Archive for the ‘iPad2’ Category

What’s in the bag man?

Posted: May 25, 2012 by Troy Saxton-Getty in Accessories, Android, ATT, Audio / Video Gadget, Battery, dropSKIP? What???, GPS Devices, Headphones, iOS, iPad2, iPhone4s-ATT, iPhone4s-Verizon, Operating System, Personal Communicators, Personal HotSpot Devices, Phones, Power, Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung SCH-LC11 4G Hotspot, Tablets, Verizon
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What’s in the bag man?

By Troy Saxton-Getty

Those who know me understand I have a bag & backpack fetish, it’s not some weird OCD thing, and it is based on purpose. (Ok, most of the time!)

20120527-063120.jpgMost friends know me as the always equipped geek that travels fairly regularly, including a long weekly run up and down the west coast as well as some longer multi-week out of the country trips every few months.

I get asked a few times a day “What is in that bag, you always seem to have everything with you…what should I take in my gadget bag?”

I have 3 configurations, regular day to day, Domestic trips and longer international trips. (We will just cover electronics, not the huge set of keys, wallet, passport and other non-tech crap that adds another 10 lbs to my bag)

Let’s start with the favorite bag at the moment, it’s the Tumi black ballistic nylon backpack, their higher end model. It offers a mid-sized backpack format, very strong zippers and plenty of pockets. The bag is laid out nicely with a solid TSA approved back area for the laptop in it’s own quick unzip compartment so you lay the bag open and TSA (and most other countries) accept putting it through the scanner without actually taking it out.

Base configuration (Day to day):

Apple MacBook Air 13” (i7)

Charger for the Macbook with the long stock extended cord (best laptop I’ve ever owned, and yes, you can either boot it to Windows 7 natively or open up Windows while booted to Mac OS if you set it up for it, it’s the best Windows laptop I’ve ever owned as well. This thing is powerful, I use it as a regular gaming machine too, but it has to be the fully loaded i7 version)

Apple iPad3, leather case that can serve as a stand or protective cover and standard 2-amp charger module plus stock cable

Either Bose QC-15 or Dr. Dre Studio Beats over the ear noise cancelling headphones (the Bose are slightly better sounding and a bit better on base, but damn those Red Dre Beats look cool, they take a few years off ya, lol)

Brookstone USB Battery pack (this is the quick and easy pocket-able battery for your mobile should you start running low, plug it in via it’s USB plug and your mobile cable)

Sparq 6000Mah Battery pack (these have flip out power tongs, no cables required, just flip them out and plug them into the wall, OMG these are sweet!)

iPhone4 iBattz extended battery sleeve with two removable batteries (key is quick battery changing since the case used standard Nokia NB-4L 1500Mah batteries, I’ve purchased many of these, this is the best one I’ve used so far)

iPhone4S ATT plus 1-amp stock charger and cable

iPhone4S Verizon plus 1-amp stock charger and cable

Samsung Galaxy Note plus stock charger and cable (My favorite Android phone)

Samsung 4G Hotspot (Verizon) (this is just a great little hotspot for up to 5 devices and the battery works for a few hours without fail)

Western Digital 2TB USB Passport laptop hard disk (Time Machine backup and a second copy of everything, Mac runs the backup automatically, don’t even fool with anything else JUST DO IT!) (Older movie storage as well so you don’t clog the SSD)

Micron 256GB SSD USB (solid state) laptop hard disk (main content storage, iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie etc) This thing is fast and it’s perfect for those with a lot of content, specifically photos and music

Spot Tracker II – Personal Sat locator stand alone device (get lost? 911? Or just sending messages to a list of your choosing letting them know you are “OK” with map coordinates

SpotConnect – Personal Sat locator that works with iPhone (same as above, but lets you send special “text” via satellite, regardless of where you are on the globe)

Small Tumi nylon accessory bag (holds all the cables and chargers for the mobiles and iPad)

Tumi International travel adapter and cable kit (this kit is the best I’ve found so far, multi country support is awesome and it works, includes an additional dual USB snap on head for charging two .5 amp USB devices)

Apple international plug adapter kit (this is super cool for Apple users as it snaps onto the various Apple power modules, laptop, iPad etc)

Pel Head light (you have no idea how handy a hands free LED headlamp can be!)

