Will you purchase the iPad 2?

No.

Actually came across the last one by accident, in my nearby Verizon store. Ended up buying it as a gift for the wife. Not my cup of tea...

Ben

I only buy new equipment when I see that I have a genuine need for it. It's too easy to accumulate all sorts of gadgets that seem great at the time, but after a year or so become obsolete by the next "great" thing.

For example, I'd felt for sometime that I need more screen real estate for my laptop. I'd already connected one external monitor, but I was finding that even that wasn't enough. HP told me it was impossible to connect a second monitor; but my rocket-scientist-brother said otherwise. I ended up getting an external USB graphics capability, and now I have three monitors altogether. But, it was a year or more before I took the plunge.

Much of the growth of the American economy depends on impulse buying, but then so does personal debt. To avoid the latter, you have to control the former.

It turns out the iPad is a great B-to-B device, but as a consumer device, I find it neither fish nor fowl. Too big to be a good eBook reader, and a bit inconvenient as a small laptop.

So...I just purchased a Nook Color (as the follow-on to my original Nook) and I bought a MacBook Air for my new laptop. Add to that my new Verizon iPhone, and I'm quite well gadgeted up.

I know gazillions of people love the iPad, but I just don't find it all that interesting.

I've been mulling this over for weeks.... iPad (competitor) or netbook computer.

Cons (always easier) - iPad costs more; less storage; no real keyboard

Pros - do I really need 160GB of data?, Has spreadsheet, word processor, presentation manager, ability to do Facebook, TweetDeck and all other aspects that I use my iPhone for, but with a much larger screen (and much bigger keypad).

So what do I really use my computer for, and why? Large screen and keypad, and some times that I can't do on a iPad (web design for instance). But then again, I don't do it on my laptop because I don't have (while on the road) access to these files.

So, the answer is yes I will probably buy one (or iPad 2) but not for a month or two...

I believe I will. I have seen the iPad used to deliver presentations. It seems like a light weight alternative to lugging around a super computer. I have successfully moved most of the operations of our company to the web so we are ready. Will be waiting to see if the light leakage and Verizon plan issues are worked out.

We are also going to start publishing for the iPad so I need to have a device!

Absolutely, as soon as I find a little time to sell my 1st generation iPad, which is already an amazingly useful and productive device. I want the upgrade for the speed bump and the facetime capability.

The iPad is unlike any 'gadget' I've ever used before, it has become a part of my life from the time I get up to the time I go to bed, perfect for writing, composing, communicating, constructing and instructing, recording, outlining, and presenting. Now along comes v2 with incredible and intuitive movie making and music making capabilities (I use both movies and music in my creative work.) The seamless way it integrates into my workflow (something Apple understands and includes as the default setting on all their products) makes it, for me, the indispensable tool.

I'm consistently amazed at the people who would rather buy a bird in the bush (the me-to wannabe tablets that run the increasingly fragmented and possibly illegally ripped off Android OS) because of features it is 'going to' have, such as the battery killing and hacker-invitational Adobe Flash; or think the too small screen of most these pitiful wannabes is somehow sufficient for anything, instead of the delightfully well thought out user experience that is the iPad; or who see the iPad as an eReader (best of breed, but the least useful of its many abilities) or email and websurfing or TV watching device (best of breed for all of these, but the least interesting of its abilities).

So yes. Anyone want to buy my first gen first?

Courtney I have already bought one and there is no doubt its the best tablet.Comparing it with competitors makes other tablets look like a joke.A friend of mine told me last week that the reasons why the iPad sells are self evident. The reasons that its competitors like Samsung Galaxy are struggling are self evident as well. The fact that it is the currently the only product in its segment that is being sold in significant numbers is what makes it news. One week after its launch I have come to think the iPad is for those who have a PC already, and probably a smartphone and a laptop to boot. Harun Makandi a renowned researcher and proud owner of iPad 1 claims that iPad portability combined with its functionality is what sells. He added that someone doesn't have to buy one if you're happy with you tower and monitor.

iPad also comes with a 9.7-inch display, which has, until now, been the largest on offer when buying a tablet PC.Also, few weeks ago Motorola launched the Xoom, which comes with a 10.1-inch display. Tech giant from South Korea Samsung has not been left behind as well after it announced a newer version of Galaxy Tablet model with a 10.1-inch screen.

Google’s Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system combines the touch screen control with the added functionality of a desktop computer. The OS also has an improved keyboard and a new Action Bar for contextual applications. Another thing that I lament while using my Apple’s iPad is lack of a dual-core processor that some of its competitors offer. This is because Dual-core processors delivers and offers better performance, making the device quicker and more capable of handing multi-tasking.

Many of the latest tablet PCs, including the Motorola Xoom, offer dual cameras. With new iPad 2, Apple has pulled a first one on its competitors because with the help of dual cameras, users can snap pictures and record video. The purpose of a back camera is multifold. Applications used for business stand to benefit. Just imagine taking videos of your girlfriend around the house and editing them straight away in iMovie.If you want to show someone or something in front of you then the most appropriate feature is Facetime.

In Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Google delivers improved multitasking, allowing users to see each app in windows. That effect allows users to see a thumbnail of open apps. It saves users time and generally makes for a better multitasking option. The Motorola Xoom seems to be one of the more promising iPad 1 and 2 alternatives in my own opinion. This is because the device comes with a 10.1-inch display, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, dual cameras, a dual-core processor, and many other features that iPad 2 doesn’t have.When it comes browsing experience there is no doubt that it is one of the major issues with Apple’s iPad. The main problem is that Safari browser doesn’t deliver the full browsing experiencing those on the desktop offer and even lacks Flash support. To make matters worse it doesn’t have real tabbed browsing as compared to Android 3.0 Honeycomb where tabbed browsing is available.

In my honest opinion with iPad 2 having no USB port, no card reader and no flash, I just wish Steve Jobs will bring them on iPad3. What I really like is that I can still use my same hands for iPad2 that I used for iPad1. Frankly, no one cares for anonymous ranting about card readers or USB ports or netbooks or whether one thinks Steve Jobs is a technology messiah or a total tool. It is common knowledge iPad 3 is in development and scheduled for release in September.Unsubstantiated rumours indicate that it will have 2 x USB ports and card readers, but still no flash, and be virtually borderless. With growing pressure from companies such as Motorola and HP, who have recently launched their own tablets, the Xoom and TouchPad respectively, iPad 2 launched last week is just the right move for Apple.

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