Thoughts on the iPad 2

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.cultofmac.com/analyst-gives-steve-a-for-just-showing-up-but-b-for-ipad-2-reality/84602?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+cultofmac/bFow+(Cult+of+Mac)' target='_blank'>http://www.cultofmac.com/analyst-gi...w+(Cult+of+Mac)</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Reactions are mixed on Apple's iPad 2 announcement. Although the new iPad held some surprises, what most caught the eye of analysts we talked with was that CEO Steve Jobs, out on medical leave, showed up to unveil the next-generation tablet. The announcement "started as an A+ for Steve Jobs presenting and the testosterone contained within the presentation," Giles Nugent, instructor at the SAE Institute, said by e-mail."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1299144948.usr105634.jpg" /></p><p>I watched the keynote as well (you can too <a href="http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1103pijanbdvaaj/event/index.html" target="_blank">right here</a> at Apple's site), and it was nice to see Jobs up there on stage right where he belongs. But, unlike some analyst's opinions, mine is that the iPad 2 is quite an upgrade from the current version and well worth purchasing. Coming in at 1/3 thinner with twice the processing power, it features a front VGA camera as well as a rear facing camera capable of capturing HD video and 5x zoom for still shots. You can also purchase it with 3G to work with either Verizon or AT&amp;T. And they have done all of this yet can still keep the efficiency of the iPad version 1 as the iPad 2 will offer up to 10 hours of battery life, as well as the month of standby power. And in addition it supports HDMI output and compatibility with iMovie and GarageBand. Lots of improvements and it will sell at the same pricing points as the original iPad. Seems like a winner to me, what are your thoughts?&nbsp;</p>

[Dyvim]

Well on one level, about the only thing the new iPad can do that the original can't is FaceTime/Skype via the new cameras (ignoring of course things like iPad 2-only software). So for some I can see that the iPad 2 would hardly be a compelling upgrade. For first-time buyers of course, the iPad is now better than ever, so has become a much better deal than the previous one was last week/month/year.

As a geek, I'm excited about the faster processor and even faster graphics and (although this wasn't mentioned) more RAM. The original iPad is quite anemic on RAM- it holds about the same # of Safari tabs in memory as the original iPhone and iPhone 3G (and far fewer than either the iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4), and of course multi-tasking isn't nearly as effective on the iPad as it is on iPhone 4 or even iPhone 3GS. The Safari tabs constantly reloading bugs me the most I guess (as it did on the 1st 2 iPhones).

I wonder though if one of the biggest changes might not be the new lighter form factor. Hard to say until I can hold one in my hand. I know the original iPad gets a bit heavy unless you're holding it in your lap or propping it up on a table (i.e. not so good for using while lying on your back in bed or on a couch and trying to hold it up).

I was hoping for some screen improvements honestly. Not a Retina Display (who thought they could put a 2048 x 1536 9.7" display in an iPad with all the other upgraded internals we knew were coming at $499?), but maybe an anti-glare screen or perhaps just brighter or easier to read in sunlight. I'm still hoping they used the new thinner screen technology they debuted in iPhone 4 (where the pixels look like they're painted on the glass not under it)- I figure they must have to get it 33% thinner.

Anyway, I plan on upgrading. We kind of need a 2nd iPad around the house- my wife, son, and I often all want to use the iPad at the same time!

[Dyvim]

Another thing I was hoping for was consolidating the product lines- i.e. eliminating the WiFi only models but pricing the WiFi + 3G models the same as last year's WiFi only models. And even better would be a single GSM/CDMA chip that you could use to sign up for either AT&T or Verizon on a month-to-month basis (would be great for traveling- you could pick your carrier based on who had the best coverage at your destination). Would force great competition between the 2 carriers. I don't really need the 3G what with the tethering option available for my iPhone 4 (soonish- maybe), but GPS would be handy at times and would be great to have the option to enable the data if desired.

Anyway, with Personal Hotspot available on my iPhone 4 soon (I hope- c'mon AT&T), I will once again save myself $130 and get a WiFi-only model.

[Rob Alexander]

The new version is fine, and I'll probably upgrade and pass along the iPad 1, but this seems more like iPad 1.5 to me. I like most of the things they've done, but am disappointed with the things they didn't do. Dyvim covered most of them, but I'll also add that it seriously needed an SD slot or a USB port or, if they really wanted to impress us, a Thunderbolt port. (It also makes me nervous that they won't tell us how much RAM it has or now many pixels the rear camera has.) It's respectable, but they could have totally overwhelmed the competition if they'd been more feature-aggressive and they didn't.

[Macguy59]

I guess they feel the camera kit has those covered. I'm kind of meh on the cams but the dual core A5 excites me. While the new iMovie and GarageBand apps will run on iPad v1, I suspect they really the need the dual core and extra memory.

[yuhoo.smith2011]

I like most of the things they've done, but am disappointed with the things they didn't do. Dyvim covered most of them, but I'll also add that it seriously needed an SD slot or a USB port or, if they really wanted to impress us, a Thunderbolt port.

[Dyvim]

While the new iMovie and GarageBand apps will run on iPad v1, I suspect they really the need the dual core and extra memory.
According to the website, iMovie won't run on iPad 1. Guess it really does need the extra memory.

[Macguy59]

Good catch. I didn't see that.