Review of Apple iPad 2 My iPad 2 Buying Guide

UPDATE: After a month of having my Verizon iPad 2 and testing it all over Los Angeles, the 3d is OK. I wouldnt recommend getting the Verizon iPad 2 unless you know you have great reception and you like watching movies on your iPad on Netflix and Hulu. The movies havent been clear for me unless you use wifi. Its ironic, but my old AT&T with a slower processor was better. It’ll work find otherwise but I do notice a lag even though this one is faster.

I originally had decided to not get the iPad 2 as I didnt think the differences were enough to warrant upgrading from my original iPad. Yes it did have a faster chip. Yes it had 2 cameras but the specs on the camera weren’t that great compared to my iPhone. If you are in the same line of thinking I was, I would encourage you to take one for a test drive at an Apple Store.

Luckily, like iPhones, iPads hold their resale price on Ebay. You can get about $400 at this writing on Ebay for your old iPad. In the end I figure its costing me about $300 to upgrade. I did move from a 16g AT&T to 32g Verizon so I spent a little more for that memory in addition.

They were out of black so I decided to take the white. I had noticed that where my hands where always placed holding the iPad, the black would reflect the fingerprints. The white is better at hiding them. It looks cleaner.

Heres the rundown of what I found:
1. SPEED: The speed is MASSIVELY faster on iPad 2 over the first. Comparably almost blazing. You’ll notice it when you start downloading Apps. On small Apps the normally slow iPad would slowly install the App. Sometimes it was like watching paint dry. On the iPad 2 it ZOOMS across. Almost in a few blinks. The speed is what the iPad should have been and what you should expect from it. The speed difference isnt slight – its huge! THE iPAD 2 IS WORTH BUYING FOR SPEED TO MAXIMIZE ENJOYMENT _ALONE. You realize how much on the first iPad you sit around waiting for it to process stuff.

2. Gameplay and data intensive Apps: On the first iPad on the big games – YOU HAVE NEVER REALLY EXPERIENCED THEM until you get an iPad 2. With iPad 2 the gameflow and App interaction is smooth and you really notice how choppy the first iPad was. On games I was always fighting with controls or an Apps load/process issues. Gone with the iPad 2. Not only is it gone it is so much more enjoyable by leaps and bounds. You will love the experience and play all of your games over again. Some of the games are now being updated to give the iPad 2 special toys and graphics. I read The Daily App and its always been choppy and slow loading. With the iPad 2, it is smooth as silk.

3. Graphics: I dont notice graphics better that much and I dont think they changed on the hardware. On games that have been updated with more intensive graphics like Real Racing 2 and Dead Space they have amped up the graphics in the software. In Real Racing’s case they have added a ton of new graphics and its a much better joy to play. Rage HD is actually playable now where it is smooth and not jerky. I would guess that many developers will ramp up their games with better graphics with the iPad 2’s upgraded processor. In Real Racing 2 you can now play it with iPad 2 on your TV or HDTV, which is very awesome.

4. Get the 32g version. Just like the iPhone the games and programs are getting bigger. Over the next year, THEY WILL GET EVEN MORE BIGGER. With my first iPad I was always having to delete stuff to add more. If you’re like me its worth the extra $120 bucks or whatever. REMEMBER with the iPad 2 there are cameras so you’ll be filling your memory more with photo Apps.

5. I switched from AT&T to Verizon. I did this for 2 reasons. I hate AT&T’s coverage issues and when I got to events where a ton of iPhones are at you can rarely get a signal. I live in Los Angeles. Keep in mind of this report I have not traveled around to really test the downloads with Verizon but reportedly they are a bit slower on 3G than AT&T. Given with the faster processor using the 3g has been fine. Heres where I might be a little disappointed: Watching Netflix and Hulu Plus the image isnt sharp as it was with AT&T 3G in the few places I’ve tested it so far. On Wifi its perfect. I need to test it more given I might be in a weak area. You may want to explore this in your given area. I dont watch movies away from home and my online games ran fine. It could be a software fix to better Verizon in the future. I’m going to keep the iPad 2 for those times when I cant get out on my AT&T iPhone. I think some developers may figure out a way to improve it, if it is an issue.

6. Verizon’s 3G price is better. I rarely maxed out my plan but I work from home. I think if I traveled more Verizon would be a better deal as you get a whole gig at their base price.

7. Weight: The first iPad is like carrying around a small brick. You’ll love how light the new iPad 2 is. So much more enjoyable to hold and carry. The beveled back gives you a very ergonomic hold on it, unlike the square bulky iPad. Literally it makes you feel like the iPad WAS a brick. Its nicely thinner too. The only downside is that they heftiness of the iPad made it easier to hold and grip. The thin iPad 2 is initially more easy to drop but you get used to it. Its also light so it will slide off things easier than the heavy iPad. It would be smart if Apple could bevel the front frame area so it would be easier to grip when walking around with it.

8. The Cameras: Meh, no big I have an iPhone. The video is supposed to be HD but not as good as the iPhone 4. The pics are not great although I will tell you I love using all of the camera apps and editing photos for that “odd” unique feel. The lower resolutions help give you a grainy texture you can use to make artistic photos. I do use it though to test shots and angles and it is easier to hold and aim given its size. On Facetime it really isnt bad with the cameras. Its actually nice to see someone in the iPad 2 size, rather than peering into your little iPhone. I hate looking at people in Facetime on the iPhone its too small. The iPad 2 makes it enjoyable. See Skype note below.

9. Skype: On Skype video calling with the faster processor – VIDEO CALLING ROCKED! I walked all around my yard chatting testing the bounds of my wifi, the video and sound was seamless. People I normally Skype were amazed at the quality. On Verizon 3G, the video calling was EXCELLENT too. One or 2 hiccups but very good. I was amazed.

10. Speaker: The Speaker is much nicer in that when I will watch a movie laying in bed on one side the sound would get muffled with the first iPad. With the iPad 2 its expanded to keep that from happening. I like it. If I cup my hand sticking over the speaker forward the sound is great, I wish Apple could figure out how to get the sound to blast forward AT you.

Overall I love it, adore it and super duper recommend the iPad 2. Yes its exciting!! If you have the extra $300 or so kicking around to sell yours on Ebay and upgrade – DO IT, DO IT NOW!

*I do want to thank the SUPER employees at the Brea, CA store for such stupendous service and attention. The salesman and the Genius Bar who helped me kicked major butt. The experience was awesome. Thanks folks!

*Photos are from Infinity Blade and Real Racing 2.