iPad Features

iPad Features

So far, we've discussed the iPad's design. Now let's talk about what it does. If you're familiar with the iPhone or iPod Touch, chances are you could pick up an iPad and start using it without much trouble.

All three devices change picture orientation by simply rotating the device via built-in, three-axis accelerometers, but the iPad has something its smaller cousins lack: the screen rotation lock. This allows the iPad's screen orientation to be locked in either portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) orientation.

Like the iPhone and iPod touch, iPad has a full QWERTY on-screen keyboard. When the devices operates in landscape mode, the iPad's virtual keyboard is almost the same size as keyboards found in iMac systems.

According to Apple, the iPad runs most of the more than 150,000 applications currently available for the iPhone and iPod touch. The iPad comes loaded with 12 next-generation multi-touch applications, including the Safari browser and redesigned Mail application. Also included are iPod and iTunes apps as well as YouTube, Maps, App Store, Notes, Calendar, Contacts and iBooks.

As with any Apple product, you can expect a diverse range of accessories for the iPad. One is the iPad Keyboard Dock, which connects with the iPad in the vertical orientation. The keyboard docking system allows you to use a full-size keyboard and turns the iPad into more of a computer display. But it's important to point out that the iPad isn't a computer. We'll get into that more later in the article.

OK, you're getting closer to fully understanding the iPad. How about we look at some technical data now? Let's break down each model in the next section with a comprehensive comparison chart. You'll find there isn't really a whole lot different between the six models - except, of course, price. We'll look at that on the next page.