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New iPad 2 vs the Original iPad - Is It Worth Upgrading?
iPad 2 & Original iPad Back to Back
March 11 is D-day for Apple’s all new iPad 2 (those in the UK and Europe will have to wait a wee bit longer until 25 March). The new iPad looks really cool with its new slimmer design, unique smart cover and sporting two cameras back and front. The big question is, do you really want one, and do you really need one? Is the original iPad still good enough for your needs to keep or are you going to be like many people rushing to put theirs up for sale on the likes of eBay?
Of course, if your one of those that must have and be seen with all the latest gadgets at any cost, there is no point reading any further as you are already sold on having a brand new shiny iPad 2 when it comes out. However, if you are happy with your original iPad, and you are still enjoying the experience, is it worth upgrading to the iPad 2? Does it have enough new features and performance to warrant splashing out on the new model?
Another plus side of the iPad 2 coming out is that the original iPad has been reduced while stocks last, so it’s a really good time to snap up one of these if you thought it was bit too expensive when it first came out. Also worth considering is that it could be a good time to buy a pre-owned original iPad as people rush to get rid of theirs on eBay. A flood of stock often means prices come down.
iPads : Back to Back
Model
| Original iPad
| iPad 2
|
|---|---|---|
Display
| 9.7 inches (25 cm) multitouch display at a resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels with LED backlighting
| 9.7 inches (25 cm) multitouch display at a resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels with LED backlighting
|
Camera
| None
| Two - Front & Rear
|
Processor
| 1 GHz Apple A4 Chip
| 1.08GHz dual-core Apple A5 Chip
|
Storage
| Fixed: 16, 32, or 64 GB
| Fixed: 16, 32, or 64 GB
|
Battery
| Built-in lithium-ion polymer battery
| Built-in lithium-ion polymer battery
|
Wireless
| WiFi, 3G & Bluetooth
| WiFi, 3G & Bluetooth
|
Weight
| 1.5 lb (680 g)
| 1.33 lb (600 g)
|
Vital Statistics
| 9.56×7.47×.528 in (243×190×13.4 mm)
| 9.5×7.31×.346 in (240×186×8.8 mm)
|
Operating System
| iOS 4.2.1
| iOS 4.3
|
iPad 2 - Do you real want or need one?
The is no getting away from the fact that Apple’s original iPad was a huge success with just under 15 million sold in the first nine months up to Christmas 2010. Apple was the first take a leap of faith into the tablet computer market, and while it had its critics, the iPad has prove to be a runaway success. However, Apple rightly or wrongly left off a webcam on the original iPad. This has proven to be a bit of an issue with users and the new iPad 2 now features a camera back and from similar to the iPhone 4.
Comparing the two iPads together, they both have the same size screen, the same battery life and storage. The new Ipad is a lot thinner, lighter and features a new faster chipset, camera back and front and a gyroscope. However, you have to ask yourself honestly: do you need or miss a webcam, because apart from a new thinner smarter suit, there is not really much difference from the iPad 2 and the original iPad. Not that much that you would really notice in terms of performance and battery life. Perhaps it might be worth waiting to see if the 7inch screen iPad appears or wait another 12 months or so until iPad 3 makes an appearance as Apple is always pushing the technology envelope.
On first sight, the iPad 2, with its webcam, is a welcome upgrade to the original version, but on close inspection, there is not a great deal of real difference.
