So the rumour mill got some things right and some things wrong - about par for the course, I suppose.

As generally predicted, the iPad - Apple's new tablet - is essentially an oversized iPhone or iPod touch.

But where people were claiming the price would be at least $US1000 - maybe even $1500 - unless subsidised by a carrier, the base model (without 3G) with 16GB of memory is $US499. Even the high-end configuration with 64GB and 3G is only $US829.

Which leaves you wondering about the motivation behind the rumours that what we now know as the iPad would be as expensive as a MacBook. There are various possibilities.

Conspiracy theorists might suggest that it was a deliberate 'softening up' effort on Apple's part - leak an excessively high number, then the real price will seem cheap in comparison.

Or maybe the numbers originated with 'analysts' who pulled numbers out of the air rather than actually analysing the probable cost of the device. Mind you, that was always going to be difficult until exactly what was in the box.

Talking of which, the suggestion that the iPad would be based on a chip of Apple's own design (think PA Semi) also proved correct.

But do you remember the stories that the iSlate (the then favoured name for Apple's tablet) was soaking up practically all the 10.1in OLED touch screens being made? It turns out that the iPad has a 9.7in IPS (in-plane switching) LCD touch screen.

Relatively recent reports that the device would be announced in January with first deliveries in March were on the money.

(On the subject of timing, back in August 2009 I wrote "Wouldn't it be ironic if Apple released the tablet in January, the traditional time for Macworld Expo? Apple's no longer attending Macworld, and the organisers have shifted the event to February. Part of Apple's reasoning was reportedly that it wanted to free its release schedule from another company's timetable.")

And yes, it is being positioned at least in part as a e-book reader, and Apple will be selling the books - and presumably magazines and newspapers - through the iBookstore. OK, so my suggestion that Apple would recycle the iBook brand for the device itself was wrong, but there's a distinct echo in the name chosen for the new store.

One thing I don't recall anyone tipping in anything other than general terms is the range of iPad accessories coming from Apple.

There's a keyboard dock (full-size keyboard and stand, with audio output jack and a duplicate dock connector for connecting the charger or other accessories), case (combining protection for the device with an easel-like stand that can position the near horizontally for typing or near vertically for viewing), a conventional dock (much like those for the iPod/iPhone), a camera connection kit (USB and SD adaptors), and an extra USB power adaptor (one is included with the iPad).

So as usual, the rumour mill gets a mixed report card.

Will you be queuing up to buy a iPad in March?