I had a professional fit done on my road bike last summer. They did not change any single thing by more than one inch, but in the end, it was like getting a new bike.
That’s what the iPad 2 is like. No major changes, but the little things add up to something big.
I picked up my iPad 2 around 7:30 last night, and because I have about 50 GB of data, the transfer took a little while. After that, the experience was outstanding.
When I got the iPad 1 last year, I was very impressed. Honestly, I almost held off on this one, since none of the changes were revolutionary. Taken as a whole, however, the changes made a great device even better.
Specifically:
- iPad 1 was by no means bloated, but iPad 2 is noticeably thinner and lighter. When you use the device, it makes a big difference.
- It’s really fast. I never really complained about the speed of iPad 1, but iPad 2 smokes. I’m not sure if the better browsing speed is from the improved Safari in iOS 4.3, or the hardware, or both, but it’s great.
- The Smart Cover is one of the best pieces of industrial design I’ve ever seen. Enough said.
They added a couple of cameras and some new programs (really having fun with Garage Band for the iPad) but overall, it’s pretty much the same device. But just like my road bike was exactly the same device, a few well-placed tweaks can make a huge difference.
That’s what happened with the iPad 2.