Spare AAA and AA lithum batteries (the sat locators require Litium, but they work well and last a long time if you need them for something else)

Handheld small flashlight (The headlamp is great, but you need a small and powerful handheld too)

Zippo Lighter (I don’t’ smoke but this can come in handy, even when it’s dry on fluid)

I used to always have a Leatherman Multi-tool but TSA thinks you might try to disassemble the aircraft since 9/11 so that is out, so put it in checked baggage, you have no idea how handy this is to have in a country you don’t live in… (I have given so many of them to the TSA for free due to forgetting it in my backpack, they must have a side business running on all the stuff like this they collect thanks to not wanting to try to check it in baggage last minute and wait in security line again)

Domestic trips:

Sparq 6000mah battery (Second one, yea, there is no substitute to having USB Power up to 2-Amps , these units include 2 ports, 1 and 2 amps so iPads charge nicely)

Kindle Fire (battery lasts a really long time and has a second copy of my eBooks and other content just in case)

Galaxy Note extended battery sleeve (It’s nice having an Android phone along, but the power dies quickly on the Note, so the sleeve extends it 1.5x in addition to the included battery)

International multi-week trips:

Mili King 18000 Battery pack (This is the mother of all external battery packs, you can run a small house on this thing, ample USB plug power and it will extend most non-Apple laptops for 2-3x)

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Pogo Sketch by Ten 1 – Unique Stylus.

Posted: December 4, 2011 by Gill Haus in Android, Blackberry Playbook, Blackberry Tablet OS, Fun Tech!, iOS, iPad, iPad2, Motorola Xoom realtime review, Samsung Tab, Stylus, Tablets, Windows Mobile 7
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We reviewed the Wacom Bamboo stylus a couple months ago and loved it.  At the time, we didn’t think we really need to look for another stylus.  Then we found the Pogo Sketch by Ten 1.  Why do we like this stylus (other than the great colors)?  For three main reasons:

1. It’s lighter.  It really feels a bit better when writing on the surface of an iPad.  It’s not heavy like those other styli so it feels good in your hand.

2. It’s thinner.  It just feels more natural when you use this stylus.

3. The tip is NOT the standard rubber cone that doesn’t seem to slide as easily.  This one has a different style tip that still works on iOS and glides across a surface (with the same accuracy as other styli).

These three things really made the difference for us and it’s become the stylus of choice (this week, of course).  Oh yeah, did we mention you can find it for under $20 on eBay?  Make it four reasons! :)

 

Wacom Bamboo Stylus (CS100K) – iPad Thoughts

Posted: October 8, 2011 by Gill Haus in iOS, iPad, iPad2, Stylus
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A colleague of ours has made the transition from laptop to iPad. In fact, it’s all he carries. No laptop. No pad of paper. Just an iPad. This may not seem that drastic to everyone, yet, we were impressed and wanted to see if we could do the same thing.

We faced two challenges in doing so: one, tasks and flagged emails aren’t supported on the current iOS and many of use this feature extensively; two, writing on the iPad is not as easy as using paper. The first challenge is to be addressed in the new iOS release. The second challenge is harder to address because writing on an iPad is just not close to writing on paper…or is it?

We asked ourselves if we could use just an iPad if we had the right tool and app. This is where the Wacom Bamboo Stylus entered the picture. Why? Because there are a good number of iPad apps that allow handwriting, but using ones finger just doesn’t seem to cut it. So, did the stylus help?

The short answer is yes (the long answer is you’ll need an app like Notes Plus to really make this work). The Bamboo stylus was our pick as most iPad ready styluses had wide round tips. This works well with the iPad displays but makes it hard to be precise. This stylus has a much smaller tip (about 25% smaller than most), though not pen fine by any means. The difference was noticeable and the stylus’ weight makes it easy to hold when writing.

20111009-094047.jpg

We also noticed that using the stylus to write takes practice. All of us learned to write with a pen and paper. The motions are the same. The pressure is different. Once we got used to this, we actually picked up speed and quality (yes, my handwriting is horrible normally, so there was only so much improvement to be had).

The Bamboo stylus did help. It felt comfortable in our hands and was closer to normal writing than a finger or thicker stylus. It does come at a price (~30 dollars) and you’ll still need a good note app.

