14 DAY TRIAL // Reports say that Apple has plans to ship, or has already shipped iPad review units to tech-focused publications. Apple generally sends out new products for review one or two weeks before the official release. This gives tech journalists enough time to test the product and roll out a comprehensive review.
While they are generally positive, not all reviews praise the product as Apple would want. Nevertheless, the company continues to rely on the same publications and their respective reviewers year after year. One of them is the Wall Street Journal, whose Walt Mossberg is regarded as one of the most prominent tech-journalists out there. His experience with Apple products is vast, and his reviews are generally accurate, whether favorable to Apple, or not.
A recent report published by the Silicon Alley Insider claims that, “Apple's trusted cadre of gadget reviewers will get their review units soon.” Citing an industry source, the paper claims to have heard that, “Apple is either shipping iPads to reviewers this Thursday, or has already shipped them to be received this Thursday.”
It estimates that reviewers will get about a week to test out the device before their reviews are published, mentioning that the iPad is slated to be released on Saturday, April 3rd. “It's unclear if Apple will be shipping wi-fi-only or wi-fi/3G iPads to reviewers, but it makes sense that they'd send both, if they're available,” the report concludes.
Apple touts the iPad as a revolutionary device for “browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more.” The device boasts a 9.7-inch, high-resolution, Multi-Touch display, weighs just 1.5 pounds and is half an inch thick. Starting at $499 for the WiFi-only model, the iPad is capable of running almost all of the applications available in the Apple App Store.