Should You Purchase an iPad 2?
The iPad 2 is a beautiful tablet to behold and a must have item for any die hard Apple fan, but for the casual tablet user as most business people are does it really live up to the hype and is it worth the price tag? When measuring up the iPad vs the iPad 2 the software is virtually identical and the hardware is almost as similar. While there are some improvements and upgrades in terms of the specs is the cost of the iPad 2 really worth the upgrade?
If you want to make an impression then the sleek finish of the iPad 2 will give you instant style. The tablet is just 0.34 inches at its thickest point and is shorter that its predecessor. The iPad 2 is mostly all screen which is ideal for video but it does also boast a barely visible camera, while the back of the device features a small speaker, camera and antennae (depending on the version); and connectors, jacks and volume controls on the sides.
The specifications of the iPad 2 are impressive: it features a 1GHx dual core chip and 512MB of RAM which, while seeming a little low, is adequate for the device. The screen is the same as the original model, which is a bit of a disappointment as we’d have expected at least an increase in resolution. The iPad 2 features WiFi, Verizon 3G and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR capabilities, as well as an ambient light sensor, accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. The speaker is adequate but seems softer than that of the previous version. If you want to watch a movie make sure you invest in quality speakers or headphones.
The browser is noticeably faster than on the original version, but it still doesn’t quite meet the standard set by desktop computers. The iPad 2 doesn’t allow Flash either so viewing some sites is still a problem. The PhotoBooth experience is very much like that of the iPhone with nothing spectacular to write home about. The video calls were equally satisfactory. The iMovie app lets you edit and import videos more easily than the desktop computer, and it’s all surprisingly simple. Overall though it is a very good app.
While the launch of the iPad 2 was met with great anticipation and response, and while it does feature some decent updates, overall it is less impressive than expected. Unless you are a business person and need a tablet, in which case this one is the best on the market, perhaps leave off buying the iPad 2 and wait until the iPad 3 is released.