The iPad is a tablet computer from Apple, announced in January 2010 and available for sale in the US since the end of March 2010.

The device is positioned as a new category in between a smartphone and a laptop computer, but better than either of those for many everyday uses. The iPad has a large 9.7 inch touch screen, a high-performance Apple processor, and is able to wirelessly access the Internet. Apple believes this makes it ideally suited for entertainment and consuming media, ranging from surfing websites, to playing games, to watching movies, to reading books and magazines.

Many people have referred to it as a “couch computer,” designed foremost for leisure use. This intention was highlighted at Apple's launch event as CEO Steve Jobs sat relaxing on a couch, and demonstrated each of its features, calling the iPad a "magical and revolutionary device".http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1001q3f8hhr/event/index.html

Technically the iPad is in many ways like a much larger and faster version of the iPhone or iPod Touch. It uses the iPhone operating system, and runs almost all of the 150,000 existing apps available for those devices. However as the iPad uses a custom Apple processor, known as the A4, it is much faster than the other devices..

Physically the iPad weighs about 1.5 pounds, is about half an inch thick and roughly 9.5 by 7.5 inches in size. This makes it similar in size and shape to a moderate sized book, though of greater weight. Battery life has been described as exceptional, with many reviewers finding that they get even more than Apple’s stated 10 hours of use from a charge.http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

The iPad range has six versions, ranging in price from $499 to $829. Half the models have wi-fi internet access only, while the others can use 3G phone networks as well.

As the iPad is a new product in great demand, if you are interested in getting a cheap iPad, buying refurbished is likely to be one of your best options for some time. To learn more about refurbished products, and how to buy a refurbished iPad and save money on regular retail prices, check out the advice and information offered on this page.

Many people are wary of refurbished technology because they don’t fully understand what “refurbished” means. A "refurbished product" can refer to an item that has been sold to a customer who opened the box and returned it unused, an item with mild cosmetic damage like surface scrapes or dings, or an item that has been rebuilt to repair some problem.

It can mean an overstocked item or an older model still in its original packing, though these won’t apply to iPads as they are too new and in great demand at present.

Around one in five consumer electronics items sold in the US are returned, and only about 5 percent of those are actually seriously defective. Over two-thirds of electronics returned to retailers work perfectly, and are simply not what the customer expected.http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2008/08/refurbished-e-1.html

Items that were returned to the manufacturer either with minor cosmetic problems or with more serious technical ones are fully restored to as-new working condition, re-inspected and repackaged before being offered for resale at a much lower price. Generally, these refurbished products will be fully backed by the manufacturer’s warranty and will be identical in looks and performance to brand new products. Therefore, they often represent an opportunity to buy an as-new product for a bargain price.

There are three main places where you can buy refurbished products. The first option is from the manufacturer, in this case Apple. The second is to buy online from a variety of online outlets. The final option is to buy from specialist “buyout retailers”. We will now consider each of these options in turn.

As with most refurbished electronics, a good place to look for refurbished iPads is directly from the manufacturer, Apple. In the US, visit the Special Deals part of Apple’s website at www.store.apple.com, and look for the products that interest you. As these offers come and go, don’t be surprised if you don’t find what you want first time, but be prepared to revisit the site a few times to see if any new deals have become available.

In other countries, you should be able to easily find the local Apple site using a search engine, and you should explore the site until you discover the relevant sections.

Once you’ve found the product you are interested in, carefully review the product specifications to make sure that it is the model you want with the specifications you were expecting. Remember, to get the very best deals you may sometimes have to go for a different model than you initially wanted, to take advantage of what is actually available..

Before making a commitment to buy, also review all warranty and return policy information. You want to make sure that you are getting a good deal and that in case something is wrong when your refurbished iPad arrives, you can return it for a refund or replacement. Typically, Apple offers excellent warranties, and will likely offer a full one-year warranty for a refurbished product, which will provide you with excellent peace of mind against unexpected problems.

The convenience of shopping online means that you can find fantastic deals without even leaving your home. Larger online retailers like eBay and Amazon may sell refurbished items including iPads and other Apple products. There are also a number of smaller companies who deal in refurbished electronics, including Overstock.com.

Be aware that these usually ship to US addresses only, and typically do not ship to PO boxes or overseas military addresses such as APO/FPO addresses.

As with purchasing from Apple itself, be careful to check which model you're getting, and if you are getting everything you need. For example, a pre-owned model from some suppliers may sometimes come without an instruction manual. Likewise, check what warranty is offered and the returns policy. These sites may offer a less generous policy than Apple, but you should still have perhaps a 30-day period in which you can get replacements or refunds if you have problems with the product.

In general, before committing to an online purchase, do your homework, read all agreement material, and make sure you're getting the best deal.

You may be able to find refurbished iPads at large, buyout retailers. Buyout retailers often buy the overstock from large corporations for much less than the merchandise is worth, and in turn sell it to the consumer at low cost. Many of these retailers will stock refurbished electronics, like televisions, stereos, and video game systems.

Retailers that may be worth checking out include refurbdepot.com, warehousedeals.com and the outlet stores of Crutchfield and Target.

However as the iPad is still very new, and is in great demand, it is not likely to reach such channels for a while. In the future as Apple releases new models, these may retailers may be more relevant.

As always before making any purchase be sure to check model details, specifications, warranties and return policies.