At the end of the day, using the iPad instead of paper is doable but will take practice. Don’t expect it to feel normal at first. That said, typing on our iPhones after years of Blackberry keyboards seemed unusual, too. Amazing! :)

Belkin Snap Shield for iPad 2 – Finally a Case That Doesn’t Ruin the iPad

Posted: July 24, 2011 by Gill Haus in Cases, iOS, iPad2
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We tend to drop things, hence our name. The problem is that we also buy some pretty slick devices. And there is nothing glamourous about buying the latest in high tech and sealing it in a case of bubble wrap.  We’re all for protecting our purchases, but why does so much protective gear completely ruin the feel of the device?  We don’t have a good answer to this question.  We have found an exception to this rule, however, in Belkin’s Snap Shield for iPad 2.
Belkin Snap Shield iPad 2 - Front Cover
One of the best features of the iPad 2 is the smart cover.  Most third party iPad cases neglect this and either have their own cover or prevent the smart cover for fitting.  Not so in the Snap Shield.  This case cleanly fits on the back of your iPad (it’s very thin so as not to drastically alter the form factor) and has a slot that allows the smart cover to attach to the device.
Belkin Snap Shield iPad 2 - Back Cover
The Snap Shield isn’t poorly named, either.  It snugly snaps on to the back of your iPad 2 and prevents scratches and pops off with the right amount of force (say falling on an airport floor) absorbing the force and reducing damage. The Snap Shield also comes in a variety of covers and is reasonably priced.  The version that we reviewed is transparent, showing through the gray metal color of the iPad 2.
Belkin Snap Shield iPad 2 - Inside
For those that enjoy the look and feel of the iPad 2 and want to protect their purchase without reducing its sexiness, you won’t be disappointed with this case.

Belkin Snap Shield iPad 2 - On iPad 2 w/Smart Cover

Brookstone Bluetooth Keyboard w/ Portfolio Case for iPad 2

Posted: June 26, 2011 by Troy Saxton-Getty in Accessories, Cases, dropSKIP? What???, iPad2, Keyboards, Tablets
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Brookstone Bluetooth Keyboard w/ Portfolio Case for iPad 2
By Troy Saxton-Getty

We always like taking extended trips because it is the perfect field environment to test new tools, gadgets and fun stuff. Not to mention paying full price in the usually well stocked airport technology stores in most major international airports which have very strong techno-gravity. Today is more of an “I’ and less of a “we” article. Gill is on another plane from the east coast to Singapore and I launched to catch up from San Francisco. (SFO)(KSFO for your pilots!)

I can’t wait to find out what fun gadgets Gill is testing along the way, always great stuff.

I haven’t been into Brookstone in quite a while, I must say, they have really up’ed their game for electronic goodies. Right at the front door I was met with a very interesting iPad2 case which includes a Bluetooth keyboard, I had to test it out! Before I left the store, I had made 2 additional purchases, one at a time, out with the credit card, sign and a valiant attempt to walk out, only to find myself stumbling onto something else that was worthy of an international trip and test in the real-world. (more on this in future articles)

So let’s talk about the iPad2 keyboard and case, at $99USD, I was a wondering if it would be another purchase worthy of the price or would I try it and toss it aside for the next new and cool case. I was also a bit concerned as these smaller keyboards tend to be tough to use with my fairly large hands and fingers and I get frustrated quickly trying to type anything lengthy.

Brookstone Bluetooth Keyboard & Case

Brookstone Bluetooth Keyboard & Case

True test, could I type comfortably for multiple documents both complex and simple using the keyboard with the iPad2.  I have been fiddling with it for the past few hours on the flight and decided to write this article with the new keyboard / case. So far, so good. We have purchased 3 or so Bluetooth keyboards for use with iPads, including the Apple keyboard, which is the gold standard as far as we are concerned, it’s actually the same Bluetooth keyboard that you can use with their computer lineup and it is nearly perfect, just a tad too large to put in the travel backpack.

Brookstone has a previous model for iPad (first generation) which is still being sold in the store, that keyboard/case combo had rubbery type water proof looking keys and the action was quite a bit less than natural, I found it awkward to use for anything lengthy and after a few days I gave it to a friend, only to be out nearly a cool hundy.

In this test I will use the iPad2 keyboard & case for my day to day work and personal stuff and get back to this article after I have survived 10+ lengthy pages of typing, thousands of emails and so on.

Well, I am back and its day 6, I am using the keyboard on the airplane again from Singapore to Chennai India. I’ve used it all week and I must say, I think it is a keeper keyboard and case combination, even with quite a bit of turbulence on the flight I am finding it comfortable to type and I noticed I keep reaching for the trackpad as if this keyboard is on my Macbook Air so my brain must be fooled.

Keyboard with iPad2 propped up

Keyboard with iPad2 propped up

I have used the keyboard for just about everything in my daily life so far, very happy with it, it is a dramatic improvement over the version 1 case/keyboard from the same company.

