iPad 2

I was out of the country last Friday and couldn’t get in line for an iPad 2. I’ve been visiting and calling retailers in my area with no luck until this morning. On a whim I went by our local Target store and they had an iPad 2 in stock! It’s just what I’ve been waiting for.

It’s a white, WiFi, 64 GB model with the blue cover.

First Impression

The new iPad is a lot thinner and much much easier to hold on to. The iPad 1 had a deeply tapered back and it always felt like it was ready to slip out of my hand. The iPad 2 has a flat back and all of the taper is at the edge. The new model doesn’t rock around while typing on a flat surface.

While the new iPad is a few ounces lighter it still feels solid and flex free. The weight difference is not as obvious as the thinness.

I love the white bezel. What color to get is a purely a matter of personal choice. I feel the white looks cleaner and will show up fingerprints less than the black. The aluminum surround is a lot thinner than on the first generation iPad and it almost disappears against the white bezel.

The “smart cover” is attached with strong magnets to the side of the iPad 2. There is a magnet in the flap that turns the iPad on and off. The iPad comes to life instantly when removing the cover. The cover also folds into a triangle and becomes a typing or viewing stand. It provides excellent protection to the iPad’s front screen. The back of the iPad is not protected. The cover’s magnets are not strong enough to support the iPad’s weight securely. You will drop your iPad if you try to carry it around hanging from the cover.

The new iPad 2 is faster than the original due to it’s dual core processor and 512 MB of RAM. It’s most noticeable loading web pages and starting up apps. The original was no slouch and the new iPad absolutely screams.

I think that Apple’s competitors are in big big trouble. Those who have delivered tablets to the market are woefully behind Apple. The iPad is a moving target, in it’s second generation. The competition is trying to sell products on “specs,” they offer USB, SD card slots, and Flash. They don’t understand that people who buy iPads don’t really care about “specs,” they want a device which “just works.” For iPad buyers the “specs” just get in the way.

These are my impressions after just a few hours of use.  I’ll keep the blog up to date with any new thoughts.