The Release of the Apple iPad

There has been a lot of buzz around the Apple Tablet for quite a few months now.  For a while, there was such little information leaked that we started to think it was just a myth.  Well, the moment Apple enthusiasts have all been anticipating is almost here.  Apple is set to release the Tablet on Wednesday, January 27^th, along with a new iPhone and iLife.

So what exactly is the Tablet? It is a multimedia touch screen device where you can access iTunes, applications, surf the internet, have gaming capability, watch videos as well as read traditional printed media electronically and conveniently.  If you already have an iPod Touch, then you have experienced something similar to a mini version of the Tablet. Even now, a week before its release on Wednesday, Apple is still making moves with educational publishing companies like McGraw-Hill.

According to the Apple Insider website:

“The negotiations with McGraw Hill are seen as an attempt by Apple to keep a prominent role in the U.S. education system. BusinessWeek cited research firm Gartner, which claims Apple held 28.3 percent of the U.S. educational market in the third quarter of 2009. While the institutional market struggled last year, Apple spent $390,000 in one quarter alone, partially to support funding for education.”

How is the Tablet going to change it all? Many speculate that the Tablet will be a competitor of the Amazon Kindle because of its usefulness as a device that can be utilized to read textbooks and other printed media. For students, the tablet can be an excellent resource and alternative to carrying heavy books around campus.  As a female full-time student that works a day job, walking across a huge campus in the evening with heavy books and a laptop is not an ideal thought. I have already taken advantage of purchasing eBooks before and I think it’s an easier, more affordable alternative. Even having your magazine and newspaper subscription available on your Tablet would be much more convenient and eco-friendly.

Apple revolutionized how we access our music, then videos. It looks like the Tablet will be the answer for how we connect with text of all kinds.

Of course, we don’t know what we don’t know yet. So, stay tuned and I’ll share what I learn about Apple Tablet as it becomes real.

January 28, 2010