AnandTech: The iPad 2 Review

[thesmoth]

I haven't even read the review yet and I can already tell that they must not think it's the most perfect device ever made. How can I tell? It's the comments here. If a reviewer simply slathers praise on an Apple product, the responses here will be "good read", "excellent review", or "the reviewer did a great job with the analysis." If they find flaws then it's "this review was terrible", "why is this person even a journalist", or "this entire news source is irrelevant". Some of the 12 year olds around here make me sick.

An intelligent person on the mac rumours forum, what!!?!?!?!

You sir are a diamond in the rough, thank you for existing.

 

[bossxii]

A used laptop can do what you want for cheaper. For the sake of the conversation on what is a 'need' and what is a 'want, no one needs a computer. There are plenty of jobs that can keep you alive without the need for a computer, so please don't throw that at me. The iPad is a bit more luxurious because of the portability factor, but certainly not a need for anyone. You must be confusing priorities for needs.

The whole argument over Mac vs PC was brought up to make a point, and in no way suggested communism. I find it very pathetic that anyone would even interpret it that way. My argument was explaining disposable income. Since I don't really use the iPad that much but still like it, how does it make me any different than someone who does use it a lot and loves it, when we consider the fact that neither one of us needs the device to live and stay healthy, which is the bottom line.

You can argue all you want, but no one needs a computing device to stay alive. Therefore, my needs, vs anyone else's needs, are the exact same.

I need a computer or computing device for my job. Period. My choice was to utilize the iPad. Your first sentence is false as I don't know of ant laptop under $500, or over that I can think of with a 10 hour battery. So currently two things are true for me.

1) if I want to keep my job, I need a computing device to communicate and do my job. It's not a want nor is it an option. I'm sure there are jobs that don't require the use of computers, nut mine does and that is reality.

2) as stated before, the iPad currently does the best job for the tasks I need to do. The Xoom is a very close consideration, but is currently $300 more with fewer apps to get the job done I need.

So for you and people that don't need a computer for work, you are correct. However for me it's false as I need a computer or I don't make money. Period.

 

[Piggie]

I need a computer or computing device for my job. Period. My choice was to utilize the iPad. Your first sentence is false as I don't know of ant laptop under $500, or over that I can think of with a 10 hour battery. So currently two things are true for me.

1) if I want to keep my job, I need a computing device to communicate and do my job. It's not a want nor is it an option. I'm sure there are jobs that don't require the use of computers, nut mine does and that is reality.

2) as stated before, the iPad currently does the best job for the tasks I need to do. The Xoom is a very close consideration, but is currently $300 more with fewer apps to get the job done I need.

So for you and people that don't need a computer for work, you are correct. However for me it's false as I need a computer or I don't make money. Period.

You could always just use a laptop to allow you to do more things and have a spare battery in case you needed it.

 

[Staindsoul]

Too long to read. What are they going to tell me that others haven't already?

 

[kntgsp]

The Anandtech review was dead on, as usual. Until Honeycomb sees a slight bump in hardware, and until the Ipad sees a significant gain in IOS, both will be kind of "meh", but overall I think the XOOM edges out the Ipad.

Apple needs to address the sub-par multitasking implementation, widgets, and the laughably pathetic notification system. The notification systems is archaic at best. IOS 4 on the Ipad2 is like running Windows 98 on a core i7.

 

[hitekalex]

Too long to read. What are they going to tell me that others haven't already?

Clearly nothing

 

[AppleScruff1]

It's a very narrow-minded review in many ways, despite its thoroughness. Comparing the Xoom to the iPad 2, and saying the way the Xoom does tabs is much better, and the way you multitask is much better - doesn't really look at the bigger picture.

The tabs actually work a lot better on the iPad for ME because then there's no tab bar taking up space, and the same goes for that multitasking bar at the bottom. And heck, with the XCode install for gestures, the iPad 2's superiority (to ME) is even more clear.

FACT (and yes, this is fact), forgetting actual laptops, the iPad provides the smoothest UI, on any portable device, be it phone or tablet, ever.

And just to bump my review of the iPad 2:

www.bighugenerd.com

What big picture? They merely stated their opinions. Tabbed browsing and multi-tasking is more pc like on the Xoom that it is on the iPad. They aren't forcing their opinion down anyone's throat. I just LMAO how so many here get their panties in a bunch if anyone mentions something that the Xoom or any non Apple device does better or that they like better. So you say the iPad is perfect but that's not being narrow minded?

