<p>It’s hitting the Apple stores in just a few days. It’s essentially the same as the original iPad, but comes with two cameras, is much faster, slightly smaller and lighter.</p>
<p>I’m tempted to buy one. I like to video chat with my family over the country, and it seems that with the front-and-back cameras, a tablet like the iPad 2 would be THE ideal video chatting device, even better than a regular computer with a webcam since that won’t let you switch between your face and what you are looking at. Now, with iPad 2’s Facetime and Skype capability, it seems that mobile video conferencing will finally hit mainstream.</p>
<p>I really need something bigger than my iPhone to multitask on the bus. I’ve been holding off for quite a while, but guess the time has come. I’m already used to the Apple’s goofy sofware, so I’m not inclined to get a rival tablet, although I do not care for cameras (SLR is still the way to go) or that Faceplant (or whatever it is called)…</p>
<p>I’ll probably get one for our other residence. I personnaly find a PC pretty good for video chat because you don’t have to hold it or put it on a stand so that the other person can see you. I also don’t use the iPad for work - I only use it for media consumption. I prefer PCs for creation.</p>
<p>I would like to use something like the iPad as a video camera.</p>
<p>Have the Ipad 1,and rarely use my laptops anymore…i think technology is changing from a unit that does it all,to several types of tech that perform specilialized tasks great…for example,laptops for work(and for programs like quicken and word,etc)… And Ipad devices for entertainment,internet access,etc</p>
<p>Have they smoothed things over with the Adobe people? H gave me an iPad 1 as a surprise for Xmas, but if either of us had known about the Adobe problem, I think we would have held out for some of the others coming on the market now. Obviously this a lesson in research, research and more research, but this is a huge annoyance for me. As with most of you, it’s more of an entertainment, games, shopping thing for me and to not be able to see so many websites properly kind of defeats its whole purpose for me. But lighter and smaller is good, I still haven’t figured out how to hold it comfortably, yet securely. It always feels like it’s going to go flying out of my hand, so then I hold it in the crook of my arm which soon gets a cramp. I guess I’m just not a tablet person.</p>
<p>The Flash issue could be described as a ‘war’ so I don’t think that the Adobe issue is going to get resolved anytime soon. Flash does run on other tablets or may be promised on other tablets but I think that performance isn’t that great. There are other open standards that will hopefully overtake Flash.</p>
<p>Flash has been a nightmare on other tablets. It barely exists on the devices that even claim to have it, anyway. </p>
<p>The iPad 2 is an easy sell for those who don’t have one. It addresses pretty much all of the shortcomings of the first device. I’m sure someone will tell me how it lacks an USB port, an SD card reader, a 100000 megapixel camera, or something else, but I don’t see that as a big problem: it’s not like competitors have that anyway.</p>
<p>The only reason I’d consider waiting if you want a tablet is to see how the Playbook turns out. I’ve had the chance to play with one, and it was pretty nice. My only concern there is going to be the number of apps. If it does actually end up using Android apps, it might become the best non-Android Android tablet, but I’m waiting on that.</p>
<p>The other option, assuming you don’t plan on using the cameras, is to pick up a discounted iPad. That depends on how much $100 is worth to you relative to better hardware, though.</p>
<p>I’ve always thought the lack of flash is ameliorated slightly by the integration of Youtube. But perhaps Apple, like any other company, would purposely not want to have a can-do-all device at this price point? After all, in most regular casual users’ minds, basically the only things that separate an iPad from an all-out-computer are the capabilities of Flash, USB, etc, at which point iPad will seriously start eating into Macbook/Air sales.</p>
<p>Also - I do presentations often, so getting Keynote and a VGA adapter may turn out to be a very convenient thing to do.</p>
<p>The new Smartcover seems awfully cool! unfortunately from the pictures, it appears it only can hinge on the horizontal long edged side, so you can’t prop the device up vertically? Also - I wonder how well it can fold backwards without falling off or making the device awkward to hold in your hands. On youtube somebody was demonstrating it and when he folded it back it was kind of hanging off a little (not completely magnetized to the backside of the iPad). Obviously it folds well into a triangle stand, but when you are holding it with your hands you don’t want that big triangle behind it.</p>
