Opinion: Apple's iPad 2, is it a worthy sequel?

by Adam Turner | Thursday 3 March 2011

The Apple iPad 2 is thinner, lighter, faster, but does it address any of the original's shortcomings? Adam Turner unloads some pointed criticism at Apple's new baby

Having sold 15 million iPads in nine months, Apple could argue that it knows a thing or two about what people want. So perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the new iPad is more of the same.

Steve Jobs has unveiled a new iPad which is 33% thinner, 15% lighter and "dramatically” faster. The killer feature is front and rear cameras - allowing for FaceTime video chat and 720p video capture.

Enough to get excited about?
Are front and rear cameras enough to get excited about - particularly considering the iPad is too cumbersome to be a practical video camera? Once again, it seems the iPad's biggest threat is the latest iPhone.

Have you heard people complain that their iPad isn't thin enough, or fast enough? People were calling for the iPad new model to be smaller and/or cheaper than its predecessor. They wanted a sharper display, along with a USB or SD card slot. They wanted Apple to enhance the iPad, not just polish it.

The Android army and the upgrade mentality
Apple has done little to address the iPad’s shortcomings in an effort to lure potential tablet shoppers away from the Android army. There's nothing here to entice business users or even encourage anyone but Apple diehards to upgrade.

This is going to be even more obvious considering tablet owners aren't necessarily caught up in the constant upgrade mentality surrounding smartphones. Of course going on past form, the new iOS4.3 will most likely cripple the original iPad for several months to "encourage" people to upgrade, just as previous iOS updates have crippled every iPhone as a new model was released.

Once again Apple is giving customers what Apple wants them to have rather than what they asked for. It's a strategy that won't work forever.

Do you agree? Add your comment below.

