[billcollins531]

Now I wouldn't go as far to call them Crapple.

In my opinion you pay for what you get, and the iPad has been number one for a reason - it's a reliable, easy to use tablet.

iPad 2 was introduced yesterday afternoon. Steve Jobs came out of medical leave of absence to present it, "We've been working on this product for a while, and I just didn't want to miss today."

This refresh will keep Apple the leader in tablet sales. Apple thinks so too, they're already calling 2011 the year of the iPad. http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Let's compare it to my now second favorite tablet, the Motorola Xoom. Battery life is about the same, except when it comes to standby time. Motorola Xoom lasts 14 days on standby mode. Apple iPad2 lasts about a month on standby.

Motorola Xoom: 1.6lb
Apple iPad2: 1.3lb

Motorola Xoom: .5 inches thick
Apple iPad2: .3 inches thick

Both Xoom and iPad2 are on Verizon, but only the iPad 2 is on both Verizon and AT&T.

Capacity
Motorola Xoom: up to 32GB
Apple iPad 2: up to 64GB

App store
Motorola Xoom: 100 Tablet-ready Downloadable Apps
Apple iPad2: 60,000 Tablet-ready Downloadable Apps


So in almost all cases the iPad beats the top competitor. iOS is being praised for its ease of use over the AndroidOS.

iPad 2 also has a really unique feature, a case. Sound unique, right? Not so much? Check them out for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_d6_gbb ... ideo_title

When the case (which is essentially just a screen cover) is lifted off the iPad, the device turns on for you. When you put the case back on, the device automatically turns off. The surface of the case is made of microfiber, so it cleans your screen every time you open or close it. Also, they included magnets in the side of iPad2 so the case is perfectly aligned every time you put it on. No glue required.

Overall I'm thoroughly impressed with Apple's new iPad2, and I can definitely see 2011 being the year of the iPad.

[Jambo]

The iPad will always be worthless without "Flash". All it will ever be is an oversized iPod and portable movie player.

Can't wait to get my hands on a Xoom!!! Xoom Beats the iPad hands down.

2011 is the year of the Tablet. So many are coming out this year.

[billcollins531]

It's not as big a problem as you might think it is. I do the majority of my Internet use on an iPod Touch, in fact I'm even writing this on my iPod Touch It's extremely rare that I ever run into a problem with flash. In a personal perspective, I've only had one or two problems within the last few months - which with as much as I use it, that's not a bad statistic at all.

[PhantomCat]

Man, they are advertising the Motorola Xoom like crazy but they don't show you much. I think they want to spark our curiosity just enough for us to go to the store and play with it for ourselves.

I'm ready to play with the Samsung Slider PC 7 that is to be released this month.

[PhantomCat]

I recently viewed Apple's website. They now have $100 off on the original iPads now that iPad 2 is about to be released for sales this Friday, March 11th, 2011.

Has the original iPad even been out for a year?

[arby]

I found this article interesting and wanted to share it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/06/john-naughton-apple-dominates-market

[PhantomCat]

Interesting article.
I think Apple wants to make sure the cash continues to flow in. I believe any business that makes it to the top with great services and control over the market they've created services for would do, and are doing the same things. Just look at the phone companies.

[coasterdave]

If your need for a tablet is constrained to apps, books, and music, stay in the Apple ecosystem.
But if you want to do MORE than Apple thinks you should, you love customizing your device, and you are patient enough for the Android tablet apps to catch up, this is the device for you.

Yea I see 2011 being the Year of the Tablet.

[PhantomCat]

...this is the device for you.

Which tablet are you referring to?

I'm with you on doing more with your tablet. I already have loads of software for my PC. I want something that will be more compatible with it. That's why I'm leaning more towards the to-be-announced release this month of the Samsung Slider PC 7 tablet. It is a Windows 7 based tablet with the Microsoft Office Suite already included. I'll have to play with it first though. If that keyboard is too small for all the typing I plan to do on it I may do better just getting a tablet just for amusement purposes, and also buying a laptop to work while away from home. (I'm also in love with the new, ultra-thin Samsung Series 9) I already know, long periods of typing on a tablet screen for me just ain't gonna cut it.

