It was inevitable, yes it was bound to happen, with the new gadgetry being released by other providers, it was inevitable for Apple to release its own version of a computer tablet. So, after the iPod and the iPhone, Apple released the next of "i" service lines, the iPad.

So what's the iPad,this hand held tablet that is about to change the world of computing?

The new iPad is for all intents and purposes a flat rectangular shaped computer with a touch screen that uses the same technology as the iPhone. This same technology has now been re-designed for the larger screen to give a more defined response,it does precisely what you ask of it regardless if you are reading e-mails, or checking out routes and maps,web browsing, watching movies, or showing off your prized photos.

The iPad tablet's multitouch screen is a dream, it is 9.7 inches diagonally from corner to corner and the screen's resolution is a dense 1024 x 768. The iPad's LED-backlit display incorporates a screen technology called IPS, or in-plane switching, that Apple says provides crisp, clear images and consistent colors with ultra-wide viewing angles. The screen is really impressive it is almost as if you're holing a larger iPhone in your hand.

Weighing in at around 1.5 pounds the tablet measures 9.56 x 7.47 inches and is just .5 inches thick, which is just very slightly thicker than the iPhone 3GS.

The new iPad also incorporates Apple's office suite, the iWork desktop suite. This facility gives you more than just a web surfing tool, you get hold of a word processor,spreadsheets and the document manager that gives you ready made design themes to create your own personal styles.

Battery life is something like ten hours or so for perpetual use. That ten hours of constant use will include video viewing, so you could in all probability watch about six feature films before the iPad gives up on you. Charge the battery overnight and you can use it all day the following day.

There are 1 or 2 minus points, there isn't any camera and that is a bit of a let down, so you obtain no video facility and the new device can feel slighty weighty. In all though there are several real advantages, the screen is brilliant and the rate of change from one application to another is amazing.

If you are an iPod and iPhone fan then you should definitely check out this latest innovation from Apple now.