars in the US which is around 300 pounds, and just like the iPhone and iPod, demand is expected to outstrip supply.
