While initial thoughts on the iPad 2 may have been lackluster based on the underwhelming features added to Apple's tablet -- dual cameras and faster processing power topped a rather short list -- the lines outside of the stores and the speed at which it sold out online tell a different story with the public. And while those initial thoughts may have been punctuated with some yawns, the initial reviews tend to have more exclamation points
David Pogue of the New York Times believes the sleekness of the new device may be under-appreciated. For a device that you hold in your hands rather than sit on a desk, making it 1/3rd thinner is a huge deal. And with the curved edges, which take it back to pre-iPhone 4 days of Apple design, it seems even thinner. "Thin and light are unbelievably important for comfort and the overall delight."
But not everything about the iPad 2 is perfect, as Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal notes. Apple has been rather secretive on the megapixel ratings for the dual cameras added to the iPad 2, but there's no denying it takes some rotten photographs. "They did capture decent video in my tests, including high-definition video from the rear camera and video good enough from the front camera for satisfying video calling. But, for a company known for quality, which bundles a new still-photo app with the device, the cameras are disappointing."
Of course, the difficulty in reviewing any product that is an upgrade of a different product is in reviewing the product as a whole rather than just the upgraded features. MG Siegler of TechCrunch does a good job of doing just that in his review. He notes that for those who don't already own an iPad, buying the iPad 2 is an easy question to answer. As for iPad owners, he suggest those who have the money to spare go ahead an upgrade. "Again, this is everything you like about the iPad 1, but better."
In my own iPad 2 review on About.com, I point out that even the lackluster cameras have a bonus. They may not take the best pictures, but they do allow iPad 2 owners to do something that iPad owners cannot: play augmented reality games like Star Wars Falcon Runner.
And while Joshua Topolsky of Engadget thought the iPad 2 was an easy device to review, he did put the work in to throw some numbers at it, showing benchmarks where the iPad 2 tears up the original iPad and the iPhone 4 in performance, and pointing out how the iPad 2 is the king of battery life, clocking in at 10 hours and 26 mntes, as compared to the Motorola Xoom at 8 hours and 20 minutes and the Samsung Galaxy Tab at 6 hours and 9 minutes.
On the whole, the reviews are in and they are mostly positive. Apple may have gone the cheap route on the cameras, but that seems to be the only major complaint about the iPad 2.
Comments