Apple Ipad2 Tablet PC 16GB/32GB/64GB (Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi + 3G / Black, White)

When Apple’s original iPad was released last year, it brought the biggest buzz in the tech world, and defined a new category of device.

However, the enthusiastic reviewers and early owners of the original iPad gave some criticisms. For example, the iPad did not provide USB or Ethernet ports, no camera, no microSD slot, limited storage. These were considered as major shortcomings.

The iPad2 has been currently released in the United States and will be available in other countries over coming weeks. Buyers are curious to know whether the latest iPad fixes the above flaws of the original one. Is it attractive enough to spend big bucks to buy one?.

Is there anything new about the iPad2?

The iPad2 has been produced to be faster, thinner, lighter, more powerful and more versatile than the original iPad. For a base model, Apple still maintains the starting price at about US$499, as same as the previous generation iPad.

Outstanding features include a dual-core processor, which is much faster the previous iPad, more powerful graphics designed, ideal for fast-moving games, and better battery life for about one hour.

The most interesting feature, the iPad2 is equipped with two built-in cameras, one on the front and one on the rear. The front facing-camera lets you capture your image for video chats or Skype video sessions. The rear camera allows you to capture great moments.

The Smart Cover for the iPad2 is the genius accessory that buyers should get one. It is a perfect fit for your iPad, it is very versatile, it protects and stands up your iPad. The cover can be folded and transformed into a stand that makes the gadget easy to view while resting on your lap or on a table at home. The Smart Cover comes with ten bright colours, pick one for your style.

The iPad2 also boasts upgraded Wi-Fi compatibility, with the 802.11n standard, for ultra fast surfing and downloads when connected via an 802.11n hotspot. 3G connectivity is optional for use with mobile-carrier networks that support it.

The tablet’s interface sports features that iPhone 4 offers, it is an accelerometer that lets you easily turn the tablet to landscape mode. The multi-touch technology allows you to move and manage stuffs on the screen with your fingertips in a very intuitive manner.

Does the iPad2 solve the problems of the original one?

The iPad2 still lacks of a USB or Ethernet port, with no microSD slot for increasing storage. Users who are worrying how they will connect the iPad to other devices, here is the solution, Apple sells an iPad camera-connection kit separately, it enables users to transfer photos and videos from a digital camera via the camera’s USB cable or an SD card.

Another complain is the original iPad’s screen, users claimed that the screen was fine for surfing internet, playing games and viewing multimedia content, but it was not good enough for long periods of reading. The same thing happens to iPad2, it comes with a backlit screen, not the e-Ink non-backlit screen offered by e-reader like Amazon’s Kindle. Frankly, the iPad2 is not ideal as an e-reader, it works as a general media consumption and entertainment device. The iPad2 does not integrate a bigger version of the iPhone 4′s “retina display” technology, which delivers graphics and text at a fine resolution that the human eye cannot catch pixelation.

The starting price is at $499. How much does iPad2 cost? Could the original iPad be cheaper?
The base model of the iPad2 offers Wi-Fi connectivity, with 16GB,32GB, and 64GB memory options, it will cost another $100 dollars each time for higher memory.

Another model of iPad2 offers both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. This model starts at $629, the price will go up again for more memory models, add the price by $100 dollars each time.

The Wi-Fi plus 3G model can meet your needs, if you want to stay connected and have access to information sources both from home and while on the go.

According to initial news reports, 70% of people who have bought the iPad 2, they did not have an iPad 1. If you do not own an iPad, and you are trying to decide whether an iPad is for you, ask yourself: What will you use it for?

Pros on iPad 2: Customer Reviews

If you want to surf internet, play game, watch movies, read books and magazines or connect FaceTime/Skype for video chat, an iPad can definitely fulfil your needs of those things. Surfing with the iPad is comfortable and relaxing.

The iPad comes with loads of apps. there are a few games available and optimized for iPad 2, many of games are free and some are not occasionally available on sale. The interesting games are Scrabble HD and Dungeon Hunter 2 HD, both of them were $1 each. Dungeon Hunter 2 HD is an ultimate 3D game that tries really hard to be Diablo 2, with character classes, customization, and online play. It does look great and has never crashed or had a framerate stutter. The iPad 1 had problems with crashing and low framerates with games sometimes. The iPad 2 seems to have a much better gaming system. This is the only obvious difference between the iPad 1 and iPad 2 so far.

The iPad 2 offers a huge range of apps to play with, many of them are free. You do not have to carry your laptop with you to surf internet, an iPad 2 is very convenient for web browsing on the go, it is worth owning. Additionally, the battery provides 8-10 hours on a single charge, which is a lot better than any laptop can offer. It is perfect as an e-reader for travelling on long flights.

Wi-Fi network is excellent, its range is flawless. Most users might not need 3G network, since there are a lot of Wi-Fi hotspots available in public places nowadays.

For printing, you will need an AirPrint compatible printer. You can look for “AirPrint any printer” on a Google search, it will show you how to configure your PC or Mac to broadcast its printers with AirPrint. Brother and Canon printers, for example, worked with it. You will need time to download and install the AirPrint service and then configure printer sharing options on your network, this way is a lot better than buying a new printer or an expensive printing app! Sometimes, you might experience printers disappear from the list, and the only way to get them back is to turn the iPad off completely and turn it on again. It is a bit annoying.

The iPad 2 is extremely thin, and its tapered edge feels more comfortable in your hand, while the iPad 1 was not comfortable to hold for a long period of time. You can feel the difference, when you are holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2.

Apple increased its RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? The 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. The 512MB can meet your needs, if you are planning to use it for some of the more graphically intense games. The iPad 2 boasts a better method of graphics processing that will help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements.

