iPad 2 - What's your opinion?

[smiddlehurst]

Well, I havnt been underwhelmed like that in a LONG time... not only was there absolutely NO surprise in there, but what I was expecting them to update didnt even get done!

They didnt mention the ram.. just the a5 processor... they probably left it at 256 to save money! they didnt get the screen pixels updated to anywhere near the iphone 4 level .

Uh, since when has Apple EVER mentioned how much RAM the iOS devices have in a keynote or even on an official spec sheet? They've been known to mention it at dev conferences but largely we tend to rely on teardowns for that information. And no, I don't think there's any way they've left it at 256, it'd make no sense at all with the dual core processor. 512Mb would make logical sense. Good lord people have got hung up that particular tech spec...

 

[trip1ex]

Predictable update.

Guess I was hoping for that one big wow, but didn't get it.

Probably will get one at least to try out. FAster will help couch surfing which is what I would use it for. That and reading/email and as a remote control.

The presentation stuff just did not interest me. I've had that software on the Mac for 5 years. A big yawn.

It is about the software though. ONly so much you can do with just a screen. But still how about a solution to text input?

How about taking the 11" MBA and adding a touchscreen and letting it flip around to become a tablet or a laptop. SEems f'n obvious to me. IN tablet mode it could run iOS. In laptop mode OSX if you want. IOS would fly on the MBA specs.

OR how about a smart-control for games instead of a smart-cover for the screen? Ok there's a big difference between a nice idea and reality. But...

I guess I wanted a WoW. Didn't get one.

 

[Tmacfan4321]

Anybody else HATE the redesign? I think the first formfactor looke much better, and they could have stuffed an even bigger battery in. Sometimes I despise Apple's lust for thinness...

Yeah, it's really ugly. The iPad 1's back is much more aesthetically pleasing than the iPad 2's back.

 

[engelke2010]

No pre-orders? What the heck is going on? So everyone who wants one will have to wait in line for hours? This is making me severely question whether getting one will be worth it or not.

 

[darngooddesign]

The original iPhone is better looking than the 3GS, but I'd never trade back down just because of that.

 

[Tmacfan4321]

The original iPhone is better looking than the 3GS, but I'd never trade back down just because of that.

The 3GS didn't look like a KIRF though. The iPad 2 barely passes for an Apple product, IMO.

 

[HommePomme]

The 3GS didn't look like a KIRF though. The iPad 2 barely passes for an Apple product, IMO.

I fully agree, it looks almost exactly like the bootleg mockups that were "obviously" not from the Apple plant...

 

[Jimmy James]

5-the socalled dual core processer that it ..to me all they did was retweak the standard processor and now it a model a5 as they are calling it ..

So-called? So you're saying it's not actually a dual core processor?

 

[SmokyD]

As for the display, that won't be changed until they can double the pixel density (i.e. 2048 x 1536) and we may not see that until next year or even beyond that.

On the same 9.7" screen, 2048x1536 would be quadruple the pixel density, not double. Agreed, I doubt we'll be seeing it any time soon.

 

[radicaldog]

I am definitely going to wait until iPad 3, which I am certain will come out in the fall of 2011.

I wish, but then why would they say "2011, the year of iPad 2"?

 

[NJMetsHero]

I'm running out of things that I can't do on an iPad that I can do on my laptop. Aside from typing, which I don't know whether or not I'd get used to on an iPad, off the top of my head:

- I won't be able to watch Hulu without paying for a subscription
- I won't be able to use Mathematica
- There are probably certain sites I wouldn't be able to watch videos from anymore like NFL.com (though I don't know, I was surprised to see that I could watch ESPN and SNY videos on one, maybe you can watch NFL videos on it too).

Aside from those few things, I can do everything else I think. I do some modest video editing. Apparently I can do that on an iPad now. Haven't looked deep into garage band for iPad, but I assume there is basic audio editing. I can use Google Docs, and Netflix. Yup, can't think of anything else. My MacBook is still running pretty well, didn't plan to buy a new one, but maybe I'll buy an iPad when I feel like I want to buy a new laptop instead.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Thanks. The weight difference isn't that much. So much for the hype about how much lighter the newer iPad is.

Yeah, it isn't a whole lot lighter that is for sure.

