Apple iPad 2 review

I'll be honest, as a developer, I hate Apple and what they are doing. But the iPad is an impressive device.

As such, competition benefits the consumer. I hope other companies hurry up and put some pressure on Apple. I am especially looking forward to the HP Touchpad with webOS.

By jagdipa on 18 Mar 2011

I've got a first gen iPad and although the upgraded specs are nice I don't see the extra performance and cameras (which I don't need) as justifying the hit on selling and buying a new one, particularly as the latest version of iOS seems to have improved the performance.

I would like to see some serious competition to drive innovation and perhaps prices down.

Like jagdipa I am interested in the HP WebOS offerings. Palm hardware hasn't held up in recent years, yet the new OS has a lot of potential. I hope HP can match it with good hardware specs and make a good show in the market.

By kaneclem on 18 Mar 2011

I must be insane then...

"If you’re in the market for a tablet, you’d be mad not to put it at the top of your list."

Nope, still wouldn't put anything with the Apple logo at the top of any list (or on it for that matter). Locked to itunes, closed ecosystem and no USB/SD or Flash support. Thanks, but no thanks!

By everton2004 on 19 Mar 2011

Pad market settling

The reason for having a pad of some sort is slowly revelaing itself, but it's def not as laptop replacement for all.

However, the lack of flash and the ridiculous ego battle is the main reason for not getting it for me. So many of the sites I visit use flash....

By mcmpro1 on 19 Mar 2011

@kaneclem

I haven't seen a review of the iPad 2 yet, which says that owners of the first iPad should upgrade.

The general consensus is, if you don't need the cameras or have a specific performance issue, there is no reason to upgrade.

For me, it is the lack of Jave and Inernet Explorer which are show stoppers - we are looking for a tablet at the moment for 2 projects, one is for a Java based system (our devs don't know O-C and we don't have the time to cross-train them) and the other is for a SAP implementation, which only really works with Internet Explorer currently (that the iPad is also not IP-65 (water tight) is also a point against it).

@everton2004 - you might not be insane, but you are bigoted. When looking at a new system, I look at several manufacturers, including Apple.

For some tasks / price points, they have some excellent equipment, for others they are over priced and under powered.

When the original Intel iMac was released, the 24" version was unbeatable value for money, today they are just overpriced. The new MacBook Pro laptops are, finally, competitive again and you can't beat the build quality, at least not at that price.

I haven an iPhone, but the last upgrade I did was to a Windows Phone 7 device, which I find much better, but if you need a standard tablet, the iPad 2 is a great bit of hardware.

For private use, I still don't have any need for such a device, so I don't have a list, but the iPad 2 would certainly be on the list if I was looking.

By big_D on 21 Mar 2011

very tempting..

Yeah I have to agree. At this price, with this performance and the design and build quality you cannot fault it. They are stunning to use but ultimately, I'd rather have a laptop at this moment because of other things I want to do on it. Now if I could create iPad apps on an iPad they would have a customer but I don't think that will ever happen

By TimoGunt on 21 Mar 2011

@everton2004 - you can jailbreak an iPad to fix all of the problems you describe, and the USB connection is via an accessory called 'camera kit'. Simple.

Dismissing a device because of an emotional response to the brand is a bit daft.

By Stiggy on 23 Mar 2011

this is the must have accessory for...

Whom exactly? I can see them being of use as an occasional web access device, but then got a laptop for that. So who are these people buying them in their millions and typing out e-mails with one finger?

By CraigieDD on 23 Mar 2011

It's all about innovation and content

Having used an iPad for almost a year,I can verify that it really is great fun to use. I appreciate the scepticism of many hardened laptop owners who want a good workhorse portable computer, but the iPad becomes ,when used a completely different form of computer access,in a more casual setting. The choice of apps and quality of the developers truly makes this a fantastic product. it is much better than a netbook to carry around and use, and has enormous appeal to non laptop owners , this I believe is where a great number are being sold. The new iPad 2 shows that these kind of devices can evolve quickly are here to stay.They are going to become ubiquitous in our lives and an everyday computer interface.

By gharrop on 24 Mar 2011

Price ?

Now that the official prices have been announced, your review model looks set to cost £399 which is fantastic news. Another star for value for me. Official pricing here : http://www.apple.com/uk/pr/library/2011/03/22ipad.
html

By owainmorris on 24 Mar 2011

Price ?

Now that the official prices have been announced, your review model looks set to cost £399 which is fantastic news. Another star for value for me. Official pricing here : http://www.apple.com/uk/pr/library/2011/03/22ipad.
html

By owainmorris on 24 Mar 2011

Price ?

Now that the official prices have been announced, your review model looks set to cost £399 which is fantastic news. Another star for value for me. Official pricing here : http://www.apple.com/uk/pr/library/2011/03/22ipad.
html

By owainmorris on 24 Mar 2011

Ipad 2 v Motorola XOOM

Why on earth doesn't Apple just sell the product immediately instead of the Friday 5.00 pm release time, after all The Motorola will walk over the Ipad 2 for all the advantages it has over the ipad, just think before you buy.