Case folded & closed

Case folded & closed

My only two gripes are the standard MiniUSB port for charging the Bluetooth radio and the standby mode of the keyboard. After a year or more of buying electronics which have converted fully to the MicroUSB I have to make sure to carry a MiniUSB plug charger again, this isn’t that big of a deal since I tend to carry a charger / battery backup with multiple adapters, but it is just odd that they would have picked the older and mostly outdated plug format for charging. On regular trips I don’t see this as much of a problem as the documentation shows the full charge lasts for up to a month.. so far, so good, I will let it run out since the initial charge and see how well it actually lasts.

My other gripe is that when you are reading over a document or pause for a few minutes the keyboard goes into standby mode (This is probably why the battery lasts so long!) and the on-screen keyboard pops up like a normal iPad without a keyboard attached, not that big of a deal, but if you are using your finger to scroll to edit or move around it makes for a little awkward navigation. It also takes a keystroke to wake it up, which, if not paying attention, you will lose the first character you type after the 40 second stand-by mode. After you get used to this it’s not that big of a deal, if you are reading back over the document using your finger to scroll and 40 seconds goes by without touching the keyboard, it goes into standby, pops up the on-screen keyboard, at this point, simply press any key, wait 1 second and now start typing again. I would have set the stand-by to several minutes and on average use you wouldn’t even notice this wonkiness.

Keyboard up close

Keyboard up close

Overall the keyboard / case combination is worthy of the purchase for the iPad 2, its a high quality leather case, nice stitching, its holds the iPad 2 nicely and doesn’t let it move around, when closed, the keyboard doubles as more protection for the screen and it isn’t to bulky. I have dropped it from waist height a few times and it has protected the iPad 2 well, without anything on the iPad 2 connecting to the floor. I am going to recommend this as a good buy… I am really enjoying it. More to come!

Splash Masque Screen Protector Film Matte Clear (Anti-Glare) for Apple iPad 2 2nd Generation

Posted: April 10, 2011 by Gill Haus in Accessories, iPad2
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I’ve never been a fan of applying screen protectors.  Typically, I buy two packs of 3 for one application.  This way when I fail numerous times – which I always do – I can still continue trying until there are no particles or air bubbles.  Now, I do this on my iPhone.  I hadn’t even considered the nightmare of trying this on an iPad.  Let’s all thank my friend Calvin Haden for being our guinea pig.  In his own words:

“Seems like it would be a good product if you could install the thing without dust getting on it before you get it on the iPad.  I cleaned the screen to make sure there were no dust particles but i guess – unless you are in a clean room assembling microchips – you aren’t going to get a 100% dust free application. Even if you clean the screen thoroughly beforehand, you will still pick up particles after removing the backing and bringing it down to the screen.”

There is good news here.  It’s a 3 pack and it’s not much more expensive than the iPhone versions – so you can try numerous times.  Still, I imagine that installing the larger protector is a pain and I’m glad my friend proved this theory (err, I’m sorry he had so much trouble).

You can see all the protector details at http://amzn.to/hklxEt.

Upgrading from your ATT 3G iPad to an iPad2 (And keeping unlimited data plan)

Posted: March 25, 2011 by Troy Saxton-Getty in ATT, Carrier, dropSKIP? What???, iOS, iPad, iPad2, Tablets
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Upgrading from your ATT 3G iPad to a new ATT 3G iPad
by Troy Saxton-Getty

If you were an early adopter of the iPad 3G, when you signed up before June 7th 2010 for your data plan,  you received an “unlimited” data plan option. Today you get an option for 250MB or 2GB and you pay more if you go over.

While 2GB of monthly data transfer is quite a bit for most iPad users, you most likely won’t even come close to that, but there is nothing like the freedom of feeling “unlimited” when it comes to data, it’s just one less thing to worry about when you install NetFlix or some other large data consuming application.

ATT grandfathered those early adopters to their unlimited plan after that plan did away with unlimited data and even when you upgrade to a new iPad ATT 3G,  you can take your unlimited data plan with you. Simply swap the SIM card from your original iPad 3G to your new iPad2 3G and you are all set.

The internet search for this will reveal all kinds of conflicting rumors, methods etc. Some of these warn against swapping the sim card, some have lengthy processes to follow, some have you calling ATT and even then, you might get two stories from the ATT rep.

Swap the sim card, make sure you have the user name and password that you originally registered your ATT 3G iPad with so you can go to the SETTINGS->CELLULAR DATA option and view account, you will see that the unlimited account information is still there.

