iPad Second Generation.

[Jaro65]

iPad 2nd gen will likely be available around the end of 1Q11. I'm pretty certain I will get a new one when it is out. I'm counting on more RAM and a faster CPU as the web browsing can be a bit slow. I also wonder if Apple can decrease the weight just a bit as it can be a bit tedious to hold when in bed.

 

[Let's Sekuhara!]

I don't care when it comes out. My criteria for buying an iPad are:

1. Retina Display
2. Front and back camera, to bring it up to speed with the iPhone and the touch.

Why do I care about those things so much?
Because I already own an iPhone 4, so I'm spoiled. 😀

I especially love iBooks for iPhone, so if I'm going to be reading, it must be on a Retina Display. Won't settle for anything less.

 

[sth]

It will be a minor update (thinks of iPhone 3G > 3GS)

Well... from a technical point of view, the 3GS was the biggest transition yet 😉 Going from the old ARM1176JZ(F)-S CPU (armv6 architecture) and a PowerVR MBX Lite graphics chip to the ARM Cortex A8 (armv7 architecture) and a PowerVR SGX535 graphics chip, which is still true even for the A4-based devices.

But of course those changes weren't really end-user visible (except for the higher speed).

 

[bergmef]

I'm waiting for the second gen ... but only because I'm saving for Christmas. I would love one now but I refuse to buy on credit.

 

[smiddlehurst]

iPad 2nd gen will likely be available around the end of 1Q11. I'm pretty certain I will get a new one when it is out. I'm counting on more RAM and a faster CPU as the web browsing can be a bit slow. I also wonder if Apple can decrease the weight just a bit as it can be a bit tedious to hold when in bed.

Pretty much my gues as well, though I'd say early 2Q2011, probably double the RAM but the big change might be the processor. We're seeing indications that dual core CPU's may be coming to the mobile market next year and if Apple want to go that route it makes a LOT of sense to bring it to the iPad first. Certainly far easier to handle any increased power or cooling requirements and the extra oomph would be welcome.

I really don't think we'll see a Retina display next year. I just don't think an IPS panel of that size and resolution is practical at this price point, sorry. Heck, I'm not even sure if anyone's built one for mass market use yet.

 

[Jaro65]

I really don't think we'll see a Retina display next year. I just don't think an IPS panel of that size and resolution is practical at this price point, sorry. Heck, I'm not even sure if anyone's built one for mass market use yet.

We all would love to see a retina-class display on our iPads but I also feel it is not doable right now. Hopefully 3rd gen....

 

[maturola]

We all would love to see a retina-class display on our iPads but I also feel it is not doable right now. Hopefully 3rd gen....

LOL Doubt it... A "Retina" like display on the 9'' device would have a equivalent resolution of an 30''+ HDTV. resolution will improve no doubt it but the tech will go to more light, less power than higher rez

 

[lozpop]

A real retina display with a 300+ PPI resolution is impossible for the iPad, right now. As a lot of other users said, the resolution would be "giant" — and also the price.

Anyway, a PPI update is probable. But I ask myself, won't it be bad for developers? They will have to redesign their apps for a higher resolution display.

For the iPhone, the famous 340x480 was changed in 2010 with the fourth generation iPhone.

Do you think that with the second generation we'll already see a higher resolution?

 

[Thermonuclear]

My prediction:

The 2nd gen iPad will come out in late March 2011 and will include the front/rear cameras to support FaceTime. The price points, memory capacities, and everything else will remain the same without improvements as the US dollar continues to weaken against the currencies of the countries where the materials and labor are sourced.

It just might be possible that the new model will have an SD card slot.

Owners of the 1st gen iPad will be eventually screwed on support just as were the owners of 1st gen iPod Touch models. Actually, pretty much the same can be said for anyone who has purchased 1st gen Apple hardware.

 

[poloponies]

It just might be possible that the new model will have an SD card slot.

Not a chance. And not likely to see any change in resolution.

 

[smiddlehurst]

My prediction:

The 2nd gen iPad will come out in late March 2011 and will include the front/rear cameras to support FaceTime. The price points, memory capacities, and everything else will remain the same without improvements as the US dollar continues to weaken against the currencies of the countries where the materials and labor are sourced.

It just might be possible that the new model will have an SD card slot.

Owners of the 1st gen iPad will be eventually screwed on support just as were the owners of 1st gen iPod Touch models. Actually, pretty much the same can be said for anyone who has purchased 1st gen Apple hardware.

Woah, woah wait a minute there. I WAS a first gen iPod Touch owner and I never felt screwed by Apple. They produced two full version updates that brought new functionality to my device for very little money and that were optional. If you didn't want them you didn't have to have them and the device still worked just as well as the day you bought it. It was obsoleted after three years so no more updates but considering the hardware specs that seems about right. And, here's the important bit, it STILL works as well as it ever did.

Compare and contrast with almost any other equivalent consumer product. Phones for instance, Apple currently leads the way at supporting its hardware in this space with virtually every other manufacturer / OS combo basically saying 'here's your device, good luck'. Android is slowly starting to change this but there's been massive delays from most manufacturers going up even one version with Google's own G1, the flagship Android device released a year AFTER the first iPhone and iPod Touch, stuck on Android 1.6 (officially anyway). Apple has done a steller job supporting its products when compared with everyone else in the consumer market and those that say otherwise frankly have unrealistic expectations. But then what else is new.

On a sperate note to those talking about a screen update, the only thing that really makes sense is to double the existing resolution up to 2048 x 1536. That way you can just scale up existing apps the same way the iPhone 4 does while providing a denser display for those apps that take advantage of it. Introducing a resolution in between would be an... odd decision to say the least and be only a stop gap measure until a higher res panel came along and started the cycle all over again. That'd give you around 264ppi (sorry if that's wrong, quick and dirty maths going on as I'm pushed for time) which with the larger screen and the likelehood of holding it further from the eye than the 1.5 feet the iPhone retina display is expected to be used would probably qualify as a 'retina display'. Again though, an IPS panel at 9.7 inches and 2048 x 1536 in a $500 product seems very unlikely to me.