What exactly is the iPad? What are the differences between iPad configurations? Is it an iPod? Is it a Mac?

In basic terms, the iPad is a tablet or "slate" computer. Apple formally declares that it is a "magical and revolutionary" device for "browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and more."

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

Apple has designed the iPad to occupy a new product category between the iPod and the Mac, and consequently, it is really neither an iPod nor a Mac.

However, it does run a version of the same operating system as the iPod touch and iPhone (iPhone OS 3.2) and it is compatible with the vast majority of applications written for the iPhone and iPod touch as well, so it is not unreasonable to consider it a member of the iPhone/iPod touch "family" of products.

It does not run Mac OS X or Mac OS X applications, so it is not Mac, although the iPhone OS is derived from Mac OS X.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc.

Like an iPod or iPhone, the iPad also can be synchronized with a Mac or Windows PC via the standard USB-based 30-pin iPod connector port, but it can be used like a computer with an external keyboard dock accessory (US$69) as well. When combined with the iWork software Pages (US$9.99), this makes it possible to compose full documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on the iPad, which can then be saved in Pages, Word, or PDF format and transferred to a computer for printing (or possibly even direct from the iPad using third-party software).

There are six configurations of the iPad, which vary by capacity -- 16 GB, 32, GB, or 64 GB -- connectivity -- either 802.11n Wi-Fi or 802.11n Wi-Fi, 3G, and A-GPS -- and price.

All iPad configurations have a 9.7-inch (1024x768, 132 ppi) multitouch "glossy" LED-backlit IPS display, an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, stereo speakers and a built-in mic packed in a 0.5 inch thick, 1.5 pound glass and aluminum case. All are powered by a custom ARM-based 1 GHz Apple A4 "system on a chip" and have an estimated 10 hours of battery life "surfing the web on Wi-Fi (battery life is likely to be lower on 3G), watching video, or listening to music".

As a minor detail, iPad configurations only with Wi-Fi have a solid aluminum back whereas configurations with Wi-Fi, 3G, and A-GPS have a plastic area on the top rear of the device for the 3G antenna.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (Left -- Wi-Fi, Right -- Wi-Fi, 3G, A-GPS)

The differences between configurations -- capacity, connectivity, and price -- are charted below:

For models equipped with 3G connectivity, 3G data plans are available without a contract for US$14.99/month with a 250 MB data transfer limit and US$29.99/month for unlimited use via AT&T Wireless in the US. The Wi-Fi configurations will be available in "Late March" and the Wi-Fi/3G/A-GPS configurations will be available in "April."

You may also enjoy watching Apple's official promo video for the iPad on the company site or courtesy of YouTube, below:

Site sponsor PowerMax will sell the iPad free of sales tax when it is released.