Apple Computer, Inc. officially announced their latest product will be released in March 2010.  Apple is hoping to revolutionize the industry once more with the advent of the iPad.

The iPad is supposed to fit the niche between smart phones and laptops.  Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Computer, said in order to do this, the iPad has to be better than the smart phones and better than laptops at certain things.  It cannot compete with these items on all levels.  Besides, Apple already has the iPhone and the Macbook in those markets.  They are wanting to open up a completely new market with something in the middle.

The iPad has the capabilities to play movies, games, and listen to music.  It also has the capabilities to do email, ebook reader, and surfing the internet.

If you have not seen what the iPad looks like, it is basically an iPhone about the size of the screen of a small laptop.  Just like the iPhone, the keypad pops up on screen when you need to type something.  There will be an accessory available to have a real keyboard for heavy-duty typing though. Below is an image from Apple’s website showcasing the iPad using its photo app.

So how will the iPad revolutionize schools?  It is smaller than a notebook, but large enough to easily read the screen.  It has a built in ebook reader to easily read digital versions of textbooks.  It has the internet at the fingertips of the students.  They can quickly and easily take notes during class.  And possibly most importantly it has a battery life of ten hours.  That will be long enough for a student to be able to use all day without needing to recharge.

There will be two versions of the iPad.  One version has only WiFi internet.  The other version has WiFi and 3G internet.  Each version has the option of 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of memory.  This is plenty of space for a student and their portable, educational needs.  All of this starts at $500.

Is the iPad the future of schools?  Who knows.  But given the capabilities and powers of the iPad, it is set to be a key contender in portable computing.  Begin looking to buy one in March 2010.

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3. Six Ways the iPad will Transform Education
4. The iPad IS a Media Creation Device
5. Apple iPad vs enTourage eDGe
6. Confirmed: iPad Available for Pre Order March 12
7. iPad App Development…for Education
8. iPad Pre Order on February 25?
9. The iPad’s Future in Preschool Education?
10. What’s Next, Virtual K-12 Schools?