iPads, iPads everywhere

Apple’s iPad is already the fastest-selling electronics device since the invention of the power cord. And now customers will have plenty of places to buy one.

At first, the iPad was sold only at Apple stores, apple.com, Best Buy stores and some authorized Apple resellers. But the iPad is now available at Target and will be available at Walmart stores starting Friday.

But wait, there’s more ...

The iPad will also be sold at AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores starting Oct. 28. However, the Verizon outlets will sell only the models that connect to the Internet by Wi-Fi.

Let me explain. Apple now sells two iPad models
— a Wi-Fi-only model
— a Wi-Fi plus 3G model.

The latter machines give users two options for connecting to the Internet. Connecting with Wi-Fi lets you save data-plan minutes and usually get a faster connection than what you’d get in 3G mode. The slower 3G connection eats away at your data-plan minutes, which could result in higher Internet fees.

Each iPad model comes in three hard-drive sizes — 16 gigabytes, 32GB or 64GB. More storage means higher prices.

VERIZON
Verizon Wireless will offer the iPad in three bundles, which will comprise an iPad model plus a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot.

The Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is a device about the size of a half-deck of playing cards that allows up to five devices to connect to the Internet simultaneously.

Verizon prices of the three bundles:
— 16GB+MiFi ($629.99)
— 32GB+MiFi ($729.99)
— 64GB+MiFi ($829.99)

Verizon will also offer a monthly access plan of up to 16GB of data via the MiFi hot spot for $20 a month.

The iPad Wi-Fi plus 3G models will not be available from Verizon.

AT&T
AT&T will offer all three iPad Wi-Fi plus 3G models on prepaid domestic data plans starting at $14.99 per month for 250 megabytes and $25 per month for 2GB with no term contract. Both plans include unlimited access to AT&T's more than 23,000 domestic Wi-Fi hot spots.

AT&T’s iPad prices:
— 16GB ($629)
— 32GB ($729)
— 64GB ($829)

If you plan to use the iPad primarily in Wi-Fi zones, like your home, you can probably get away with the lower-priced plan and a lower-priced Wi-Fi-only iPad. But you'll have to get the gadget someplace other than the AT&T store.

Prices from Apple for the iPad:
Wi-Fi only
— 16GB ($499)
— 32GB ($599)
— 64GB ($699)

Wi-Fi plus 3G (3G data plan sold separately)
— 16GB ($629)
— 32GB ($729)
— 64GB ($829)