New IPAD

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Newest iPad released

People have been queueing through the night to get the first bite of Apple's newest iPad.
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Apple has unveiled the new iPad and telcos are vying for customers

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THE new iPad is finally in the hands of Apple fans and the verdict is in.

Australians were the first in the world to snap-up the hotly-anticipated device, with Telstra and Big W opening stores at midnight.

Although numbers were modest compared to the launch of the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S, fans were equally committed.

It took 10 hours in the air and four hours lining up for Luke Soules to become one of the first people in the world to hold the next gen iPad.

The US engineer bought a flight to Melbourne from California when he heard Australia would be the first country in the world to release Apple’s third generation tablet.

“It’s 26 hours sooner than it’s coming out in the US,” Mr Soules, 27, said.

He was one of dozens of people who queued from midnight at the Telstra store on Bourke St in Melbourne’s CBD.

Retail giant Big W also released the device at midnight at its QV and Fountain Gate stores.


WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING:

“Got the 64gb wifi + 4G at the good guys Frankston for $858,” @Pironik17 tweeted.

“My god, this screen on the new iPad is just amazing. You have to see it believe it.

Dale Munckton from Melbourne also raved about the much-hyped 2048x1536 Retina Display.

“The screen is without doubt awesome, the first time it loads up and you see the icons sitting there, you can’t not be impressed,” he wrote.


Customers play with the new iPad at Telstra Shop, George Street, Sydney, on March 16, 2012. Picture: Bill Hearne


WHAT THE TECH WORLD IS SAYING:

Charles Arthur from The Guardian gave the new iPad a five-star review, calling the tablet's Retina display, improved graphics and camera and mobile broadband capability its key strengths. "It's hard to see anyone catching this product because it offers what people want: access to computing wherever you are," he wrote.

Engadget gushed at the display, with writer Darren Murph calling it “beyond being dazzling” and said the viewing angles were “predictably ridiculous”.

“Even taking a peek from an extreme side angle gives way to a fairly solid image with next to no washout," Mr Murph wrote.

The Verge's Joshua Topolsky said: "I'm not being hyperbolic or exaggerative when I say it is easily the most beautiful computer display I have ever looked at."

The New York Times' David Pogue was more subdued with his review, calling the device a polished version of the iPad 2. However, Mr Pogue said consumers will get “an updated iPad that's still better-looking, better integrated and more consistently designed than any of its rivals”.


Customers pass the time before the new iPad launch at Telstra Shop, George Street, Sydney, on March 15, 2012. Picture: Bill Hearne


PRICE WAR

Consumers will need to shop around to get the best deals, with online store Kogan offering the 16GB wi-fi version for $479, plus delivery of $29. The 16GB 3G and wi-fi version is on sale for $599

Vodafone is the first telco off the blocks with announcement of its new iPad pricing plans.

Offering $0 upfront and $47 over two years for 2GB of data, the minimum cost of the new iPad 16GB version would be $1128. Vodafone is also offering up to 18GB of data a month for up to $87 for a total cost of $2088. The 64GB new iPad will cost $0 upfront with a minimum monthly spend of $56 for a total price of $1344.

The 16GB tablet can be purchased outright through Kogan for $479. This means that the data cost component of Vodafone's basic plan works out to be $22 a month. If a consumer were to buy the tablet from Kogan - with a delivery date of April 2 - they could purchase a data pack with Amaysim for 2.5GB of data a month at $19.90 or $29.90 for 4GB of data a month.

Telstra customers can buy the new iPad 16GB on a 24-month plan at $0 upfront and $68 a month for a total minimum cost of $1632.

A Telstra spokeswoman said that even for customers who hadn't pre-ordered their new iPad, those who queued from midnight would "walk away with a new iPad, while stocks last".

Optus have a $0 upfront plus $6 a month for the new iPad on the $39 a month data plan for a total minimum cost of $1080. Optus won't be opening their stores at midnight but customers can order online from midnight with stores opening at regular business hours today.

Apple is accepting pre-orders for the new iPad at a starting price of $539 for the 16GB model that comes in black or white with an expected shipping time of two to three weeks. The wi-fi version of the 16GB new iPad costs $679 from Apple with free shipping.