[TheZookie007]

"One more question: can it fit in a manila envelope?"
"F*** yes, it can!"

(applause)

[TheZookie007]

You can watch the livestream of the iPad 2 announcement at CNN.com. It's about 10 minutes behind but at least it's better than going to Engadget or Gizmodo and reading a liveblog.

[TheZookie007]

link

[Chestnuts]

I may jump in and buy one as I have business reasons for doing so; haven't decided if I'll take a chance some are in stock Friday at the local Best Buy, or to order from Apple and get it engraved for free. Have heard a rumor that another ipad is on the horizon, and that it may have a nicer screen (like iphone 4s).

Pal comments: yes, I'd expect the next iPad to have the Retina display, but I can't really see them releasing even a mild update until Christmas at the earliest.

[rtpoe]

What about tablets by other manufacturers? I'm sure I'm not the only person who isn't buying in to the Cult of Apple. For someone like me, who only wants a portable video player (with a large enough screen so he doesn't need to squint) and game player with minor word processing capabilities (for note taking etc.) since all his serious computing is done on his desktop, there's got to be something decent out there at less than half the cost of what Apple is getting for their thingie.

[MasterDragonfly]

What about tablets by other manufacturers? I'm sure I'm not the only person who isn't buying in to the Cult of Apple. For someone like me, who only wants a portable video player (with a large enough screen so he doesn't need to squint) and game player with minor word processing capabilities (for note taking etc.) since all his serious computing is done on his desktop, there's got to be something decent out there at less than half the cost of what Apple is getting for their thingie.

Move Over, Apple! My Tablet Cost $200

[Palomine]

What about tablets by other manufacturers? I'm sure I'm not the only person who isn't buying in to the Cult of Apple. For someone like me, who only wants a portable video player (with a large enough screen so he doesn't need to squint) and game player with minor word processing capabilities (for note taking etc.) since all his serious computing is done on his desktop, there's got to be something decent out there at less than half the cost of what Apple is getting for their thingie.

Samsung, Viewsonic, Motorola all have decent tablets... from what I've read, featurewise, most are roughly comparable to the iPad 2. though in most reviews of them I've read, reviewers refer to them as being not quite as smooth, elegant, responsive to touch input, etc... as the iPad, though most of the differences/deficiencies are minor (plus there can be some advantages such as Flash compatibility). If they haven't already done so, I'd expect Dell, Gateway and HP to all be offering their own tablets soon too. However, none are really priced all that much lower than a comparable iPad... there are also several off-brand tablets becoming available from makers we've never heard of that are 'half the cost' of an iPad but what little I've read about them (not really available at brick-and-mortar retailers where you can try them out) they leave an awful lot to be desired. There are also various hacks for eReaders (like Barnes and Noble's nook below) so you've got that option too... if your processing/storage needs are modest, a solution like that might be a good fit pricewise. Finally, the OLPC XO-3 is rumored to finally make it to production soon, but I wouldn't hold my breath.  

[Chestnuts]

ipad2

Read through the comments for some different views on the subject, thought it was interesting.

With over 10 Billion app downloads (I read that somewhere recently, maybe it's a typo) Apple has a big jump start, maybe Xoom or some other tablet will be better and badder, but Apple beat everyone to the punch and established itself.  The Xoom has a couple dozen apps, that's a lot of catching up to do with Apple having over 64,000.

[SamV]

Apple's two biggest problem in the mobile device market, that it's various competitors all hope to exploit, is it's insistence to be the seller of choice for all OS add-ons and content though it's Apple Store, and then there is Apple's pricing structure for 3rd party developers and the content providers.

Google in pushing it's open source Android OS as an alternative to Apple's closed, proprietary iOS, have used these issues to attract a lot of interest among 3rd-party software developers and even content providers, and that has really cut in to Apple's market share for their "i" type devices.

So I doubt they will be introducing any major new types of devices, but look for them to continually make small incremental improvements in their current product lines so they can hold their over done circus shows from time to time and keep the mainstream media hyping their products for them.    

[Chestnuts]

ipad2 benchmarks vs original ipad - and against xoom - it kicks xoom's butt
ipad2gpu

[rtpoe]

Any thoughts on the eLocity A7?

[rtpoe]

Can't afford an iPad2?

Just type "Sent from my iPad2" at the end of all your e-mails!

[Chestnuts]

Am currently playing the original Marathon 1 (now available at the app store for FREE) on my ipad2. The kind folks at Bungie allowed a game fan to re-port it for ipad2. Game controls take some getting used to. Unlike Doom, Marathon was a first person shooter with a decent story line. Dated graphics and IA from 1994 also. There's a better graphics mode for a couple bucks, and a cheat 'Master Chief' mode for those impatient with getting killed a hundred times just to complete a level.

Unfortunately, no multi-player mode (yet).

Nostalgia makes me play. I saw this game in my **82** when it first came out from playing it for hours on end, and quickly learned to hate the pfor.


Frog Blast the Vent Core! They're Everywhere!   AAaaahhhh!

[TheZookie007]

So, as this article asks, is the iPad unbeatable?

[Chestnuts]

So, as this article asks, is the iPad unbeatable?

I'm not a betting man, but if I was I wouldn't bet against Apple, not right now, and not while SJ is around.