Motorola has a distinct advantage, i.e higher resolution display, larger display, USB input, and Flash, 3G standard upgradable to 4LTE just to name a few. Oh I forgot to mention Android Honeycombe, ( I thought I read that Apple was interested in Android). Something else what about the camera Motoroa's 5Meg Rear camera and 2 Meg front comared with Apples feeble camera pixel count, also is Apple going to allow the camera to work on Skype or only on their programme.?

That is for a start, so Apple what do you offer, just style, for that have a good look at the style of Motorola due out on 27th March so it states on the web.

This Friday's release at 5.00pm is a nonsense very school boyish.

By harveylex on 24 Mar 2011

Dave

umm
motorola xoom won best product at the latest ces? show in spain didnt it?
all the reviews on you tube say it kicks ipads ass but still pc pro keeps recomending apple stuff.
does mr jobs own pc pro or something. only 2 things seem to go i pads way and that is screen and its thinner!!!!!
no flash cant drag and drop videos cant use sd cards more cants than cans i know

By godber4 on 24 Mar 2011

anyone...

And still no-one can tell me why I'd want to sit and type with one finger.... As an occasional e-mail reader, and an occasional (albeit flawed) web browser, I suppose you got to give it, it's due. Slap my thigh and call me Shirley, but I'd rather use a mouse and a keyboard. Left hand RSI complaints gonna go through the roof....

By CraigieDD on 24 Mar 2011

Four fingers.....

CraigieDD - unless you in fact only have One finger, the reason nobody has told you this is that it's nonsense. The keyboard on the iPad is not materially worse to type on than a "real" one. I'm no touch typist, so not a totally fair comparison, but other than some niggles with the touch screen and it being a little easy to inadvertently click a hyperlink (actually worse on this site than on any other I've used, funnily enough, due to the adverbs resetting the bloody screen all the time) I find the typing to be no problem , and certainly it is not one finger.
Doubters do really need to try the thng, and get your heads around fact that it's not a Desktop or a lotion, and it's not meant to be. For email, surfing, and lots of specialist app related usage it really is the most amazing device. Instant on, 10+hour battery life, convenient to carry, smaller than any laptop and hugely versatile.

The auto-correction function can be a nightmare, and sites like this one need to take a pill, but otherwise the iPad is fantastic.

By tonynewton on 24 Mar 2011

Adverbs....

Well, I did say the autoCorrection was a nightmare...

I of course meant Adverts - though I've since realised it's actually the Cycling of the iPad images that is causing the Page refreshes.

By tonynewton on 24 Mar 2011

@Tonynewton

Hi Tony, yes, I am a touch typist so I'd say my view is a little bit closer to the mark. Tell me, how exactly do you touch type on an iPad while holding it in one hand?

By CraigieDD on 26 Mar 2011

@craigiedd

I'll give it one more go then give up, as you clearly are not going to.
In the same vein as Your persistent query - how do you touch type on a Laptop while holding it in one hand?
The answer is that you don't hold it in one hand while typing, and nor do you when typing on an iPad - so get over it.

By tonynewton on 27 Mar 2011

@Tony

Maybe you should try again. I type on a laptop by having it on my lap and tilting the screen towards me. Therefor freeing up both hands to touch type. Can see how that would work with an iPad. An iPad should be stuck on a fridge door.... It's an occasional e-mail and web browsing device and nothing more. And like the iPhone it's not fit for purpose. The iPhone drops signals so it's not really a phone at all. and the iPad can't view Flash media.. .sot it's not really fit for that pupose.. Any time I see anyone with one of these devices I just think - victim of fashion, because that's all they are, fashion accessories. And the quicker PC Pro get's back to function over the style - the better..

By CraigieDD on 27 Mar 2011

Is the IPad2 the automatic choice or should a better equipped IPad be chosen

I can get a 64GB IPad with Wifi and 3G for a fraction more than a 16GB IPad2 with Wifi only.

Which would be the better buy?

By MikeW2 on 31 Mar 2011

Late to the party

Although several months behind the rest of you, as a die-hard apple-sceptic I really do think this is revolutionary (truly revolutionary, unlike the other billion times Apple have implied their products are). It's not a laptop, true, but then is far far better for me than a netbook (being over 6 foot and with large hands, I find netbook keyboards impossible). But once you get over the initial concept, it just turns into another Apple product for the growing legion of fan-boys. Out-of-the-box, can you plug storage into it as I can with my Nokia N8? Nope. And so on and so on. However I still stand by my opinion that the iPad is the first fresh thing Apple have released since the original Macintosh. Wozniak must be weeping.

By Rhidney on 27 Jun 2011

@CraigieDD

And I'm glad someone else thinks PC Pro has taken a backward step (and why I gave up my subscription). One time I used to rely heavily on PC Pro for reviews, but now I know that a simple bit of programming determines the outcome (IF madeByApple THEN great ELSE rubbish).

By Rhidney on 27 Jun 2011

Shame about the price

I love this product, I honestly couldn't live without it. But if like me you were a bit shocked with the price here's a tip on how to get this item for basically a £5 and a little bit of work!

All you need to do is go to www.thefreescene.com and sign up for the gala bingo or any offer you like.

Its all been proven by BBC Newsnight, CNN and Channel 5's Gadget Show. This is how I got mine

I hope this helps someone!

By Clairerowland on 6 Nov 2011