Macgasm

Today, Apple announced the official launch date of the Apple iPad to be April 3rd, 2010. The April 3rd launch date is only 6 days beyond the original 60 Day date specified in the January 27th keynote. If the 60 days would have stuck, the date would have been March 30th.

Beginning next week, Friday, March 12th, 2010 to be exact, you will be able to pre-order the Wifi-only iPad for either delivery or Store Pickup on the Apple Online Store and ‘Select’ Authorized Apple Resellers. This could be Best Buy (as the rumors state) and possibly even AT&T. Although I think AT&T may only get the Wifi + 3G model.

To recap, in case you’re not one who remembers every detail regarding unreleased Apple products, the iPad will come in two flavors: The Wifi-only model and the Wifi + 3G model. The Wifi-only model prices for the 16GG is $499, the 32GB is $599, and the 64GB is $699. These three models will be available for pre-order next Friday. As for the Wifi + 3G Models, according to Apple’s full Press Release, “The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April.” This date is still on track for the 90 days from the January 27th announcement. The Wifi+3G models come in the same 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models but the prices are $629, $729, and $829 respectively.

One thing that this launch means is that the Apple iBook Store will be available beginning April 3rd. It will be interesting to see what is available from Apple’s iBook Store on launch day. From Apple’s full press release, they stated that “The iBookstore will feature books from the New York Times Best Seller list from both major and independent publishers, including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster.” Presumably, we’ll be able to order any New York Times Best Sellers, but that remains to be seen, and pricing for each title remains a mystery.

The full press release is available from Apple.com. I won’t be ordering an iPad right away because I am still not sure which model I want. Which model are you going to get? Additionally, what are your thoughts on the two models in general?