iPad 2 - Overpriced or The Only Option?

It may not be receiving the sheer amount of column inches as its predecessor but Apple’s shiniest toy yet, the iPad 2, is still creating a big buzz in the technology world. But we’ve grown to expect a big fuss over any launch by Apple, so is the second iPad another piece of excellent work by Steve Jobs’ PR team, or something to be genuinely excited about?

One of the most often quoted qualities of the iPad was its aesthetics and it’s fair to say that the baby brother has also inherited the family looks. However, as with the original model, the iPad 2 definitely needs to be paired with a cover, partly for protection and partly to stop it looking like an iPod that has gotten hold of a bottle of steroids. The new magnetic cover can also be folded to prop up your iPad to function more like a laptop – very cool and, I guess more importantly, very useful.

So what is actually new on the second iteration of the iPad? First of all, it’s lighter and thinner – weighing around 600g and being only 8.8mm thick. These may seem unimportant, however a tablet is one of the few devices where weight actually matters, considering you’ll often be holding it one-handed. The thickness, or rather lack of it, is just downright impressive – being thinner than the latest iPhone. It’s also available in white, giving you slightly more choice than the ‘any colour as long as it’s black’ approach preferred by Apple with the original. Choose black anyway though...

Another interesting new feature is the inclusion of cameras on the front and back of the new tablet, allowing video chat and filming on the go. The cameras are reported not to be the best ever but more than enough to chat with your friends online, if perhaps not to video conference with foreign businessmen.

Inevitably, there must be some more technical discussion; Apple have really excelled themselves in this department. The second iPad comes with a 1 GHz dual core Apple A5 custom designed chip and a reported twice the RAM of its forbearer. It also has 9x the graphics performance of the original iPad. In layman’s terms this means that the new iPad is significantly faster than those that came before it, especially in memory-intensive activities such as viewing photos and video, and gaming while retaining the original ten hour battery life.

Apple have a reputation for leading the way in new technologies and that is certainly what we saw with the original iPad, launching tablet gadgetry into the mainstream consciousness. While the iPad 2 cannot be said to be pushing boundaries in the same way that the original did, it will no doubt still, and deservedly, be a massive success. No doubt some of that success will be down not only to a great product but also to clever advertising and product imagery, but that shouldn’t detract from what is a truly impressive product.

Of course many of you, exactly like me, will not be able to afford the iPad considering that the cheapest model is £329 and the best one to go for without going over the top is £429. So naturally we cast around for alternatives. The current favourite in the media is the Motorola Xoom. I would be wary of this alternative though, being generally more expensive and not especially better well-designed (there is much debate in cyberspace on the comparative merits of both).

If, as a student, you are looking for a cheaper alternative you’ve actually strayed into surprisingly difficult waters. For years Apple’s reputation has been centred around selling quality and often ground-breaking products but with quite a substantial price tag. However, with the new iPad, they’ve placed themselves in a strong position, being cheaper than many of their competitor’s efforts while offering what is the best tablet on the market for my money.

My advice if the iPad 2 stretches the bank a bit too far? It depends on what actually appeals to you most about the iPad. If it’s the ‘gadget’ value, using apps and listening to music then look towards a top-end Smartphone. Or, if it’s actual functionality, i.e. more serious web-browsing or word-processing, go for a netbook. Alternatively you could just hold out for the ‘iPad Mini’ rumoured to be earmarked for release late this year. An Apple insider has leaked that this is the real breakthrough product for 2011. This will mean you will either be able to pick up an iPad 2 for much less in just a few months’ time or, if you’re really lucky, ask Santa for the new one...

Michael Weir