So here's my thoughts.
The smart cover is cute. It's enough, and it's SOMETHING. There are so few options right now.
But in practice, the smart cover isn't very smart at all. It allows for 2 different placements, like the original ipad cover, which I used until I found something better.
The way I use my iPad I need to have it elevated more than the flat triangle position, especially with my keyboard. As for vertical, it's TOO vertical for most uses.
But it offers some protection, some ability to prop the iPad up and it's better than nothing.
However, right now you know what I have on my little lap table? That material used to line cupboards with, the anti slip kind I had left over. And to prop the iPad up more in the back? A full roll of cupboard lining to prop it up another 4 inches.
It works, it makes the viewing angle perfect and allows for the perfect space to put my keyboard in front.
As well, the BS "The smart cover cleans when it closes!" is just that, BS. It's useless for cleaning, but it's soft and it protects the screen perfectly.
Having the back naked without me using my ghetto lap setup is slippery and terrible.
But seriously, that's just the smart cover. Forget about it. Get it for the fancy factor, it's better than nothing, and there's little else available in stores.
Now, as for the thing that matters, the iPad itself? Sure the cameras aren't top quality for stills, the front is a VGA and the screen resolution is the same.
But who cares?
The damn thing FLIES. Apps load CRAZY fast. Webpages load CRAZY fast. I can actually keep more than 1 thing open at a time. The form factor is great. It feels so much nicer in hand. I don't care for the weird iPod touch like gaps with the headphones jack and the charge/sync jack, but those are small things.
The speaker is louder and better placed.
I love it. I really do. I enjoyed the hell out of my first iPad and this is like getting some spec upgrades with the same idea. Would anyone whine and complain about them putting an iMac or something that had a bit more memory and a bit better CPU with otherwise equal specs? AT the same price??
Seriously - I think people need to put it in perspective like that.
A computer comes out this year that has XX ram XX CPU and whatever.
Next year a computer comes out with double the ram and double the CPU with the same hardware.
would that computer get as much grief for not having more upgrades? Maybe, but only if it was a price increase.
We get MORE for the same price. We get the better CPU, double the ram, thinner, lighter, but all for the same price. And the previous gen drops in price...
How can anyone complain about that?
Sure it'd be nice to have a better screen, but after playing with this device, I have NO qualms about my purchase, about waiting in line, about having to swap out my first one due to a pixel/yellowing issue (I walked in and out with a replacement in 15 minutes)...
So anyway, I'm far from disappointed. I'm more impressed than I thought I'd be. I can't see someone complaining about an upgrade at not "additional cost".
And seeing the lines of 500+ people buying this product at every apple store in the US, obviously I'm not alone.
And I'll be there for the iPad 3. Apple, in this, has given us more without charging us more.
