Just in! Egadget hands on review of the iPad 2...

[NT1440]

It seems cheap to use because we are used to buying such high dollar items but to the mainstream public (non-Apple fanboys) $500+ is a LOT of money.

People spend way more than that on TV's. Does that make a TV a luxury item?


And FYI, I don't spend money on any "high dollar items" seeing as most of the time they are just class symbols. I worked for an entire summer to by my MBP in front of me today....and its worth more than just about everything else I own combined (college student).

 

[125037]

So they should have gone with a thicker device then right?

Firstly, Apple is smart, they know what they are doing and I trust them. I'll be in line tomorrow just like many others upgrading from iPad 1 to iPad 2. But no, they didn't have to go thinner. I for one wouldn't have minded a slightly less thin version if it would have provided significantly higher camera quality.

People spend way more than that on TV's. Does that make a TV a luxury item?

Yes, the iPad is a luxury item. And yes, I consider a 52 LED a luxury item as well.

 

[NT1440]

but not document scanning?
not barcode scanning?
not VR apps?

we'll only be using them primarily for video chat (which could look better) because that's all they're good for at those specs.

Just so you know, most VR apps use the video ability of cameras....

 

[jonhcox]

What I was hoping for in the review was to see if they laminated the display to the glass. It should be noticeable. Also, I would have liked to see some real comparisons for web browsing and gaming. I think that would have gone a long way towards demonstrating the processor upgrade. I like what GarageBand and iMove can do, but it's not why I or- I speculate- many people are buying it for.

I'm holding out to see if the screen is laminated. I loved that about my iP4 and from what images I have seen, the display looks a little clearer.

 

[NT1440]

Firstly, Apple is smart, they know what they are doing and I trust them. I'll be in line tomorrow just like many others upgrading from iPad 1 to iPad 2. But no, they didn't have to go thinner. I for one wouldn't have minded a slightly less thin version if it would have provided significantly higher camera quality.

Thin gets the headlines and the buzz. Simple as that. Apple is a very effective PR company.

 

[MattDell]

Exactly. And most people say "well I doubt your going to be whipping your iPad out of your back pocket to take general photos" which is true but then why put one at all if it were for that statement. Like you said, it's a higher class luxury item and it should have a much better camera regardless.

I agree. I use my iPhone a lot for selling things on eBay and I'd want to be able to do the same on my iPad. Further, my bank is online-only and to deposit checks, I use my iPhone. Depositing with my 3G was a pain due to image quality but with my iPhone 4 I've never had to re-take an image of a check.


So, yes, there are legitimate reasons for a quality rear-facing camera on the back of an iPad.

 

[vader_slri]

What I was hoping for in the review was to see if they laminated the display to the glass. It should be noticeable. Also, I would have liked to see some real comparisons for web browsing and gaming. I think that would have gone a long way towards demonstrating the processor upgrade. I like what GarageBand and iMove can do, but it's not why I or- I speculate- many people are buying it for.

I'm holding out to see if the screen is laminated. I loved that about my iP4 and from what images I have seen, the display looks a little clearer.

John Gruber says that the screen is NOT laminated like the iPhone 4:

http://daringfireball.net/2011/03/the_ipad_2

He also has broken down Geekbench results.

 

[jonhcox]

John Gruber says that the screen is NOT laminated like the iPhone 4:

http://daringfireball.net/2011/03/the_ipad_2

He also has broken down Geekbench results.

Excellent review and answers my questions far more succinctly than Engadget did. Thank you for that link. Too bad about the display, I just have real hatred for getting dust under my screen. I'm going to assume that lamination will come with the iPad 3 and its rumored Retina Display.

That said, I will still buy it. I just have a lot of fun gaming in the bed while wifey sleeps and as Gruber said, I'm eager to see what they can do now with the faster graphics capability.

 

[Irishman]

dude - those are all over the web - I don't need to see sunspider results nor battery life. I need to see website loading comparisons.
thanks but no thanks

Dude, this is the day before the thing hits...be patient and wait, more reviews will come, and you'll have your answer. And being polite will help you, too.

 

[Mackan]

I don't understand why everyone is making a so big deal about camera. Someone would really want to hold 10 inch tablet and take a picture and he/she would do this daily?

Who wants a crap camera? This is 2011. Who could not forsee that Apple would add cameras to iPad 2, and also make them crappy? Apple is only adding crap cameras so they can upgrade to more mega pixels on the iPad 3. Are you going to use the same argument then, as well?

There is one rule: wait until 3rd revision of an Apple product, before you get what should have been there in the first place.

It's 499 dollars. It's not 799 dollars like some other tablet.

iPad prices go all the way up to 829 dollars.