First released in April 2010, the iPad became a craze across the United States. This tablet computer by Apple, Inc. was released around the time that Kindles and Nooks were becoming popular, essentially blowing these e-readers out of the water because in addition to being an e-reader, the iPad was in color, had full touch-screen capabilities, and even 3G and wifi capabilities for searching the Internet and playing media.
Apple, known for its innovations in technology, did not stop with the iPad. By March 2011, it began selling the iPad 2. The question is, is the iPad 2 worth it? What does it do that's different from the first iPad?
iPad 2 is thinner than the original
According to the Apple website, the iPad 2 is 33% thinner and 15% lighter than the original iPad. While this in itself is not a big deal, the fact that Apple kept prices relatively the same means that if consumers did not purchase the original iPad, they can get a thinner and lighter version for a similar cost.
iPad 2 is faster than the original
The iPad 2 is purportedly twice as fast as the original, thanks to a dual-core A5 chip. Thus, multitasking is quicker, media plays more efficiently and loads quicker, and battery life is still at around 10 hours. According to the Apple website, "everything just works better."
iPad 2 has Face Time
Face Time became a craze with the iPhone 4, and now it has come to the iPad 2. Face Time is a video chat feature in which you can chat with your friends from wherever you are. And, with the two cameras that are included in the iPad 2, you can share your surroundings with your friends and family. You can also use the cameras to shoot movies (and the iPad camera is HD).
With the iPad 2, you can also purchase a Smart Cover, which is a lightweight cover that has built-in magnets.The cover actually folds so that it turns into a stand so the iPad can sit upright or at an angle for easier viewing.
Other than the faster processing system and the addition of a second camera, then, the iPad 2 is not all that different from its predecessor. However, Apple likely sensed that iPad prices would go down after the initial craze died down; therefore, they did not hike up the price of the iPad 2 much at all. Because of this pricing, it seems that someone who does not already have an iPad should definitely buy the iPad 2 as opposed to going with the original. Yet, for consumers who already have the original—not to worry. You are not missing out on much.
Source:
Jenna Pack - Jenna Pack graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in English literature, before moving on to get a master's ...
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