The long-awaited iPad from Apple was launched in 2010 to much fanfare. It’s certainly popular: in its first month of sales in the US, it sold over 1 million units, including 300,000 on the first day alone. But is it worth the hype? Firstly, it seems fair to say that there’s a little confusion over what the iPad is actually meant to be. It’s a portable tablet computer that reviewers suggest is easier to carry around than a laptop, but others have commented it just seems like a giant iPhone.

It may be more transportable than a laptop, but some critics have argued that the iPad doesn’t quite cut it as a computer as it’s missing key laptop features such as USB ports, a physical keyboard and DVD drive. This suggests that if you’re looking to use it as you would a laptop, then it may not add up, although it’s great for using the internet on the go. The touch screen features and keyboard have been said to give it an edge over smart phones.

One of the biggest draws of the iPad has to be the access to Apple’s great range of apps, available from iTunes. This means that it’s possible to use such downloadable features as maps and SatNav, which are great for when you’re on the go. It’s also seen as something of a rival to the e-readers available on the market as it is multifunctional, not just for books. Its ease of internet access has also been widely praised, especially in relation to accessing emails.

One downside to the iPad is that you can’t use your current iPhone or other SIM in it as some people want to – you have to sign up to a special network plan to do this. There are also large variations in price depending on which model you buy. For example, you can choose a variety of memory options ranging from 16Gb to 64Gb and can go for a more expensive version that also comes with 3G connectivity, which has had a bit of a mixed response.

Overall, the iPad is a pretty nifty device but it’s worth bearing in mind the fact that it’s early days: there are still a few little kinks in the current model that should be ironed out with time. There are issues with displaying some websites, the speakers aren’t great and the lack of webcam is noticeable. Critics also argue that it gives Apple unfair control over how people access the internet, but as other companies introduce rival models, it stands to reason that this won’t last.