[arby]

this is the device for you

I'm 99% positive that coasterdave was referring to the iPad.

I've been a 'PC' for 29 years so I have a hard time deciding. I'm still not sure if I want to go with an iPhone or a Droid this year when I am finally ready to retire my phone. There are pros and cons both ways. I've had Windows phones for 5 years and I haven't been real happy with any of them.

[PhantomCat]

Sorry to hear about your wPhone misfortunes.
I have made my decision to go prepaid this time around. I'm very unhappy with my present provider - who i found out recently from local news that they have been voted the worst provider.
They have entirely too many phone numbers to call when you need help and don't know which is the right one. I have called in about my bill not being right (as I have in the past over different situations). I thought it was straighten out this time but I found out today with the latest statement, it isn't. I'm near the end of my third two-year contract with them and I'm sure it will be my last! Boost Moble -unlimited with shrinkage plan- has the most stylish phones of any pre-paid service I've ever seen, and all their new phones come standard with GPS - wow! Straight Talk is interesting to me as well with their double the minutes plan but I don't care for their phone styles. I don't know much about Virgin. TrackFone seems pretty cool too but I don't care for their phones either. Whichever way I go, it won't be under anymore contracts. This I know for sure!

[PhantomCat]

In just a few more ticks of the tock, the iPad 2 will be making it's way into new homes all across America.

Bloomberg reports that China won't be getting theirs till the end of this month, but for those who just "gotta have it now - before their other countrymen" they will be allowed, but with price tags in the $800s to $1,000s depending on which of the three storage capacities they choose.

I say, "You lived this long without it and you didn't die, just hold on for two more weeks."
I'm waiting till tax-free weekend before I buy the one I decide on. Am I excited? You better freakin-A believe it! I came close to buying the Velocity Micro Cruz 7 today just so I could play with a tablet before that time comes.

Tip for iPad 2 Americans:
If you can hold out, there will be refurbished iPad 2s in a few months with cheaper price tags.
Apple checks all returned iPads, replaces their outer shells and batteries, and includes a one year warranty. There are first generation iPads on sale right now for cheaper than the original prices, and even lower than the new fallen prices of the still new units. Check out these first generation, refurbished prices for yourself: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipad

[lanigan911]

Sorry to hear about your wPhone misfortunes.
I have made my decision to go prepaid this time around. I'm very unhappy with my present provider - who i found out recently from local news that they have been voted the worst provider.
They have entirely too many phone numbers to call when you need help and don't know which is the right one. I have called in about my bill not being right (as I have in the past over different situations). I thought it was straighten out this time but I found out today with the latest statement, it isn't. I'm near the end of my third two-year contract with them and I'm sure it will be my last! Boost Moble -unlimited with shrinkage plan- has the most stylish phones of any pre-paid service I've ever seen, and all their new phones come standard with GPS - wow! Straight Talk is interesting to me as well with their double the minutes plan but I don't care for their phone styles. I don't know much about Virgin. TrackFone seems pretty cool too but I don't care for their phones either. Whichever way I go, it won't be under anymore contracts. This I know for sure!

Virgin Mobile with an Optimus V Android would be a good route to go. Check it out.

[PhantomCat]

lanigan911
Thank you so much. I will be looking into that soon.

[PhantomCat]

lanigan911
That phone and the plans surrounding it look pretty good. Thanks for telling me about it. Wow!

Anyone...
I've got a question about the phones. What's the difference between a smart phone and a non-smart phone?
I'm confused. I thought all touch screen phones were smart. I was told today, "They are not." My present phone is a Samsung Eternity. It has an on screen keyboard for texting, and can be used as an alarm clock - even if it's turned off it will turn itself on to wake me up. There are a host of other features too. I thought it was a smart phone but I found out today otherwise.