Less than 14 millimetres thick, and weighing as little as 680 grams, Apple's long-awaited iPad was finally unveiled last week. Featuring a 9.7-inch LED-backlit LCD display, the iPad is available in two versions - one resembling the iPhone with 3G connectivity, and a basic model that only comes with Wi-Fi. Although its screen is several times the size of the iPhone, the iPad has all the features that make Apple's products popular, such as multi-touch/gesture-based controls, icon-based user interface, accelerometer for movement-based control, and the distinct black frame around the main display. According to Apple, it has developed a special chip called A4 to power the iPad, which is not only powerful, but also saves energy. Combined with an extra large battery, the iPad can work non-stop for up to 10 hours, despite the screen size. Apple also put in a 30-pin connector slot at the bottom of the iPad for plugging in accessories, such as an external camera connection kit, a full-sized keyboard and speaker systems. The iPad comes with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of memory, which puts it between a smartphone and a fully-fledged netbook. Perhaps that is where the iPad's true potential lies - not as a replacement for your computer or phone, but as a completely different category of gadget altogether. The iPad goes on sale in March with the 3G version due in April. Prices start at US$499. Pros: large, multi-touch display, super-thin, up to 10 hours of battery life Cons: a phone with only 10 hours of battery life wouldn't be seen as very impressive