Apple® - iPad® 2 with Wi-Fi - 16GB - Black

I have had this iPad since the launch date so I've had plenty of time to use it and explore all it features. Let me start off and say, this is not a "perfect device" but it's close to it but then again is there a "perfect device" out there? Ever device has it's ups and downs so you just have to find the right device for you. I don't understand why people give this device a neg rating yet it is good enough for them to keep it. It just doesn't make sense, if i gave anything a 3star or lower then it's time to go back to where I bought it and return it. Wouldn't that make more sense rather then keeping the device and waste 10-30mins writing a poor review? So let's get to the features of this wonderful device. 1) extremetly portable 2) battery life is really close to the advertised 10hrs ( depending on what you do on it). Apps like HBO GO keeps me watching movies all the time. Watching 2 full length movies and surfing the internet with moderate music and emails will last you at least 5 days before a full charge is needed. What makes it great is that the charging time is awesome. From a 5% battery life to a full charge takes around 3 hrs, no other tablet can compete with that. You'll be back and running in no time. 3) many apps for all walk of life ( airlines to doctors to hospitals) have replaced their paper references/tablets with the iPad. One article stated that UNITED AIRLINES was replacing all their navigation tool/ manual with the iPad, so what does that tell you about the abilities of this device. 4) it is extremely easy to use. You don't have to know much about computers/tablets to be able to start using this device like a pro. For those that are new to the iPad the operating system used is iOS With is now implemented on the all APPLE units so what does that tell you about the OS? 5) Playing movies on the device is great, sure you have to buy it from iTunes but what's the difference between that and buying cd's from a store? None! The movies downloaded may be watched either on your computer or on your iPad so isn't that what everyone wants? If you want to watch the movie on your flatscreen TV then all you have to do is buy an AV adapter and then you can mirror what your watching as well as using it for any app on your iPad. 6) email is great, you can implement attachments like you can on a computer. 7) great word processor for all walks of life, granted you have to pay for the app but didn't you have to purchase a word processor for your computer one way or another. (app I'm referring to is called PAGES). 8) you can use this device as a jump drive but you have to use iTunes and a free app from the app store and it becomes a jump drive. There are about 100,000 apps to download from. Can't say that for the other tablets. 9) Internet is fast and full, sure there is no flash but there is a browser app you can download for that (Skyfire). 10) eReader/eBooks may be use through iBooks, a free app included when you purchase the device. 11) you can use this to make free phone calls via wifi called Whistle. 12) front and back facing camera for free video calling either through 3G or wifi. 13) resolution on this device is far better then any other device Ive used. Sure some of you think that yo won't need this if you have a laptop and an smartphone but I rather carry 1 device that does everything rather than multiple devices any day of the week especially if you commute to work. If after reading this and your still not convinced then this is not the right device for you. I know I left some features out but I only hope your find them yourselves after reading this.

I've wanted an iPad since they first came out. Yet, I waited on the second generation - even though I had never used an iPad or even an iPhone for that matter. I've had a MacBook Pro for 18 months and loved it. I got the Verizon iPhone right when they started selling them (even breaking a contract and having to pay $500 to get out of the contract). And I purchased my iPad 2 the day Best Buy started selling them, waiting in line like the rest of the peeps. My fb page profile pic is of me holding up my new iPad 2 just prior to the beginning of a wedding. Everyone loves the photo of me with a big smile, my clergy attire and my iPad 2! I want to say the camera horrible, and it is to some degree, but the camera is not why I purchased the iPad. Even though I have found tons of uses for the camera. I do lots of weddings, as a wedding officiant, each year. Last year was over 400 of them here in Savannah (I even married Mandy Moore and Ryan Adams). And the reason I purchased the iPad 2 was to eliminate paper use (lost pages, out of order pages, wind blowing pages into the ocean while on the beach, etc.) and I got it for my sermons. I've taken great photos with the camera on the iPad 2 (before and after weddings - the one attached is after a ceremony on HHI the other is from my church - nearly finished restoring windows!), yet when you go to zoom in on the subject or zoom in on the image, it's sooooo grainy. It is just horrible! However, it is better than nothing (you know, the first generation of the iPad.) But the more I thought about the zooming in thing, the more I realized that one of the reasons it is grainy is because the screen is SO LARGE. The iPhone screen is small, so you never get to see the grainy images when you zoom in. Are those two worth giving the iPad 2 a 4 out of 5 on the feature question above? Yes, because it is an easy fix!! Two features for the iPad 3 would be: being able to have a smaller image on the screen while you taking photos, like the size of the iPhone; the other would be the ability to make higher pixel images.

