Product Notes: Apple iPad 2

March 2, 2011

On March 2, 2011 Apple announced the iPad 2, which will begin shipping in mid March. This moderate update occurs almost a year after the release of the first generation iPad in April 2010.

Notable in what is not included in the iPad 2 are a higher resolution display, GOBI multi-vendor WWAN capability, or direct USB connectivity.

Design and Changes

The iPad 2 weighs 1.3 pounds without 3G/WWAN connectivity and 1.4 pounds with 3G connectivity included. The new rounded and slimmer case is approximately one third of an inch thick with other dimensions being 9.5 and 7.3 inches, so the overall cubic size is about 65% that of the first generation iPad. For the first time, an iPad is available in white.

The iPad 2 adds front and rear cameras (VGA in the front and 720p in the back), both capable of being used with Apple's FaceTime videoconferencing application. Like the original iPad, iPad 2 input/output also includes a dock connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, built-in speakers, microphone, and a micro-SIM card tray in the 3G/WWAN models.

The iPad 2 will ship with iPhone OS 4.3 and almost all current iPad applications should be compatible with it. ISC expects the iPad 2 to be compatible with University-centric services such as AirPennNet, Exchange, and Zimbra, but this functionality will have to be confirmed. Finally, screen mirroring can now be done via HDMI.

Ordering Notes

Several considerations when ordering an iPad 2:

1. Like the original iPad, the iPad 2 is available with 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB of storage. The storage required varies widely depending upon the usage model. Particularly, HD video and other media content are factors that are expected to drive storage needs. ISC believes that most users will be well served by having at least 32 GB of storage.
2. The iPad 2 has two 3G/WWAN connectivity options, one GSM (AT&T) and the other CDMA (Verizon). The 3G connectivity option cannot be changed once the choice of carrier has been made.

iPad 2 pricing is the same as the original iPad pricing was. WiFi version are $499 for the 16 GB version, $599 for the 32 GB, and $699 for the 64 GB. Adding 3G/WWAN to any of the three storage configurations is an additional $130.

The University's Computer Connection will have several iPad 2 configurations for order as soon as possible.

Analysis

ISC sees the iPad 2 as solid update to the extremely successful first-generation iPad. ISC does not see the iPad 2 as primary computing device. Rather, like a netbook, ISC believes that the iPad 2 is a complementary device to a more capable desktop or notebook and the physical syncing required to make an iPad 2 fully functional indicates that Apple views it in the same way.

The iPad 2 enters a different market than the original iPad. Apple is now far from alone in the tablet space, with capable products from HTC, Motorola, and Samsung shipping, and interesting products from Hewlett-Packard and RIM coming soon.

ISC will follow up with a full review of the iPad 2 as soon as testing has been completed.

iPad 2 graphic courtesy of Apple

--Jordan McClead and John Mulhern III, ISC Technology Support Services (March 2, 2011)