<p>The microfiber material to clean to screen sounds like a great idea though!</p>
<p>I think the white is a more fresher color, but the black is still the safer, more classic color, if that makes sense haha!</p>
<p>Flash is a bit of a problematic software platform. Updates are frequent, it has a nice platform for user tracking and it has a reputation for being buggy. Steve Jobs mentioned that flash is a problem for Macs in that they’ve been a cause for crashes in the past.</p>
<p>Mozilla moved to run plugins in containers so that Adobe crashes wouldn’t take down the whole browser.</p>
<p>I don’t envision tablets as taking over PC functions. There is a large debate over this in the analyst community but I think that the media is generally wrong in tablets displacing PC sales. Tablets are terrible at content creation. It is nice to be able to dump a file on your iPad and bring it to a coworker to show someone the problem but I can’t imagine doing serious development or writing on one.</p>
<p>I have high-powered (Nehalem Core i7 and Sandy Bridge Core i5) desktops at home and in the office and these are both triple-monitor systems with plenty of RAM and these are what I do my real work and some play on. One of the issues with the iPad is the development platform - you have to be a professional developer to create applications. I assume that there will be application builders in the future where non-programmers can create useful apps and that would help in the growth area.</p>
<p>I am getting one. I am proud of myself for waiting (I usually don’t). I am NOT getting the 3G since I have an iPhone. We are allowed to get our work email on the iPad if we have one, so I plan to take it instead of my heavy laptop on business trips where I don’t really need the other functions of the laptop but just want an email and internet device.</p>
<p>Good point about content creation. I’m pretty sure while it’s still novel, I’d be trying to change everything I do into ways that can be fit for iPad. But eventually, I think I’m going to end up just using Keynote to make simple slides while everything else I’ll do on my computers.</p>
<p>I am sorely tempted by the iPad 2. Wanted an iPad, but knew if I held off, the next version would be smaller, faster, better. (Isn’t that how all technology is?) I’m thinking it will be a nice nice upgrade from my first gen WiFi iTouch (which I love to death! The problem is the iTouch is its 3.5 inch screen, which is really too small to be a comfortable ereader.) Will probably get it with WiFi + 3G since I don’t have a smartphone. </p>
<p>I love the dual side camera! Can’t wait to Skype with D2 who on the other side of the US and will likely be heading to African come summer.</p>
<p>The Smartcover works in both vertically and horizontally and can be used a stand.</p>
<p>How long might it take to be able to get ones hands on the iPad2? They will be in stores at 5 this Friday, but there will be lines? They will run out? If we order them, how long to get them. I am getting ready to be out of town for a week, not willing to stand in line, afraid it would come in the mail while I am gone. Would have liked to take it with me, but leaving middle of next week. Any ideas?</p>
<p>You can bet there will be lines and a major rush at all Apple stores starting Friday morning. I think they purposely timed it at late Friday afternoon! It may not calm down until after the weekend until Monday. But I doubt they’ll run out - and if they do maybe it’ll only be particular models/covers. I’m deciding if I want to show up at sometime release night. I wonder if I show up an hour before closing if I’ll be able to get one, or if I should just hold off and go on Saturday morning.</p>
<p>Well, you have to code so that makes it unfriendly for non-programmers.</p>
<p>Imagine a teacher that wants to develop an app to administer exams so that students could do them on their iPads where the teacher has no programming background or put together a video with text or graphics information in a side panel for a presentation or create stuff for exercises and drills in a certain subject.</p>
<p>I am definitely wanting to get one, primarily for my work. I am looking forward to using some of the instruments in Garage Band to actually play during worship services. There is also an online application called Planning Center, and THEY have an app for IPad called music stand, which downloads PDFs of music included in your service to your IPad. Just pure coolness!</p>
<p>PLUS and HD video camera?? COOLNESS MAGNIFIED! I do lots of video and video editing. </p>