I purchased my iPad 2 primarily for course work while working on my masters. In class I use an apple Bluetooth keyboard to take notes with Pages. What's really cool about pages is that it now sinks with OSX Mountain Lion (I use a Mac-mini). I don't bother carrying around binders any more which is great. All I really need to keep are folders for printed out and graded course work for home/personal use. I also use a tablet pen with pen ultimate for any free hand notes I may need to take. So when it's time for class I just take my Targus shoulder bag with me containing my iPad pen, Bluetooth keyboard, hdmi cable, hdmi to dvi adapter, headphones and iPad hdmi adapter. I carry the adapters for giving presentations from my iPad to an external monitor/projector and I also use the iPad for my note outlines when giving speeches, Bible studies or Sermons. I also use the kindle app to read my course books. Not having to carry heavy course books was one of my largest factors in deciding to purchase an iPad. I carry little to nothing now with this great tool. I originally purchased the New iPad, but have found that I prefer the longer battery life and shorter recharge time of the iPad 2. I also like that this unit runs much cooler than the iPad 2. What's also pretty cool about my particular model is that it's an iPad 2,4. The iPad 2,4 has the newest A5 processor utilizing new types of materials at the 32nm process vs Apple's current 45nm. This translates to 15 to 30% longer battery life getting me 11 to 15 hours under normal use and watching video. Most people have not heard about this upgrade but it can be googled and anandtech (website) provides a much more indepth article of what I'm talking about. So technically the iPad 2,4 is more advanced in regards to power efficiency than the new iPad processor (not in comparison to graphics; just processor efficiency). Apple released this new hardware (SoC-system on a chip) discretely. The new iPad does not offer this although it would greatly bennifit from it. Apple says the new iPad battery life equates to the iPad 2 and as the owner of both, I can tell you it's not even close. I get nearly a third to double the battery life with the iPad 2,4. I gave up bluetooth 4.0, 1/2 the memory, 5mp camera, retina display and voice dictation with the move. Those did not matter much to me although I like the retina display. Bluetooth 2.0 works fine for me and my Apple keyboard, the additional memory gets used up by the retina display, the ipad2 is still very nice, I don't use voice dictation much and I dont really take photos with my iPad. The iPad 2 meets my needs. Two other things I have appreciated with going to the ipad2 is the lighter weight and smaller form factor. Although these things don't seem like much, I have noticed the difference and do appreciatte it. I'm hoping the 4th gen iPad will be the best of both these tablets and I'm sure it will. I hope this review helps a little in deciding if and what iPad to get yourself or someone else. Take care and blessings.

I got my iPad2 16GB for Christmas this year and just had to write a review about my likes and concerns. I eventually returned it and got the transformer prime by asus and will never go back.. here's why Pros: -screen is bright, simple, and responsive. -it is easy to use, so for someone who just wants it to surf the web or play games its a good tablet. - facetime is a good app for people to communicate with other apple users - physically well built tablet- feels solid and lightweight - app world has so many options (but you have to pay for the good ones) -great battery life I'd average about 11 hours of use -sound quality is good and decently loud Cons: - the camera on the front and back are low megapixels and whenever I took a picture it never came out clear and crisp the way the iphone takes pictures - apple places so many restrictions on the devices capability like no flashplayer so I like the android system much better than apple iOS - the ipad is not HDMI capable which is something I was really looking for so I could watch movies from my tablet onto my large screen TV - the docking keyboard allows the ipad to stand upright instead of on its side so its annoying to set that up if I'm using the ipad for class (the transformer prime tablet docks to its keyboard like a laptop and can fold!! a big plus for us college students) - the good apps in the apple app world are expensive and even the simple ones will cost a couple bucks- when the same ones are free in the android app world - you can't really customize your home screen layout besides just switching icon locations (android tablets have widgets which are very useful) -the transformer prime comes with a keyboard that adds twice as much battery life as well as more usb drives. it also has an 8 MP camera! which completely defeats the ipads blurry front camera. - the ipad is also not a stand alone tablet. as you know you have to plug it into your computer and have itunes set up in order for it to even turn on I think the biggest con was that the 16GB ipad is $500 when the 32GB transformer prime is also $500. the transformer prime comes with all the features I'm looking for like a docking keyboard that turns the tablet into a laptop while with the ipad I would have to carry the tablet and keyboard separately. OVERALL the ipad is a decent tablet for the basic user who doesn't need it for school or for someone who is actually willing to buy the apps. I think it's overpriced though just because of its name I would definitely recommend an android tablet over this one for student users and people who want more customization and more freedom with their tablet.

