Apple began offering online pre-orders for the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi plus 3G iPad models on Friday morning. Customers can choose to have their new iPad delivered, or held at their local Apple Store for pick up, on April 3.
Both iPad models can be pre-ordered, but only the Wi-Fi model will be available for April 3 delivery and for in-store pick up. In-store reservations must be purchased by 3PM on Saturday, April 3.
The iPad is Apple’s multimedia tablet computer with a 9.7-inch multitouch display. It that runs a version of the iPhone operating system and offers movie and music playback, an ebook reader and iBookstore purchasing, supports most iPhone-compatible applications, and will be available with Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi and 3G wireless data versions.
The Wi-Fi only iPad will be available on Saturday, April 3, in the United States, and the Wi-Fi plus 3G version will be available near the end of April. Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K. will be able to get their hands on both models in late April, and in other countries later in the year.
Pricing for the iPad starts at US$499 for the Wi-Fi only version with 16GB of storage, $599 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi plus 3G model costs $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model, and $829 for the 64GB model.