Apple is taking pre-orders for their new Apple iPad 9.7″ Touchscreen Tablet, starting at $499 with Free Shipping. Customers also have the option to reserve and pick up their iPad at the Apple Store. Sales tax is added where applicable. Wi-Fi models will be available on April 3, 2010 and Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April.

The Apple iPad is 0.5″-thick tablet, weighs 1.5 lbs. and features an Apple A4 1GHz processor, 9.7″ 1024×768 LCD touchscreen display, 802.11a/n wireless, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, accelerometer, compass, up to 10 hours of battery life, and more.

Note: that Wi-Fi + 3G models require an AT&T Wireless subscription for 3G use, which costs $14.99/month for 250MB of data or $29.99/month for unlimited data.

Models being offered:

• Apple iPad 9.7″ 16GB Wi-Fi Touchscreen Tablet for $499
• Apple iPad 9.7″ 32GB Wi-Fi Touchscreen Tablet for $599
• Apple iPad 9.7″ 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G Touchscreen Tablet for $629
• Apple iPad 9.7″ 64GB Wi-Fi Touchscreen Tablet for $699
• Apple iPad 9.7″ 32GB Wi-Fi + 3G Touchscreen Tablet for $729
• Apple iPad 9.7″ 64GB Wi-Fi + 3G Touchscreen Tablet for $829