As a previous iPad 1 owner, I went into Best Buy looking for a new different device and my attention was all in favor of the Android tablets that has recently all spawn at sea. I'm not going to create a long review as everyone can walk into the store and play with any of these tablets, however I do want to describe how I ended up with another iPad. Am I biased to Apple? Yes somewhat, but only because their products haven't dissappointed me yet. Am I biased to Apple in this purchase? No, I went in with high hopes to walk out with a nonApple Product. My first choice was the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, as I've heard many great things about this device and is supposed to be the best android tablet out, I was set on giving my money to Asus. Upon trying it out, the experience left me wanting more. The screen is great yes, but what good is the screen if the touch isn't smooth? Flicking the pages around on the screen, the touch was not even close to being as responsive as my first generation iPad, many times I found myself flicking the screen multiple times before it actually responded. The case feels cheaply made as well applying pressure causes the back to creak and buttons were wiggling around with excessive "dust" storing room. I tested out the other 6 tablets there, Samsung, Acer, Coby (?), Blackberry...all either lagged, froze, or kept giving me a "Force Quit" error...definitely not a tablet experience that it should be. The Acer one actually got a virus =\. In the end, I decided to head to the Apple booth to try the new iPad 2...wow let's just say Apple still has the upper hand, screen was liquid smooth in transitioning between apps, the dual processors make this iPad shine compared to the first iPad and guess what? It never lagged or froze on me like a tablet should be! Pros: excellent user interface silky smooth touch solid construction with no flex, creaks or wiggly buttons awesome screen quality HUGE selection of Apps no wait time between multiple app switching Cons: OS not as modifiable as Android devices

My smartphone (an Android) has most of the functions that the iPad has but it is far from as easy to use. Aside from the fact that the smartphone can make phonecalls and the iPad can't as easily, the iPad2 is great because a) it is fast and has reliable connections with the internet (in a WiFi environment), and b) it has a large screen with excellent resolution (newer IPad is of course has even better resolution). I love the iBooks feature to download books - don't use my laptop for this - it is too inconvenient - or my phone - screen is too small. Downloads are fast, many are free, same size as a book so easy to read. I can read 6 books at a time - I can't carry 6 books around with me very easily. I don't like to have to pay $10-$16 for many books I really want - and then can't give them to a friend or put them on my shelf. If you are interested in college level courses there is an iTunesU app that connects you to a bunch of courses that I love to watch. But you have to be connected to WiFi to use this app unlike the iBooks. Email is fast in every way - downloading, uploading, sending and receiving attachments, multiple accounts. Internet is wonderful as well for many of the same reasons. Thought I would have a problem with virtual keyboard but it is almost same size as my laptop's keyboard. And it appears automatically whenever you need it. I like viewing photos on the iPad, but I still have problems figuring how to download all that I need from my computer and organizing them in groups on the iPad - probably there is a tutorial on this but haven't come across it yet. Music a also good but I have gotten use to my nano iPod for that. IPod and IPad are well integrated however. I've watched only one movie on the iPad but it was a very good experience - renting it for $4 but you only have 24 hours to view it - not good. i'm a musician, and I'm scanning in my music and importing it as PDF's. I can put the iPad on my music stand and play as if it is sheet music - not full size but close and much more convenient than lugging around books. I wish the 3G phone connection were cheaper but I am sticking with free WiFi for now. Haven't figured out how to use FaceTime for video calls - not intuitive for me. Can't figure out how to import my MS Outlook contacts into iPad2. I can read my favorite columnists at the breakfast table just like a magazine or newspaper. You have to figure out how to get these downloads without expensive subscriptions but you usually can. Just learnt how to use MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint on the IPad but haven't yet tried it. Every few day I find new features and new apps to learn and try out.

I was about due for a new netbook, but since I wanted the comfort of surfing from a prone position, I gave the iPad a serious look. The iPad 3 was about to be released, and, after comparing specs, I decided I didn't need the highly touted "retina display"- I wouldn't miss something I never had. My understanding was, and still is, the core processor in the 2 and 3 are basically the same. After the iPad 3 was released, Best Buy had a sale on their remaining stock of the iPad 2; some returned items were much cheaper than the sale price. Unfortunately, the returned items were selling out quickly, so I bought the 16 gig iPad 2 at about 20% off. Right out of the box, the Pad was partially charged, and I was able to play with it a bit. But first, I had to register to get an Apple I.D, and have access to iCloud (the online area where you can back some data up to). I found the screen quite large, and the virtual keyboard quite easy to navigate; almost as easy as a real keyboard. The screen is quite bright, but adjustable. I use the iPad mostly to surf the 'net. This is only possible while near a wi-fi hotspot with the model I have, which is fine with me, as I don't intend to travel much with it (I have an iPhone). I've loaded books, and purchased a season of Breaking Bad to view. I personally find the picture quality excellent. I also stream Netflix movies to the Pad. The built in applications aren't bad, but we should have the option of deleting those we don't want entirely. Even after learning how to group icons, the screen can get quite crowded. I wasn't a fan of iTunes in its first iteration, and still not now. I understand that Apple, for proprietary reasons, wishes to control its content through iTunes. However, I still prefer the drag and drop method for moving, or deleting data. Creating playlists, adding content- most everything has to go through iTunes. For that alone, I hate it- but not enough to return it. The iPad is very thin and sleek, and seems fragile. I bought a hard shell case with an attached blue-tooth enable keyboard (also from Best buy). I figured, the Pad is worth the added insurance of a hard case. For those that love gadgets, want something portable around the home, and would like the comfort of surfing the net, or watching a movie from bed, this is for you. The iPad is missing certain applications I would like- some type of text editor would be nice; upgradeable memory would be even nicer. If you're used to strictly drag and drop, this may not be for you. I've been searching far and wide for a 3rd party app to "explore" the Pad, but it is virtually impossible. Still, it meets most of my needs. the iPad loses some points from me because of iTunes, and I really don't believe it's worth the price- even the sale price. But it's really the cream of the crop of Pad devices. I've had an android based phone, and there's simply not the quality of apps for the android market (yet). Not that many Apple apps aren't lacking. Still, I'm learning to love it, begrudgingly.