The great benefit to the iPad is instant access to Google Books, ibook, Nook, and Kindle. You can compare pricing and shop for books.

Cons on iPad 2: Customer Reviews from Amazon

If you are a heavy web video user, please remember that there is no Adobe Flash support on iPad 2. Some websites have adjusted to this and added HTML 5 video, but many still have not done. Many websites like the Nostalgia Critic and the Angry Video Game Nerd, and most web show hosting sites are still in Flash.

The screen easily gets fingerprints all over the place in a few minutes of use. If you find it irritating, get a screen protector like the ZAGG InvisibleShield, it takes to clear fingerprints is just one wipe, and it protects your screen from scratches. The glass screen causes some glare makes it hard to see in direct sunlight, or near a sunny window. If you are an enthusiastic reader, the Kindle is worth considering, it is your best choice.

The iPad 2 is equipped with two cameras, one on the front and one on the back, however cameras are low quality and the iPad 2 is not very portable to bring around everywhere for camera usage. Most smartphones offer better cameras than the iPad, you can use your smartphone instead, or get an excellent digital camera at lower cost.

The cameras perform better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the iPad 1. FaceTime is Apple’s face to face conferencing system, like Skype. With the push of a button, you are able to have a face to face chat with your family and friends anywhere in the world (a wireless network is required.) FaceTime doesn’t work over 3G natively, it works over a Wi-Fi connection created by a 3G device, you will not be able to use it in your car anytime.

The iPad 2 is not a laptop, do not expect the iPad 2 to do work like a laptop. Office applications are not included. Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, which are like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint respectively, are available for $10 each. They work reasonably well, but they are not 100% compatible with Microsoft Office documents, especially if you have more complicated formatting, macros, or animations that do not translate directly.

The virtual keyboard is not comfortable to type on and has slow typing speed about 45-50 words per minute on it, while typing on a normal keyboard is about 80-100 words per minute.

Other features that you have on a laptop, but an iPad 2 cannot offer including:

• The iPad 2 does allow for HD output over HDMI, you can do slideshow presentations or display video on external monitors, projectors, or widescreen TVs. But, you need an adapter. All of these adapters are additional purchases for features that some tablets offer built in. You will have to buy a VGA adapter, a cable and DVI to VGA adapter (monitors or projectors), buy an HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable (newer TVs), and buy a composite or component video cable (older TVs). However, if you are not planning use HDMI Output then you are not going to pay for something you will not use.

 

• Transfer photos from a camera directly without having to use iTunes, but you have to pay for a camera adapter kit.

 

• The iPad is not good at file storage for stuffs other than music, videos, photos and apps, and it lacks of USB or SD card slot for external storage. It comes with a camera add-on that enables for certain USB devices to be used, but there is no option for mass storage. In case, you need to store your documents in external storage, you will need a file management app to keep track of them, plus an online cloud file storage service like MobileMe (expensive) or Dropbox (free but limited to 2 GB, or pay for more).Many Android tablets offer this option, if you want to use your tablet as a standalone storage device, it is something to consider. If you really want to have your entire movie collection with you, you have to consider whether the iPad 2 can meet your space requirements.

 

• You will need a case to protect the iPad. It is extremely recommended to get one. You can get a cheaper cover/case intended for iPad 1 such as the Griffin Elan Passport for iPad.

 

• iPad 2 allows you to watch videos, TV shows, and movies on it, but you need to purchase them in iTunes, it is almost painful to find a converter for them and transfer them to iTunes. It seems irritating for DVDs/Blu-Rays that have digital copy. You have already paid for movies and have digital files but you cannot transfer them to your iPad without having to purchase expensive programs or apps!

Conclusions from customers

Despite all those drawbacks, the iPad 2 is worth owing if you can afford one, and more importantly, if you really want to use it. If you want to play games only, it is not worth. There are lots of great and cheap games out there for a gamer like you, many of them are even multiplayer.

The lack of many features without having to purchase expensive apps and accessories is a real deal-breaker. Apple does not offer Adobe Flash, they have to get over it since there are many parts of the web that cannot work without it. Before you buy it, do consider what kind of websites you frequently visit, you try and determine if they are Flash enabled or not. If they are, you will have to consider something from the Android tablets as it is expected that they will offer at least some Flash support.

If you have enough budget to buy, it is a sleek, entertaining device, and you will absolutely enjoy this. Do not expect it to replace anything you already have; the iPad is in a niche market that the iPad itself created.

More interesting customer reviews are available on Amazon or click the product links below.

Apple Ipad2 Tablet PC Specifications

1. Actual size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process.
2. 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less.
3. 3G data plan sold separately.
4. Testing conducted by Apple in February 2011 using preproduction iPad 2 units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge while performing each of the following tasks: video playback, audio playback, and Internet browsing using Wi-Fi or 3G. Video content was a repeated 2-hour 23-minute movie purchased from the iTunes Store. Audio content was a playlist of 358 unique songs, consisting of a combination of songs imported from CDs using iTunes (128-Kbps AAC encoding) and songs purchased from the iTunes Store (256-Kbps AAC encoding). Internet over Wi-Fi and 3G tests were conducted using dedicated web and mail servers, browsing snapshot versions of 20 popular web pages, and receiving mail once an hour. All settings were default except: Wi-Fi was associated with a network (except for Internet browsing over 3G); the Wi-Fi feature Ask to Join Networks and Auto-Brightness were turned off. Battery life depends on device settings, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific iPad 2 units; actual results may vary.

Apple iPad 2 Images

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Disclaimer Notice: All photography is owned or licensed by Apple.

Apple iPad 2 is now available on Amazon.

Date first available: March, 2011
Retail Price:
Amazon Price: Varies based on product options and models, please click the product link below to pick your own choices.

Apple iPad 2 Vs Other tablet PCs