As if it wasn't hard enough to justify US$499 on Apple's new glorified iPod touch, it looks like Australians will get screwed when it comes to two of the iPad's few redeeming features.

The easiest way to justify the expense of an iPad is to call it an eBook reader, which is reasonable considering the iPad's screen size and price tag are the same as Amazon's new Kindle DX. To coincide with the launch of the iPad, Apple has announced the addition of an iBookstore to the iTunes store.

Considering the iPad has a colour display and a range of internet-enabled features, it's pretty hard to favour the Kindle DX over the iPad unless battery life is the most critical feature. The icing on the cake is that Amazon offers an excellent Kindle iPhone app that lets you buy books even if you don't own a Kindle. You can expect Amazon to call in the lawyers if Apple bans the Kindle app from the iPad.

Okay, so that settles it - let's buy an iPad and call it an eBook reader. But wait. The iBookstore is not listed as an iPad feature on the Apple Australia's website. A tiny note on the US site says iBooks are "available in the U.S. only". Sorry Australia, but it looks like No iBooks For You! when the iPad is launched here in March, although a US iTunes account might do the trick.

Australia will also miss out on the 3G-enabled iPad when it's launched in March, initially we'll only get the wifi-enabled version. The 3G version will be available in the US, but it seems it uses a 3FF SIM card - known as micro-SIM. Never heard of it? Don't worry, few people had until this week (that Wikipedia page was only created yesterday). By an amazing coincidence, Apple's US telco partner AT&T has heard of micro-SIM cards and will have them ready to roll out for the iPad. Jobs' bragging about selling the iPad as unlocked for pre-paid plans is a cynical bastard act when he knows full well that the iPad won't take a standard SIM card. Only the most rabid Apple fanboy could seriously defend Apple's choice of micro-SIM as future proofing. Using micro-SIM cards is the perfect lock-in which can't be subverted with simple software hack, although the fact iPads are unlocked might force Apple to offer competitive international pricing to foil the flow of grey imports.

The iPad's use of micro-SIM cards is a godsend for the telcos but a pain for users because they can't just slip in the SIM from their phone or USB modem. It gives the telcos absolute control over who uses an iPad over mobile broadband, how they use it and how much they pay. Once again Apple has betrayed loyal customers in favour of the telcos, and monopolistic players such as Telstra will be rubbing their hands together with glee. Apparently you can fit a SIM card into a micro-SIM slot if you take to it with a Stanley knife, but it's not something you'd do lightly (especially if you can't get a micro-SIM to SIM adaptor).

So as if it wasn't hard enough to justify buying Apple's fancy new toy, Australians look set to get screwed when it comes to eBooks and mobile data. It's a special Australia Day gift from His Holiness, Steve Jobs.