Last Wednesday Apple announced that the iPad, its long-awaited tablet device would be arriving in stores late in March.  Setting off a techno-panic throughout the land, the wifi equipped device is sure to send geeks and grunts alike racing to the store.

For $499 you’ll be able to get a basic 16 gb model.  Prices will climb steadily up to about $829 for a 64 gb version equipped with 3G connectivity.

Looking like a iPhone on steroids, Apple product users will find a familiar feel with the iPad.  Weighing in at only 1.5 pounds, the iPad features a 9.7-inch LCD screen that provides 1024 x 768 resolution.  It’s expected to get 10 hours of battery life on a full charge, but its probably safe to assume that more adventurous users will find ways to shorten that.

Touted by Apple as positioned between a laptop and a smartphone, the highly anticipated tablet will lack some of the iPhone’s features, such as a camera.  Also, the applications – or apps – are expected to cost more than the iPhone’s.  As an eBook reader, the iPad face will face tough competition from Amazon’s already entrenched Kindle.

To say that the iPad has a battle ahead of it is an understatement.  Although Apple lovers are sure to embrace the iPad, it will be interesting to see if the rest of America is ready to hop on board the Apple train.