So Apple finally did it. They announced their tablet, the iPad, that we’ve been covering for weeks, if not a month or two. It’s everything I was hoping it to be, although there are some things I am VERY disappointed about. Am I am Mac fan? Absolutely. Am I happy with this new device? Yes! Am I disappointed there’s no webcam, camera or multitasking? Absolutely! Some of you aren’t as impressed, and that’s absolutely “a-OK.” 

For one, why is their a need for the iPad? According to Steve Jobs, it’s the middle “missing piece” for the iPhone and the Mac. It’s a portable Mac, more powerful than the iPhone and is also something that will kill the Kindle and yet, it’s so much more. You can’t carry a 1/2″ thick, 10″ screen “Macbook” around you that is also as gorgeous as the iPhone is with your photos, videos, movies, TV, documents, email, calendar and now BOOKS! Thus, the need for an iPad. 

For over an hour, I followed Engadget’s wonderful step by step coverage of the live event as well as Cali Lewis’ livestream. 

Here’s how to sum up the iPad so you know if this is truly what you want (as I know I’m getting one!): 

(1) It has everything the iPhone has but more: a bigger, new state-of-the-art backlit LED screen that measures 10″ diagonally, giving you much more screen real estate, WAY more memory, a much faster processor, bigger storage, and like the iPhone will seamlessly incorporate your apps, videos, YouTube HD videos, photos, notes and calendar into a new iTunes that’s literally built into the device. 3rd party apps have already been made for the iPad as well: 

The iPad will sync with your iTunes, which the big news on this is iTunes now has a Book Store – which will absolutely compete with Amazon’s pricey and “boring” Kindle. Books will now be sold on iTunes within the iPad and the experience of reading books, newspapers and magazines is truly magical: you have to see it to understand it, but it’s totally worth it and will change the way we read online media. 

Everything is meant to work together: your phone (iPhone), your iPad, your Macbook/Mac and even your Apple TV: everything will work on the iPad and works seamlessly. 

So why is more than just an iPhone or a Macbook? 

The iPad has Safari, Mail, iCalendar, Photos (which looks amazing on this device), Videos, YouTube in HD, it’s also an iPod (much better than your iPod Touch), it has apps, games, 3rd Party apps and even iWorks (which could only be run on a Macbook/Mac)! It comes with Maps (much higher-resolution, GPS, phenomenal interactive new Maps application), Notes, Contacts, and works on the iPhone OS. It’s only a 1/2 inch thick and has an amazingly beautiful design with better, more advanced multi-touch capabilities: 

It has 10 hours of battery life plus has built in Wi-Fi for easy access to the internet. The biggest surprise of today’s event was Apple proved all the pundits wrong. It doesn’t cost $1,000 like everyone said it would. The wi-fi iPad will cost you $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB), $699 (64GB). That said, they’re also selling a 3G/WiFi version as well, so mobility is the key to this – yes, they stayed with AT&T but I’m okay with that – why? Because you can buy AND cancel 3G at ANY TIME (aka NO CONTRACT) and unlimited data plans are only $29.99. I was very impressed with that. You can also purchase the iPad with 3G UNLOCKED (so if you’re a Sprint user, you can use it!) 

The best way to see this is the Apple iPad video that will be on TV soon. It will ship in 3 to 6 months so order now. For more information (see specs here), wait until our episode comes out tonight showing all the stuff that’s not covered here! 

Engadget and Apple are releasing new photos of this beautiful multimedia device – that IS more powerful and better than an iPhone and is much more portable and easier to handle and carry than a Macbook. It is the perfect “middle” piece for Apple with 3 major flaws: no webcam, no multitasking and no SMS app.