The second-generation
iPad from Apple is thinner, faster, lighter, and whiter, but not a radical departure from the original. Pricing is also holding steady, starting at RM1499.00 for a 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, up to 64GB with 3G (Get your ipad's data plan from DiGi and Maxis) priced at RM2499.00.
You can't blame Apple for going easy on new features. Apple's original recipe for the iPad single-handedly created and captured the demand for tablets last year. By any measure, it is not a product in need of fixing. It has the market share, it has the developers, and it has the momentum.
Apple also just makes damn fine products. Having had a few minutes with the iPad 2, I can say that it is every bit as stunning as the original. The first thing that struck me was the iPad's weight loss. It's still not Kindle thin, but the lighter design should make the e-book crowd happier and prove to be a distinct advantage over bulkier competitors, including the recent
Motorola Xoom.
The second thing that registered with me is the feel of the device. Apple still uses anodized aluminum on the back, which is cool to the touch and generally resists smudges. The back now flattens out at the middle, allowing it to better stay put when placed on a table. In spite of the iPad's thickness decreasing by a third, it seemed no more fragile than the original design. In fact, with its lighter weight, it feels less susceptible to being dropped.
