New iPad available Friday

Apple's newest offering, the third-generation iPad, will be available for purchase in stores and online on Friday, March 16. Here's what you need to know before reaching for your wallet. When can I get my iPad? You can order a new iPad through Apple.com right now, but it won't ship for two to three weeks since pre-orders have sold out. So if you're eager to get your hands on the device sooner, you'll have to try your odds at a good ol' brick-and-mortar retail location. The doors at Apple's own retail stores open at 8 a.m. local time, but you can also choose to head to AT&T or Verizon locations (assuming you're interested in one of the LTE-enabled iPad models). Select Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Sam's Club and Radio Shack stores will also be in on the fun. How much will I spend? Depending on which model you choose,  you'll spend anywhere from $499 to $829 on the new iPad. Here are your options: 16GB Wi-Fi-only for $499 32GB Wi-Fi-only for $599 64GB Wi-Fi-only for $699 16GB Wi-Fi + 4G for $629 32GB Wi-Fi + 4G for $729 64GB Wi-Fi + 4G for $829 Each model will be available in your choice of white or black. You will be able to choose either AT&T or Verizon as your carrier if you select one of the LTE-enabled models. What do I do with my old iPad? If you've got an older iPad which will be replaced by the third-generation model, you can sell the device through a service such as NextWorth or Gazelle. For more details on those options, check out our coverage of iPad trade-in pricing — but hurry, because the offers are getting lower by the minute. Where can I read more about the new iPad before deciding to buy it? If you want to read up on the new iPad before settling on a purchase, I recommend that you check out our coverage of the initial product announcement as well as tech editor Wilson Rothman's thoughts on the shiny new gadget.