See more about: ipad | tablet

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coaten 3 March 2011	First up, let me point out the gentle irony that is the criticism of the product release strategy followed by "PLUS - PC & Tech Authority is available on iPad by CLICKING HERE" just a few lines below your tagline. But in addressing your question, let me say that as much as I love Apple products, and Adam I know you know how much I love me some fruit, the lack of improved I/O options in the iPad 2 could be a deal-breaker for me. We have an iPad 1 and love it for what it is but I hate it for what it isn't - a useful on-site tool for selling sports pics shot on location. Having to lug around a clumsy adaptor to transfer files is just a pain. I need me some useful I/O and I want it now. Comment made about the PC & Tech Authority article: Opinion: Apple's iPad 2, is it a worthy sequel?? The Apple iPad 2 is thinner, lighter, faster, but does it address any of the original's shortcomings? Adam Turner unloads some pointed criticism at Apple's new baby What do you think? Join the discussion.
Adam Turner 3 March 2011	Yeah, when journos criticise the iPad it's kinda like biting the hand that feeds ;-) I know you love your fruit mate, so that fact you're apprehensive about upgrading speaks volumes.
PeteC 3 March 2011	I didnt buy the original iPad, because it was lacking of the front camera, which for me is an important feature. Now that is has both front and rear camera, plus its thinner and lighter and faster, I will definitely buy one! No matter what iPad 1 owners are saying about the iPad 2, in couple of month time they will replace theirs to the new one or will be jealous. :) About important features: I am sure I am not the only one who missed the camera from the first iPad. For me this is an enhanced iPad not a polished one.
DJ... 3 March 2011	You wanted a better display, isn't that what iPad 2 has? Doesn't the hdmi port constitute better I/O? Hey, it's not perfect but what device is? What Android machine offers all that one desires? iPad2 isn't perfect, it's just well ahead of whatever comes second.
rubaiyat 3 March 2011	I thought the iPad 2 has the same display as the original iPad. That was one of the major disappointments.
firefox 3 March 2011	It wasn't a disappointment, its a fact that you can't fit a Retina screen into an iPad sized device yet, it's too costly and graphics intensive for now.
amcmo 3 March 2011	WHy am I not surprised! Your review follows the line of all Apple reviews by PC&T. Shorthcomings you complain about with an Apple product are glossed over with Android. I never actually heard anyone asking for cheaper iPads, especially given that all the Android (and remember all but the underwhelming Samsung are still vapourware)units are more expensive than the iPad for no real life benefits. Again, I haven't heard too many people wanting a smaller version - the decent screen size makes it stand out to compared to the Samsung. I will grant that some might like the option of the 10" or a 5-7" (September anyone?). Your mag has a decided lack of journalistic integrity! You complain about the unit being too cumbersome for the camera's to be of great use, when the lack of camera's was one of the supposed reasons for Android units being 'better' than the iPad. Apple and the iPad are certainly not perfect, however all things considered, until the Android Army (your words)Vapour turns to real product with the correct O/S Apple are still are the only game in town. To be blunt, I believe the HP WebOS product may stand a better chance of outperforming the iPad than any of the Andoid bunch (OK the XOOM might come close. BTW, I did want a lighter, faster tablet with a 10" screen and sufficient business features, so I will probably buy the iPad 2. Still waiting to see the Xoom just to make certain.
rubaiyat 3 March 2011	firefox wrote: It wasn't a disappointment, its a fact that you can't fit a Retina screen into an iPad sized device yet, it's too costly and graphics intensive for now. That may very well be the reason, but its absence was a frequently stated disappointment on the launch websites. My post was to correct the previous post which wrongly said the iPad 2 had a better screen, which it doesn't.
Reggie 3 March 2011	Well written amcmo. Spot on ! I can remember that one of the shortcomings of the original iPhone was the "lack of a physical keyboard", a shortcoming not found on Android or Phone 7 models since without physical keyboards. Likewise I can't recall my iPhone 3G ever being "crippled" by an update and it has had them all. I also recall there wasn't going to be much of a market for iPad style tablets as well, yet everyone seems to be eagerly anticipating Android 3.0! Of course we are getting suckered into this, a bit of apple bashing always helps hits on this website.
rubaiyat 3 March 2011	Just the mere mention of Apple must boost readership. SMH does it both ways kissing Apple's freckle on minute and playing hatebois the next. Apple's influence is becoming almost alarming. Big W can't get iPod stocks and its profits take a dive. 30% of JB HiFi's sales are reportedly due to iPods, iPhones and their in-house Mac stores. Similarly Myers and DJs, Dick Smith, Domayne, Bing Lee and everyone else is in their orbit. There are even Harvey Norman stores that stock them. Must be very independent minded franchises, because Harvey himself is firmly stuck in the dot matrix era. Virtually every phone store carries iPhones, unless they are totally disreputable or do such a bad job that Apple sacks them. And don't forget all the accessories that go with Apple's products. Often that is the most profitable line for these stores. What a boring consumer world we have become that Apple announcements make headline news.
Rallygreg 3 March 2011	Reggie said: "Likewise I can't recall my iPhone 3G ever being "crippled" by an update and it has had them all." Well you must have a magic iPhone 3G, because mine and several others I know are absolute dogs to use after the last two updates - the 3GS does not suffer the same. The phone can take up to 10 seconds to change a screen. Onto the iPad, if only it had a USB port - this is the killer for me. The iPad does basically everything else I need in a day to day portable device except for the ability to transfer files via usb (ie to another device). It's a beautiful piece of engineering and design and it will be a shame to have to buy an Android or Win7 tablet just for the lack of a USB port.
mhine 4 March 2011	Apple are soooo predictable.... I just sent this to the ed... It is not the contempt with which Apple treat their dutiful customers I find mind-boggling, it is the fact that they evade scrutiny and avoid capture in the process. I refer directly to the Apple Ipad. This is a device with NO FORWARD FACING camera... That's right! Every competitor in the market has at least a forward facing camera, with many packing a higher resolution rear facing camera. I'm not saying a rear facing camera is a must, but hello... what sort of device of this nature, in this day and age does not have a camera? I want to know the name of the guy who signed off on this. My bet is, it's the guy in the big chair. (The really big chair). Now what's remarkable is that some suit from Apple's PR department will come out and blurt something like, "well we've listened to our cool, awesomely savvy customers, and accept that we blundered, and take great pride announcing the 2nd Generation Ipad replete with... (guess what...) forward facing camera amongst other enhancements of a not unimportant ilk!". Well aren't they fantastic. But in essence, they are sucking the dollars TWICE out of their robust customer base in a very short period, on an INTENTIONALLY sub-specced product. They are aware that their customers, (well to do, educated and brand loyal, I presume) will rush out and buy the new improved 2nd Generation model, and consign the first model sans camera to the dumpster. Apple are intentionally rendering the first model prematurely redundant, but are doing it surreptitiously. And this is wrong. How can their loyal minions not see this? How can “Choice” not see this? How can the ACCC or whatever it is not see this?? How can Today Tonight not see this?? I am agog with unbelief. And I’ll bet they have known this from before day one... that's right. From day minus 53 or thereabouts, they've come up with this tried and tested Apple marketing plan, where they totally disrespect their loving devotees, dupe them, and ply them with sweet words and smooth straight lines, all in the name of sales revenue. Well I'm a PC kind of guy, and I don't like it. /RANT
rubaiyat 4 March 2011	It also doesn't have maglev and an ice dispenser. They can only suck the dollars out of you twice if you can't control your materialist urges and wait till their features match your expectations. The same as their competitors, who are still playing catch up almost a year later. I'm curious that your contempt singles out Apple, do you only have low expectations of everyone else?
mhine 4 March 2011	Ha. It's just a tongue in cheek rant... but the point I think is valid. You're right though, they all do it (unethical sales practices) in order to get ahead.