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My thoughts on the iPad 2
I've had my original iPad since last May, and I got my iPad 2 on Friday afternoon. I haven't really started fiddling around with it too much, because I don't have access to my iTunes library, so I don't have all my apps, data, etc. But here are my first impressions:
It's definitely thinner, and noticeably lighter. It's still not lightweight, but it does weigh less than the old one, and it feels a lot thinner and sleeker.
The camera is a nice addition for video chatting, and I was able to talk to my husband via FaceTime for a little while, but it's awkward to hold the iPad in the right position to get the camera to point at you. I naturally want to hold it like a book, which makes the camera show just the ceiling and top of my head (and up my nose!). I think the lighter iPhone4 might be more convenient for this. But I know a lot of people who are considering iPads as a way to keep in touch with their less-computer-savvy older parents, and I think it does a good enough job that it will fill that niche well.
I don't know yet if it's faster, since I haven't used any of my processing-heavy apps yet. But I've heard good things and am eager to try it out.
The Smart Cover is really the coolest feature. The instant-on / instant-off functionality is very convenient and very cool. The magnetic connection points are also quite slick, though I keep feeling like I'm going to scratch the aluminum case if I'm as cavalier about attaching it as they are in the Apple video. The typing angle support and the viewing stand are convenient (though we had to rewatch the window to make sure we were folding it right - after we made a mistake and the iPad fell over from viewing stand mode).
The downside of the Smart Cover is that it's more of an accessory than a protector. I keep the iPad in my purse, so I really want something that will protect the back and the edges as well. I have a neoprene sleeve that I no longer use for the original iPad, so I can probably use that in my purse. But when I'm using it, I really feel safer if I have more protection on the device in case I bump it against something or drop it (I'm extremely clumsy). Moreover, the leather Smart Cover seems to show scratches and marks very easily, so I would recommend the polyurethane over the leather (it's a shame the polyurethane only come in the pastel colors).
In summary, the device is nice and there are certainly some improvements over the first generation. If you don't have an iPad at all, it's a great option, because they didn't raise the price! But if you already have one, I wouldn't say it's worth upgrading.
(I only bought one because DH and I made a deal that we would buy a 16GB WiFi the first time around and then use it as an e-reader. So this was my chance after nearly a year to finally get my 32GB 3G model!)
Re: My thoughts on the iPad 2
IVF #1 w ICSI in July 2010 = BFN
IVF #2.1 in Oct 2010 converted to IUI = BFN
IVF #2.2 w ICSI in Dec 2010 = BFN
Met with new RE in new city on 1/31/11.
IVF #3 w ICSI in April 2011. HPT on 5/9 = BFP!
Beta #1 on 5/10 (10dp5dt) = 99.4. Beta #2 on 5/12 = 284. First u/s on 5/26. = Fraternal TWINS!
Twin boys born & lost on 8/16/11 at 18w1d due to PPROM & preterm labor.
IVF #4.1 in Jan 2012 converted to IUI on 1/7/12 = BFN
IVF #4.2 w ICSI in Feb 2012. Lupron on 2/10. Stims on 2/18. ER on 2/29- 7R,6F
ET scheduled for 3/5/12- nothing to transfer
Dh seeing new MFI uro & Dh starting meds- June 2012.
IVF #5 in Dec 2012 = BFFN.
IVF #6 planned for Spring 2013. Praying for our take home baby/ies.
**P/SAIF and P/SAL always welcome!**
Taco cat: Always a palindrome. ALWAYS, okay J&K?
"cool......insult my size 2 body or my natural brown hair...or the fact that my parents own a country club, I have no budget for a wedding, and I have horses. I really dont care. Its better then having roots." ~ futurepivko
iBooks is a given, obviously. It's so pretty! But since Amazon has so many more titles (and so many free books - "Like" Inkmesh on Facebook to get updates on the latest free titles), I tend to use the Kindle app more for reading. Even though I love iBooks.
GoodReader is a very popular PDF reader, and I use it a lot.
Zinio, the digital magazine company, has an iPad app that isn't that great as an app, but it opens up the world of digital magazines. I admit to buying a digital copy of Us Weekly before my last flight. Haha! Bonus: no one knew I was reading a Gossip magazine! It's invaluable for us, because before we had to pay international shipping to get US magazines.
Among games, there are HD versions of all the iPhone favorites, but I typically just use e iPhone versions on the iPad since we've already paid for them. Dizzypad is a cute little game. And Mirror's Edge does some interesting things in the realm of touch tablet gaming. I'm not sure how much it costs, since I got a free copy as part of a Christmas promotion, but it's kind of cool.
Oh, and Atomic Web Browswer is a must have. It's much better for surfing than Safari, because it has real tabs and some page caching. It makes Safari feel so slow and clunky that I only use it when I need to disable JavaScript and post on the Nest.