After experiencing this challenge ourselves with our old and new 3G ATT test iPads, we called our Apple business support rep and he said to simply swap the sim cards, the IMEI number updating isn’t required but if you are worried about it, call 1800 331-0500 and they will gladly update their own records with your new IMEI number, this is like the devices serial number for the radio. (Apple laughed at me when I told them I read about having to call-in, he said and yes, if you do, they will take about 30 minutes of your day for no reason, except to update their own records.

So why is this important? Stream 5-7 movies or stream audio from Pandora for days on end and in a month’s billing cycle you will quickly run up against your 2GB limit.

Even if you don’t have the unlimited data plan and  you want to get a new ATT 3G iPad2, you can simply swap the sim cards before you activate the new sim card and your current plan is now on your new iPad. If you break your iPad and buy another, do the same thing.

iPad & iPad2 – Apple, First and lasting impressions of both

Posted: March 19, 2011 by Troy Saxton-Getty in dropSKIP? What???, iOS, iPad, iPad2
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iPad & iPad2 – Apple, First and lasting impressions of both
by Troy Saxton-Getty

I stood in line as a gadget dork just like the rest of the Apple fans that arrived hours or even days before the official launch of the iPad2 on Friday March 11th at 5pm. Due to my crazy work schedule I was only able to get to the store a few hours before the release.

Standing in line at the Apple Store

Standing in line at the Apple Store

I had to ask myself several times, “Why am I here? I have an iPad 3G 64GB and it is fantastic”…I hope to answer that question for myself as I continue to share my Apple experience here. The Apple iPad “generation one” product is what created the gold standard for which all others are trying to compete against, everything new on the market has been created to unseat the iPad from the top of the hill. The problem for them is, Apple isn’t sitting around waiting for these want-to-be competitors to catch up.

If you have read any of our previous articles you know we too would like to see something released that comes close or pushes ahead. We have purchased numerous products from companies attempting in some way to close the gap that Apple has on the “post computer” future.

We have the latest tablets and hybrid devices in-house – Motorola Xoom, Motorola Atrix, Samsung Galaxy Tab, large Android phones and even special purpose devices like Amazon’s Kindle (each version as well)  and after continuing to extensively use all of them in our daily lives, one thing is clear, even the first from a year ago, iPad is still way out in the lead.

The difference? Apple provides an entire ecosystem end to end. The others haven’t quite figured out this formula, obviously 100′s of millions of consumers have. There are over 100 million Apple iPhones, iPads & iPods sold to date as it was announced in Apple’s latest keynote at the iPad2 launch.

What’s in the secret sauce?

1. Great hardware – industrial design & function like no other
2. Fantastic OS (base software) – iOS4 is really, really special – built just for this, your finger is your mouse
3. Content – iTunes, Movies, Music, TV, learning, even college, ringtones, Podcasts, iRadio, i-everything, look at the automobile integration, iPad in-dash is just around the corner
4. Apps – Billions and Billions served, Apps for work, play & special stuff, developers flourish…
5. Photo – Everything I photo goes into iPhoto, linked to iPad and iPhone, Facebook, Flickr & more
6. Video – iMovie & other movie creation tools, iPad, iPhone, Mac – fabulous, edit while traveling home
7. Music learning, creation and integration – GarageBand, Musician tools and instrument connection
8. Third Party brand integration- Netflix, Google, Facebook, Evernote, Instapaper, SmugMug & Microsoft Office functionality
9. In-app content purchasing – apps which take you further into other brand’s rich experiences
10. News – The Daily, NYT, AP, CNN, NPR, USA Today, CBS, FOX, ABC, BBC, etc.
11. Add-on products – Apple Branded as well as third party, i.e. Apple TV, iHome, i-you name it
12. Standards – carefully controlled, but great for users: connectors, iTunes, formats etc.

It is all – EASY TO USE

Only a few of the 12 points above are a 10/10, most are 7′s or 8′s, but because they are all part of one off offering, Apple is so far out in front it will take a long time for others to catch up. The competition is focused on making really good hardware, some are getting closer, but outside of thinking about one or two of the items above, they have so much more ground to make up besides just making great hardware.

Toss in one or more of the new Apple TV modules for $99 USD at home and the added value continues to skyrocket further out of reach for the competition.

Apple sets the gold standard for what in the industry is know as UE, User Experience, everything is designed from the bottom up around the user experience.  Now how much they can sell, if the UE is as close to perfect, people will wait in lines for hours, days and even weeks and virtually everyone in line is HAPPY to do it. That’s why Apple strives to be perfect in their “Practice” of continuous improvement around the user experience. What? this user experience is in just about every language in the world?