For anyone out there who is considering whether or not to make the leap and purchase the iPad 2, this review is for you. If you're still debating between the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 check out my review of the first generation iPad right here on Amazon to see a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses with a number of people commenting (both positively and negatively) over the past 11 months. Let me begin by saying this upfront, I don't work for Apple, I don't own Apple Stock, and whether you buy an iPad, Xoom, a laptop or a pad of paper and pencil I don't get anything for writing this. I'm not an Apple "fanboy" although I can give credit where credit is due and lately Apple has deserved a lot of credit for some of their products. Physical Characteristics The iPad 2 is absurdly thin. More importantly than it's thinness is its tapered edge which feels more natural in your hand. One of the biggest complaints about the original iPad was it really wasn't tremendously comfortable to hold for long periods at a time. For a tablet device designed to be held, that's a pretty big deal. Apple really has done an amazing job of cramming everything into an even smaller space than before and the difference is really noticeable when you're holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2. That might not seem like a huge deal to most, especially when you consider the weight difference isn't tremendous when you're already under 2 pounds, but I spend a good part of my day holding the iPad in my hands and the weight difference is surprising by the end of the day. The first generation isn't heavy by any means, but the iPad 2 outshines it. New and "Improved" Apple doubled the RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? For most casual users, probably not a whole lot. There is a performance bump that everyone will see the effects of in things like loading times for webpages that are open in the background, but 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. If you're planning to use your device for some of the more graphically intense games the iPad 2 does offer a better method of graphics processing that'll help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements. If you're just playing Angry birds and reading e-mail you're not going to know the difference. The screen is the same for all real purposes. It is technically a "new" part in that it isn't identical to the old, it's a bit thinner and more efficient, but it's the same resolution. The Glass is thinner though, and this amounts to a fair bit of the weight loss from one generation to the next. In playing with the device it seems surprising but despite feeling lighter it actually feels more sturdy in your hands. I still wouldn't suggest dropping it, but if it were to fall the iPad 2 certainly feels like it might stand a better chance to survive. Try not to drop it though. The addition of 2 cameras was expected. Some were a bit surprised to see the first generation released without the cameras. Whether it was for a price point consideration, or a means to get people to upgrade, Apple held off until iPad 2. The cameras do a reasonable job, but they're not going to replace a dedicated digital camera, or really even the camera on your phone for most still images. The cameras do a substantially better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the original iPad. For those who might not be familiar, FaceTime is Apple's face to face conferencing system, kind of like Skype, or if you'd rather, kind of like the Jetson's TV/Phone. With the push of a button you can be having a face to face chat with a loved one just about anywhere in the world (provided they're on a wireless network at the time). FaceTime doesn't work over 3G natively (it can be used over a wifi connection created by a 3G device however) so you're not going to be able to use it in your car anytime soon. This is probably a good thing though. It is incredibly easy to use and if you know other people with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or Mac it's a lot of fun. Smart Covers aren't really "smart" but they're really very useful. Not only do they provide a stylistic enhancement of the device, but they serve a practical and functional purpose of doubling as a screen protector and stand in 2 configurations. You can find them in a variety of colors and from third market suppliers, and it's a safe bet that more will be out soon to capitalize on the magnetic sensors in the iPad 2. It's unfortunate that this same feature can't somehow be retrofitted to the iPad 1, I wouldn't have thought a case would be a compelling reason to consider a product over it's competitor, but these covers are really so useful it's hard to understand why they've not been there since the beginning. Multitasking Support One of the biggest knocks against the iPad when first released was the lack of native multi-tasking support. Jailbreakers added the feature quickly and Apple soon realized it would be a requirement for any future device's success and released an OS update that included the feature. The iPad 2 capitalizes on that progress and takes it a step further with the increased RAM enabling more open applications to be suspended at once, and the time to open or close an application has improved as well. That said, even the first generation managed to open and close apps faster than most people would be used to on their computers, so while this is an improvement it's more akin to showing off.