Saturday
Mar052011
iPad 2: Should you get one?
Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 4:40AM
This week Apple released the iPad 2, but should you buy one?
Don't have an iPad? Then the answer is Yes.
Have an iPad now? The answer is almost certainly No.
Here's why...
The iPad is the first tablet (and yes there have been many before it)
that is easy for anyone to use and perhaps more importantly, fun to
use.
The iPad 2 gets some new improvements but nothing earth shattering.
Ok, it's got cameras. Are you going to hold it up to take pictures or
videos? Probably not. Your cell phone does a much better job at that
and won't make your arms tired. Front camera...you can use Apple's
Facetime to video chat with anyone with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or iPod
Tough but from everything I hear from most people who have this on
their iPhone 4 right now, its cool, you use it and love it then find
you rarely or never use it again. I find it great when I or my wife is
out of town for seeing the kids but for most of us thats not very
often. As for the redesign, its 1/3rd thinner, 15% lighter. Nice, but
not worth spending another $499 or more on if you have an iPad
already. Speed...the only reason I would even concider upgrading to
the iPad 2. They say it's twice as face and the graphics up to nine
times faster. But if you have an iPad now, have you ever complained
about the speed? I have never read anything or heard anyone complain
the current iPad is too slow. Power users who jump back and forth
between multiple apps constantly would appreciate this and new games
will certainly take advantage of this. That's it. There really isn't
anything more to discuss about important changes, so for most people
the answer is pretty clean about upgrading.
So if you don't own an iPad, the iPad 2 is great, and highly
recommende if you ever wanted an iPad. If you have an iPad already and
don't absolutely need the Facetime video chat (and who does?) then
there is no reason to upgrade. Like me, enjoy your current iPad
knowing your not missing anything great by sticking with your current
model.
The next question is, What could Apple have done to make the iPad 2 a must have?
The answer is probably nothing more than they did. There just haven't
been any real complaints with the origional iPad. It has a great 10
hour battery life (iPad 2 is the same), pretty responsive, aside from
a little lighter, a litter thinner, a little faster, there just isn't
anything people have been asking for. It's rare a company gets a tech
device right the first time around, but that's the key to the success
of most Apple products. A lot of design and a lot of thought about the
user experience. Oh, also coming out with new models every year like
clockwork and making it the must have thing to get to keep you
upgrading and making them a lot of money. But we do like Apple's products and as long as they continue the excellent level and design and quality, we will continue to buy them.
Apple's iPad 2 Video (Click to view)
Apple's Smart Cover Video (Click to view)
Don't have an iPad? Then the answer is Yes.
Have an iPad now? The answer is almost certainly No.
Here's why...
The iPad is the first tablet (and yes there have been many before it)
that is easy for anyone to use and perhaps more importantly, fun to
use.
The iPad 2 gets some new improvements but nothing earth shattering.
Ok, it's got cameras. Are you going to hold it up to take pictures or
videos? Probably not. Your cell phone does a much better job at that
and won't make your arms tired. Front camera...you can use Apple's
Facetime to video chat with anyone with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or iPod
Tough but from everything I hear from most people who have this on
their iPhone 4 right now, its cool, you use it and love it then find
you rarely or never use it again. I find it great when I or my wife is
out of town for seeing the kids but for most of us thats not very
often. As for the redesign, its 1/3rd thinner, 15% lighter. Nice, but
not worth spending another $499 or more on if you have an iPad
already. Speed...the only reason I would even concider upgrading to
the iPad 2. They say it's twice as face and the graphics up to nine
times faster. But if you have an iPad now, have you ever complained
about the speed? I have never read anything or heard anyone complain
the current iPad is too slow. Power users who jump back and forth
between multiple apps constantly would appreciate this and new games
will certainly take advantage of this. That's it. There really isn't
anything more to discuss about important changes, so for most people
the answer is pretty clean about upgrading.
So if you don't own an iPad, the iPad 2 is great, and highly
recommende if you ever wanted an iPad. If you have an iPad already and
don't absolutely need the Facetime video chat (and who does?) then
there is no reason to upgrade. Like me, enjoy your current iPad
knowing your not missing anything great by sticking with your current
model.
The next question is, What could Apple have done to make the iPad 2 a must have?
The answer is probably nothing more than they did. There just haven't
been any real complaints with the origional iPad. It has a great 10
hour battery life (iPad 2 is the same), pretty responsive, aside from
a little lighter, a litter thinner, a little faster, there just isn't
anything people have been asking for. It's rare a company gets a tech
device right the first time around, but that's the key to the success
of most Apple products. A lot of design and a lot of thought about the
user experience. Oh, also coming out with new models every year like
clockwork and making it the must have thing to get to keep you
upgrading and making them a lot of money. But we do like Apple's products and as long as they continue the excellent level and design and quality, we will continue to buy them.
Apple's iPad 2 Video (Click to view)
Apple's Smart Cover Video (Click to view)
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