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Simply put, they now have a lineup of 2 full size pads, and 2 mini pads. Each with a retina and non retina version. Pretty simple.

Makes sense display-wise to provide some lower pricing, but they could at least update the processor to be current. :(

I have an iPad 2 and I think it's nothing short of ancient. It has a hard time keeping up with my typing.

Agreed, the iOS 7 update really made my iPad 2 sluggish. It felt plenty zippy before. Engineered obsolescence?
 
People are buying it because it's available.

I'm guessing the iPad 2 is still around only to offer a 'family' of lower priced options. I'm still puzzled by the price though.

I see they've essentially put a $100 premium on larger sized iPads of equal resolutions. But that iPad 2 certainly isn't as thin or nearly as light as any other iPad.
 
definitely crazy to buy the ipad 2 at this point. Even if you are okay with it running slower, you are buying into a legacy device that isn't supported by newer versions of IOS, newer apps, etc. I have an ipad 1 and I turned it over to my kids since I have found it to be a paperweight in terms of being able to actually run anything I am inclined to download from the appstore.

I wonder why apple didn't discontinue the ipad 2 and still sell the ipad 4. On the iphone side this would be like them offering the iphone 5s, iphone 5c and iphone 2.
 
There is a point though where Apple should be a little embarrassed to be selling the device at this price.
 
I am guessing they can't just go on ebay and buy it there, and have to use their funds for new products, so I guess it makes sense. They'd probably love to buy the ipad3 or 4 for the same price, but when you can't have that... I guess it doesn't really matter for schools anyway. Not going to bother students that much not to have retina.
 
It's cheaper.

Simply put, they now have a lineup of 2 full size pads, and 2 mini pads. Each with a retina and non retina version. Pretty simple.

On top of that, the new base versions use A5 processors and the new stuff uses A7s. Slims down inventory needs.
 
Still, apple could sell them at.. I don't know $299 maybe. knowing the parts probably get cheaper to made over the years... and easier to manufacture
 
The thing is though, why didn't they leave the iPad 4 as a lower cost option instead of iPad 2? That was also selling quite well :p
 
That graph shows the iPad 4 selling quit well. This doesn't explain why they EOL'd it.
My guess is the iPad 2 sales are more around education or businesses using as POS devices. 4th gen iPad would probably be overkill for what it's being used for.

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The thing is though, why didn't they leave the iPad 4 as a lower cost option instead of iPad 2? That was also selling quite well :p

So they don't have to continue producing the A6X chip.
 
Only the iPad 2 has been approved by many government agencies for use. So that is another reason they are keeping it around.

They do need to get the iPad 4 approved or 5...too much of a gap.
 
It's amazing how stupid people are.

My mom has an iPad 2. Do you really want to pay $400 for the exact same device that my dinosaur-aged mom has been using for the last 3 years!?!? Hahaha.
 
If you are a school district or a business rolling out thousands of iPads, I bet you can get the iPad 2 in bulk at a steep discount now. And that means being able to put a tablet in the hands of more people for the same money.

This makes sense to me, even though I would never personally buy one that old.
 
I buy a ton for the company I work for. We don't need retina and the mini is too small

and it won't run anything in a year.... just stupid to buy this.... i think they did this to have multiple price points knowing people wont buy it unless brain dead
 
I know this is a geek site, where everything but the latest and greatest is crap and people are insane for not upgrading blah blah.

However:
The iPad 2 is absolutely wonderful for *most* people.
Myself included ;)

My old mum (79 years old) use hers every day, and i know many others who love their iPad 2.

-Brian
 
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