Apple iPad 2 16GB, Wi-Fi, 9.7in - Black

Just under one year ago, Apple shocked the computing world with a 9.7-inch touchscreen tablet that few truly expected.

Some called the original Apple iPad a large-format iPhone. Others berated the name and made jokes that were not remotely funny.

The early reviews were marginal at best – we handed the device a solid four stars. Technical folks decried the lack of Adobe Flash and the missing cameras.

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Now, 60,000 apps later (according to Apple, who counts every conceivable option) and just a few weeks after the first real Android 3.0 tablet contender hit the streets (Motorola Xoom), the iPad 2 has sauntered onto the playing field.

You can check out TechRadar's iPad 2 review video below:

Some expected pure gold: a tablet that runs as fast as a laptop and weighs less than a newspaper

Yet, the reality with the iPad 2 is that Apple has taken an iterative approach. In many ways, the iPad 2 is a crowd pleaser because it does not rock the boat.

At 241mm tall, 186mm wide, and 8.6mm thick, the iPad 2 is just a hair smaller than the original iPad and it's thinner than the iPhone 4. It has a curved edge that makes it look a bit more 'space age' and, surprisingly, easier to grasp because you can curve your fingers more easily around the bezel.

The most dramatic change is the weight. At 680 grams, the iPad 2 is 80g lighter than the first iPad. That is about the same weight as a juicy red apple (curious, eh?). Yet, in using the device, it feels strangely lighter than it really is.

Apple has made a second-gen iPad that feels lighter and more nimble, and its newfound mobility means it has lost the annoying heft of the original model.

Meanwhile, the Motorola Xoom, at 730 grams, now feels like the tank that it is. (More about that later, because we do prefer the speedy processor on the Xoom that handles 3D maps and games.)

One other observation about the design: compared to the iPhone 4, the iPad 2 feels a bit more like a plastic plate (the back is actually metal) as though it really needs a protective case. Part of the reason for this 'cheap plastic' impression is that the device is one-third thinner than the original and 15 per cent lighter.

Overall, the design is a stunner – it's brilliant. The aesthetics are much improved, although not everything about the iPad 2 is so equally impressive.

I bought my Ipad 2 for ease of use and mainly for browsing.
Pros :
1. Ease of use and portability.
2. Easy app installation and loads to choose.
3. RSS feeders are excellent for news, magazines etc
4. Lots of pod-casts and audio-books on various topics
5. Excellent battery life, 10 hours- biggest plus point
6. Excellent finish and quality as with all Apple products
7. Great fun to use.


Cons :
1. No USB port
2. Need to connect to PC with Itunes for checking free disk space, deleting pod-casts, movies etc
3. "Limited" Multi-tasking
4. Limited ability to download files from website with Ipad Safari browser
5. Cannot view video content on websites with Safari browser like flash content
6.Does not replace laptop.You still need a Laptop or Desktop as main computer for work/homework doc's etc.