 

[Faux Carnival]

A small upgrade. I would have considered it enough if I hadn't seen such good tablets like Motorola Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

 

[darngooddesign]

Yeah, it isn't a whole lot lighter that is for sure.

Its a little over a quarter of a pound. Not a huge amount, but the only way to accomplish more would be use a crappy plastic back. CF, while nice and light, doesn't handle impacts too well. Drop your iPad and the results would be far worse than with plastic.

 

[jbh142]

Hey even I was looking for every reason to not get an Ipad 2 and go for the Xoom! But with that being said I am leaning toward geting the Ipad 2 now...

I'm sure there will be more announcments in the next 2-3 weeks about otehr tablets coming out this fall.. Quad core ect.. ect... But if you really think about it will be awhile before the software/games will take advantage of it..

I'm even thinking some game developers will wait for Tegra 3 to release to really go at it..

Only time will tell and I'm not a fanboy of either side.. Ijust want a nice tablet to enjoy.. I made myself wait and not get the ipad 1 and I'm glad I did.But I can't wait much longer..

 

[Blakjack]

I don't get people. What is it that you're looking for?

I mean you have a Dual Core processor...2X faster CPU, 9x faster graphics, 2 cameras, 33% thinner, lighter, HDMI out...what exactly more do you want?

This

 

[URFloorMatt]

I don't like it much. I don't understand why they didn't take design queues from the iPhone 4 which is gorgeous.

I don't recall what the iPad 1.0 looks like on the inside, but judging from the tear downs they showed during the presentation, it seems like the internals certainly took a cue from the iPhone 4. I guess this is another thing we'll have to wait for from iPad 3?

And, on that note, the iPad 3 is quickly becoming another Jesus device... Retina display, LTE, global 3G, NFC, more storage, quad core, new enclosure... It's bad news for Apple if we're setting ourselves up for disappointment for iPad 3 when they haven't even started shipping iPad 2.

The iPad 2 really does seem like a stop-gap measure. Maybe they will launch a new iPad in time for Christmas? They'll get lambasted for that "year of the iPad 2" talk.

 

[Krandor]

Meh. Last year the ipad was incredible and revolutionary. This year there is strong competition chomping at the bit. I'm either going to keep my ipad1 or sell it and get an android tablet. I WILL revisit the ipad3 because it seems every OTHER generation apple puts out something amazing, but this ain't it. The OS is still the largest disappointment.

OS upgrde will be this summer and unlike Android you should expect both versions of the iPad to get it.

 

[Krandor]

It's a solid upgrade and will keep the competition at bay. The only thing that I more-or-less expected that wasn't included was Near Field Communication (NFC).

Using a tablet for NFC isn't quite as useful as using a phone. That just seems to me more of a phone feature.

 

[petvas]

I believe that the new iPad is an exceptional device, much better than the first one. I don't get the people who still complain that we are not getting a super hires display and a quad processor.
The only problem I still see with the iPad is iOS. While I love it on my iPhone, I would much more prefer to have something more powerful on a tablet.

In any case I am buying it and I hope iOS 5 will bring some much needed improvements.

 

[bobbleheadbob]

iPad 2 = winning!

 

[leethefilmer]

It can't even play blu-ray movies.?!?!

Just kidding, I really like it. I'll probably buy a black 64GB with in a month.

 

[mwjd299]

What do I think?
If I had an iPad 1, I would think the upgrades are nice but not worth buying a new iPad over.

iPad 2 is the whole reason I held out on getting an iPad 1.

Me too! For the same money I would like ipad 2. I don't have iPad1 so if I get one it's a no brainer.

 

[Noeld]

I don't really have any need for an iPad. If I did though I would get this for sure. Right now it is primarily a media consumption tool.

What I am excited about though, is that the processor boost will really allow developers to create apps that do a lot more. So by next year it will hopefully be a lot more than a consumption device. Still need to come up with better input methods though.

I think it is a pretty good upgrade.

 

[darngooddesign]

The 3GS didn't look like a KIRF though. The iPad 2 barely passes for an Apple product, IMO.

How so?

The front looks like the photos of the white iPhone we've seen for the better part of a year and the back looks like one of several iPod Touches.