 

[blackreplica]

I just plain thought it was a great review. Just make sure you know how to differentiate his facts from his opinions. I have respect for his opinions though i disagree with them, but the facts he includes in his review are top notch and better than anything i have read elsewhere wrt the ipad 2

 

[gus6464]

The problem with that review is that it was very close minded. The iPad is not sold as a creation device, but as a consumption device. There are so many uses for this device outside of the geeky/tech group yet it is not addressed. Tell hospitals who use it as portable patient charts, ad agencies who use it to give presentations on the go, real estate agents, and many other people and companies who use it that it is not a useful and great device.

Not everyone is a power user and needs a laptop. What do most people use a computer for? Browse the web, send some emails, maybe create some documents. I can tell you this, I have not touched my laptop once since I got my iPad, why? Because everything I did on it I can do on the iPad. Reading documents and blogs is as thousand times more comfortable with an iPad than a laptop.

Not everyone is a computer geek. Do not have tech geeks review a non techie device.

 

[AppleScruff1]

The review was extremely positive and pointed out many good things about the iPad 2. I don't recall reading where they suggested it was a useless device to the masses. So many here are butt hurt because the reviewers didn't find it a necessary device for their usage. How does this in any way detract from the review? How does this change the fact that it does receive heavy usage from most buyers?

 

[kas23]

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I like Anand's stuff. Their review many different hardwares with a lot more technical details than most mainstream sites. They used to be the site that I typically go to read about processors and video cards. Lately they start doing coverage on smartphones and tablet devices, and offer a lot of insights that you cannot find in mainstream sites like Engadget.

That being said, their review of the iPad 2 is probably aimed mainly at developers and hardcore tech-fans. It's not a review that an average iOS user should base his/her purchase decision on.

Do you think the average iOS user even reads tech reviews?

The Anandtech review is very informative and is a lot of interest those who want to read up on the tech involved, especially the GPU section.

But having been following that site on and off for more than a decade, I just don't think the spec-loving nature of Anandtech's the right one to review Apple products or even any tablet. Also they tend to give out some odd criticism like "the iPod Touch 4 is more like the iPod Touch 3.5" (It only only has a faster CPU, 2X resolution, two more cameras, thinner profile, better battery, but the RAM is the same and the LCD is still TN, so it's not much of an improvement!)

It seems to me they are the types who really love tech for the tech's sake, thus their tolerance of Symbian phones (yes I'm a former Symbian user) and their insistence on the iOS needing to be more like a desktop OS. So..while I do like Anandtech as a long time user, if you're a Mac person you do have to understand where they are coming from.

They seem much happier running benchmarks on new blazing fast chipsets and graphic cards instead of writing reviews like this one, which basically concluded by saying "we like the improvements, especially the benchmark-killing GPU, but personally we don't see the needs for tablet ourselves."

You do know that Anand uses a Macbook Pro and a MBA, right? So I think he's
got a pretty good overview of things and he choses Mac.

I like Anandtech's unbiased review of the iPad 2. At least they go through the analysis without much bias and give an honest appraisal of the device. Even if the authors don't prefer to use the iPad in their workflow, its merely a matter of personal preference.

I think they write some of the best, in depth, unbiased reviews on the net. They don't sugar coat anything. People here are getting butt hurt because they don't find the iPad useful for their use.

The writer started by disqualifying himself as a good candidate for an iPad. He just doesn't "get" the iPad. It doesn't have a keyboard for the same reason it doesn't have wings or wheels (or USB ports).

I travel several days a week on tiny airplanes to teach, show videos and give presentations. I will be delighted to leave my laptop behind and just take an iPad. iPad is aimed at people like me, who are mostly information consumers (at least when I'm traveling). I make my notes in a paper notebook and collect data mostly by taking pictures and videos. I write my reports in the office, where I have a coffee maker and a computer. They should have had someone like me review the iPad. Someone who "gets" it.

So the writer doesn't "get it"? So someone has to "get it" to understand and use an iPad? LMAO! He said it isn't useful for him. It may be great for you. What is there to get?

This is true. In order to be a good iPad user, you must "get it". If you don't "get it", your opinion is worthless.

Anyways, it's a fair review. If someone to read about some dude creaming all over the iPad, you can read Mossberg. For me, I need something less superficial. I can relate to many of his complaints, especially the problem with multiple version of a document not in sync with each other.

And, yes, I own an iPad 2. And, no, I don't need some stranger on the Internet making me feel better about my purchase.

 

[AppleScruff1]

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This is true. In order to be a good iPad user, you must "get it". If you don't "get it", your opinion is worthless.

And so is yours.