Apple iPad 2 Reviews Go Live

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Posted March 9, 2011 at 10:27pm by iClarified

Apple has lifted the embargo on Apple iPad 2 reviews as they begin to go live on various sites. We have compiled reviews from various blogs.

Engadget
For owners of the previous generation, we don't think Apple's put a fire under you to upgrade. Unless you absolutely need cameras on your tablet, you've still got a solid piece of gear that reaps plenty of the benefits of the latest OS and apps. For those of you who haven't yet made the leap, feel free to take a deep breath and dive in -- the iPad 2 is as good as it gets right now. And it's really quite good.

MacWorld
For Apple’s competitors in the tablet-device market, the iPad 2 is a bucket of water to the face. After more than a year of struggling to catch up to the original iPad, here’s a new model that addresses many of the iPad’s deficiencies, dramatically improves its speed, and doesn’t cede any ground on price, features, or battery life. The iPad 2 raises the bar Apple set a year ago—and it’s time for the rest of the industry to scramble again to catch up.

AllThingsD/WSJ
As new contenders move into the field, Apple isn’t likely to keep its 90% share of the booming tablet market. But the iPad 2 moves the goal posts, by being slimmer and lighter, boosting speed and power, and holding its price advantages, available apps and battery life. As of now, I can comfortably recommend it as the best tablet for average consumers.

New York Times
My friends, I'm telling you: just that much improvement in thinness, weight and speed transforms the experience. We're not talking about a laptop or a TV, where you don't notice its thickness while in use. This is a tablet. You are almost always holding it. Thin and light are unbelievably important for comfort and the overall delight. So are rounded edges, which the first iPad didn't have.

SlashGear
For everyone else, though, Apple has put together a superbly capable, class-shaping tablet, which can now legitimately take on not only other slates but lighter ereaders such as Amazon’s Kindle. The iPad 2 benefits from Apple’s cohesive hardware and software development together with the vast third-party developer support of the App Store, consistent and simple to use in equal measure. Apple’s vision of the post-PC world isn’t quite here yet – the iPad 2 still works best with, and at times demands, integration with a “proper” computer – but when it comes to tablets the iPad 2 maintains its position at the vanguard of the market.

USA Today
Pros: Thinner and lighter design. Fast with souped-up graphics. Front and rear cameras for FaceTime video chat and other uses. By far the most apps. Excellent battery life. Nice screen. Software iOS 4.3 lets you stream over home network. Video "mirroring" (with accessories).
Cons: No Adobe Flash support means some Web videos won't play. Requires accessories for HDMI, USB and SD. AirPlay feature sometimes hiccupped.

The Daily
That all depends on what you’re doing with your iPad now. Cameras and speed aside, the iPad 2 isn’t drastically different than what you have in your hands. It’s just a much sleeker and sexier version of it.

TechCrunch
For existing iPad owners, things are a bit murkier. If you have the disposable income, it’s a no-brainer to upgrade. Again, this is everything you like about the iPad 1, but better. But if you just bought an iPad 1, or you don’t want to drop another several hundred dollars, it’s not like the iPad 1 will be out of date anytime soon. Sure, it may feel like older technology to the touch, but again, it largely looks and acts the same. My advice is just don’t visit an Apple Store or play with a friend’s iPad 2, or you’ll be tempted.

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Tom - March 10, 2011 at 9:56am

You really think you're gonna need 4x the RAM you currently have in that original iPad? Samsung hasn't done anything to impress me since.... ever. I wouldn't expect them to produce an iPad 2 killer anymore than their Galaxy Tab was an iPad killer or their Galaxy S was an iPhone killer. Both still suffer from the shite android marketplace and low-quality android apps. Agreed though, despite all the fanciness, the thing that blew my mind the most looks like it will be on the iPad anyway - GarageBand. I was worried it was gonna be iPad 2 only, but it looks like it'll be making its way to my hands tomorrow.

Mark - March 10, 2011 at 10:08am

Tom, i agree the Samsung has slot to live up to but The fact half the technology inside the apple devices comes via Samsung makes me think it will have a good punt. As for GarageBand on iPad, PISH! I've used a IMac i7 with dual display connected to several midi interfaces for about two years work with some current music production. Although I no longer use GarageBand and tend to use the Logic suite instead I can deffinately tell you NO one in production will ever use an iPad for either Music or Film production.

Jon - March 10, 2011 at 10:47am

agree 120 %.....I'm a TV editor/producer in New York and I will never use this toy for real jobs...those add on are optical illutions for regular consumer.

Mark - March 10, 2011 at 11:27am

My 16 year old son with Rap Star / Hip hop ambitions will love the new ipad garageband, mainly because I wont let him near my studio gear.... Bring on the a6 16gb quad core ipad 12. Then we can realise the dream!!

Tunger - March 10, 2011 at 11:37am

You're coming at it from a production professional point of view, and while your assessment of GarageBand on iPad is correct from that perspective, you're ignoring the real target audience - consumers. It's not intended to do real project work for music professionals. If anything, music professionals can use it as an adjunct to their pro equipment, an audio sketchpad, etc. But will have a very strong appeal and functionality for non-commercial users, and that's not an "optical illusion." It's a very strong offering, in fact - one that works better than you think.

Mark - March 10, 2011 at 12:56pm

Tunger, totally agree with you it is a great marketing toy. But a TOY it is. I've used my current model since day one as a great tool to drafting sequences and general business work in my full time sales director role. We were promised a device to improve the business angle, ie better email handling and easier document manipulation. Take away the gaming graphics power and the bells and whistles the imovie and garageband apps offer your left with the IPAD 1. Having worked for 20 years in sales and marketing in the UK professional sport and healthcare business I have see many gimmicks and this is ONE OF THEM! Very disappointed with Apple. I'm led to believe by a colleague in China the iPad 3 is ready, so lets see !!

Tom - March 10, 2011 at 1:15pm

I have to disagree with the fact that this won't be better for business. Having that camera is going to allow for some powerful document capturing for business users to send back to the office ahead of their arrival. Obviously garageband isn't meant as a professional substitute, you'd have to be a buffoon to think it is. I'm excited to just have something halfway productive to kill time with on the iPad. Plenty of games, but this is like a game that actually has material benefit. I definitely don't think the iPad 2 is a worthwhile upgrade for iPad 1 users. Maybe if these things held resale like macbooks, sure. But from what I can tell, I'm only gonna get halfprice on my iPad which just isn't enough to justify an upgrade. I'm sure devs are excited though. The addition of the gyro is really going to open up some new options on the iPad front.