A few weeks ago Apple set the world abuzz with the introduction of its third generation iPad. During Apple’s initial press conference many of the participants spoke in admiration of the enhanced screen as well as the new features in iOS 5.1. Many commented how the new iPad screens moved almost effortlessly and gameplay was incredible. This is all possible due to the quad core chip in the new third-generation iPad.
But now one day later after getting my hands on the new iPad, did this new device live up to the hype? Before I answer that, I took a stroll down a couple stores; the local Best Buy as well as the Apple store just to see how customers were reacting to get to the New iPads. While Apple in its infinite wisdom, reduced the price of the iPad 2 to create a more competitive offering as it competes with the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Barnes & Noble Nook, it also created a new level of confusion. Many customers as they were looking at the iPad would ask, is this the iPad three, the new iPad? Since the stores that I visited had the iPad 2 and the new iPad located very close to each other it was very difficult for customers to identify which one of the iPads was the new verses which one was the iPad 2. I saw many customers going back and forth trying to discern what the differences were. They were definitely not taken back by the screen, I have to admit it myself, I wasn’t that all impressed.
So the question is, should you consider purchasing the new iPad? Before answering that question here is a couple things we need to consider.
Connectivity
The new iPad supports 4G LTE connectivity. This means that you can connect anywhere were 4G is available at speeds similar to those that you have from DSL or cable. Verizon and AT&T have pay-as-you-go programs. This allows you to take advantage of this service without being tied to a two-year contract.
I tested both the Verizon and AT&T version of the new iPad and both were impressive but I happen to be in an area where LTE is available with both carriers.
Verizon is the only carrier offering a hotspot for free. This allows you to share your Internet connection with other devices. Phones, laptops, your son’s Nintendo DS can I’ll benefit from this hotspot feature.
Battery life on the new iPad is very impressive. However to get this great battery life Apple had to invest in a larger battery. While the weight difference is only ounces, if you have held an iPad 2 you will be able to tell the difference straightaway. Another noticeable difference is that this is the only iPad I’ve ever experienced that warms up. It actually gets too warm. The new iPad warms up even when you are using Wi-Fi connectivity.
Screen
If you’ve ever walked into a large electronic big-box retailer and passed by the high definition television sets, it’s hard not to stop and admire the clarity, the brilliance and the quality of the images that are being displayed in front of you. Sometimes you pause and think to yourself, “Gee, why doesn’t my TV look like this”. Unfortunately, I can’t say that the same can be said about the New iPad. Yes, the screen’s improved text clarity is superior to the previous version but it’s not something that would make me stop and take a look again. I really can’t say that this for me is a deciding factor when choosing between an iPad 2 and the new iPad.
Maybe it’s too early to say, maybe it’s because most the applications that are available don’t take advantage of the higher resolution. Or maybe the previous version of the iPad screen quality was so good that it’s hard to tell the difference between the iPad 2 and the New iPad.
That being said, gameplay on the new iPad is better, the graphic quality of the games allows you to immerse yourself in the game itself.
Voice to text
Apple has done a fantastic job with its voice to text recognition. This entire article was written using voice to text. I have to say that the accuracy of the voice to text feature in the New iPad is around 95% accurate. But this feature alone would not have persuaded me to buy the new iPad. One drawback of this feature is that all of the voice to text conversion happens in the cloud which means that if you are using a data connection, your burning away you data plan with every word you speak. I also worry about the stability of this feature. Apple has had several service disruptions with Siri and who’s to say that that won’t be the same problem with the voice to text conversions since it’s dependent on Apple servers. One last drawback is that if you’re in an area where you have no Wi-Fi connectivity you won’t be able to use the voice to text feature.
Conclusion
If you have been waiting for an iPad but haven’t been able to afford it now be the time to purchase one. Now that Apple has dropped the price by $100 the iPad 2 is much more affordable.
I would recommend a pass on the new iPad.
