Arguably, it was the launch of iPad 2 that started the craze more that the entrée of the original iPad in the market. The second generation sent the note to the world that tablet invasion is here to come. True enough, other brands followed the trend. Samsung released S Series, tons of Android tablets were sold and Kindle instantly became the second best selling tablet globally.
I am one of the many firsts who gave into the tempting package of iPad 2 in 2011 for $499. I initially fell for the lightweight gadget that is mere 100 grams and its sleek design.
But apart from the size, here are some features of iPad 2 really got many folks (or not) into buying.
Processor
- The iPad 2 is equipped with a dual core Apple A5 processor.
Visual Display
- It does not carry the retina technology, but the iPad 2’s display specs are fine. Comparing it to the original iPad, the monitor is brighter with richer and brighter colors. The improved graphics performance from the original is noticeable with gaming apps. The adapter allows you to plug an iPad into any HDTV with an HDMI port.
- But the camera could be a source of disappointment. It has a 640x480 VGA front-facing and 960x720 rear-facing cameras. The latter was created that way for FaceTime video chat calling. But even with a camera app, the photos’ quality is not good enough as compared to using Xoom in smartphones that impeccably shoots 5MP images.
Audio
- iPad 2 comes with a built-in speaker that produces good quality and rich sound.
Connectivity
- Connectivity options for iPad 2 are Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi and cellular.
Battery
- The lithium-ion polymer battery of iPad 2 can last up to 10 hours.
Sales
- The iPad 2 sold nearly 3 million units a month after it was launched. After 2 quarters, the total sales reached over 11 million.
iPad 2 is still okay if you are:
- bookworm whose primary use for tablet is purchasing and reading eBooks
- student who requires basic researching tool
- an employee who uses iPad as a daily planner and storage of files
- a blogger who needs an electronic journal
iPad 2 is no longer okay if your are:
- a graphic artist who uses tablet for creating portfolios
- a professional that is often tasked to create complex and make-or-break client presentations
- a visual person who loves browsing photos in magazines
- using iPad as a substitute for your digital cameras
While iPad 2 may pale in comparison with its 3 successors (iPad 3, the new iPad and iPad mini), it can serve an individual with basic academic and professional requirements for a significantly cheaper price. The release of iPad 2 is Apple’s seal to their statement that “iPad will replace notebooks”.
