Apple Introduces iPad 2 – Should You Care?

That Apple had a revision to its iPad line of out-of-the-box tablet computers came as no particular surprise, although the exact details of what they were releasing weren’t known until they announced it late last week. It’s not, despite what Apple may say, a revolution in tablet computing, let alone an evolution of the concept, adding a faster processor, a similar step to what you’d see in laptops, and even Apple itself. It did the same thing the week before with its Macbook Pro line: built-in cameras for Apple’s Facetime video calling solution and an overall thinner and lighter body.

If you don’t see it, I would have to say that if you already have an iPad, this is a pretty easy iteration to skip. Sure, it’s faster, but the only other major feature of the new technology is the built-in camera, and the usefulness of these on tablets is questionable at best. It’s also worth noting that last year’s iPads, still very capable machines, are selling across the country at what amounts to clearance prices. For the capacity you get, last year’s iPad at this year’s clearance prices could be the tablet bargain of the year.

At the same time that Apple introduces the iPad 2, its competitors are lining up competing tablets at a reasonable pace. Blackberry has its Playbook due out before mid-year, Motorola has the Android-inspired Xoom tablet, Viewsonic already has the Viewpad 10s on store shelves, and Samsung is betting both ways. There’s an upcoming iteration of its Android-based Galaxy Tab tablet to be released in a 10″ form factor, similar to the iPad, as well as the Series 7 “slider” tablet, which runs full Windows 7. It’s a tablet.” slider” because Behind the screen is a full keyboard and touchpad, so you can pretty quickly turn it from a simple touch-based machine to a small laptop. Windows 7 just aren’t designed with touch in mind, so while it works, it’s never worked well to date.Having just had a brief review session with the Series 7, it might just be the tablet to break this curse on. particular, with more than passing effort to provide you with useful touch-based applications.

If touch computing makes sense to you, whether you’re looking at it from a pure consumer web and video style “consumer” model, or even as a portable productivity tool, it’s going to be an interesting year. As it stands, Apple’s decision not to play radically with the iPad 2 leaves the field pretty open to competitors, and it might be worth waiting to see what comes out and at what price before committing.