When my grandmother or father can pick up a device and use it instantly and in most every way, it’s by far the testament to the Apple global success. They design to appeal to the largest market share but don’t alienate the niche, Techies to Grandmothers…

The iPad2 improves on the first iPad in quite a few ways:

New Processor – the speed of the new A5 dual core CPU chip is significantly faster while not impacting battery life.  iPad’s have unreal batteries that last for days and days of regular use. The CPU isn’t quite a fast as the Motorola Xoom’s dual-core Tegra based on some 3D testing we did, but it’s really not a noticeable issue.

Size – it doesn’t seem like much since the first iPad was a breakthrough size, but the iPad2 is thinner/lighter, it is much easier to hold in your hand for lengthy periods of time, reading a book, watching a video, reading and answering email, if you like to hold it in your hand, it’s easier now. Our test vs. Xoom, the Xoom feels much heaver.

Stand – the optional cover from Apple is really quite amazing, building on their use of magnets in the MagSafe power adapter for Macbooks, Apple has designed a cover in a rubber or leather format. What is so cool about this cover? First, it pulls on and off easy, second – the magnets are genius, it always grabs at the right place and the cover fits perfectly and really protects the screen.

iPad2 optional cover in leather

iPad2 optional cover in leather

The rubber cover comes in multiple colors and works equally well.

The cover folds into a tight roll which supports angled desk typing as well as turned on edge it makes a great stand like a photo frame, clock or movie viewing angle.

iPad2

iPad2

iPad2 standing

iPad2 standing

The iPad2 has a 3 axis gyro, why does this matter? It makes for a precision controller for numerous apps, the previous iPad was effective with the accelerometers but this takes the movement tracking as a controller up significantly. For those of you who haven’t experienced what I am talking about, think about holding the screen and driving the car in the game app by tilting the screen left or right, forward for faster, tilt back for braking. (just one of many uses)

The original iPad came in WiFi only and WiFi + 3G served up by ATT, the new iPad2 has two 3G choices for the US market, ATT and now Verizon 3G, neither offer 4G for the iPad and it would require a new radio. (like the current shipping Xoom tablet with 3G, you have to ship it to Motorola when 4G becomes available in the future, not sure Apple would even consider that idea)  Expect to see 4G in the iPad3 in fall of this year. (I will actually fall over if the Xoom get’s the 4G ship-me deal in the coming month or two as they have promised)

The Screen is the same in size in the iPad2 as it was in the first iPad. It was fantastic then and still is now. Our Xoom tablet has a wide screen format and the iPad doesn’t. I am not sold on the wide screen yet, the native iPad display works very well for everything, so I don’t feel like I am losing out by not having a wide screen format.

The iPad2 also includes the ability to playback content to a TV/Monitor via an option HDMI output cable that has an integrated SD Card reader so you can load photos directly from your SD Card based camera. The included HDMI cable is really thin and easy to pack in your travel kit. (usually these are huge, thick cables).  ”Monster Cable, have you been scamming us all along?” Output video up to 1080P from your iPad2, think hotel room, bedroom or even main living room, now you can finish that video that you got half way through on the airplane.

16, 32 & 64GB sizes, these are the same as the previous iPad, look to 128GB or larger in the next generation as 128GB SD cards are starting the hit the market, why not include a little SD slot Apple?

The iPad2 is a marked improvement on an already near perfect device, if you are happy with your current iPad and it does everything you need, I would wait the 6-7 months for iPad3, it will be a significant leap ahead.

If you need it in white, need more speed, want to use the cool cover, plan to hook it to your TV for video/movie/picture playback, need Verizon 3G? Can’t handle not having the newest thing? Then buy it today! Oh, did I mention that each morning at my local Apple Store there are more then 1oo people waiting and they can’t keep up with demand which is even greater than the first iPad. People in line before the store opens are still going home empty handed, and coming back.

As for the competition; when my father or grandmother, or for that matter, most of my friends tell me that Amazon provides much of what iTunes sells and its “built-in” to whatever new fangled device they have, then I will know the competition is closing in a bit. By the way, if you know the tricks to getting the same content that iTunes provides iPad, iPhone, Apple TV’s as well as Mac’s and PC’s then you are good to go with something else, even today. (Amazon and other sources have most of the same content, today…but it’s not so easy as the Apple user experience)

Evidently 100 million people either don’t know this or didn’t want to take the time to figure out how to do it like Apple has done it for you!

And the crowd out front of the Apple Store goes wild…..Cheers!