pple
certainly likes to make the few people in India who like their products
wait. Even then we somehow manage to get our hands on their products
before they launch them here. Last year we were one of the first in
India to get our hands on an iPad and publish our hands-on experience
with it. This year, as luck would have it, our Head of HR decided to
get an iPad for herself from the UK and was glad to lend it to us for a
preview. Of course, we know better than to keep an owner away from
their new gadget for long, so we only had enough time to do a quick
preview like last time instead of a full review. Still, what follows is
a sufficiently detailed description that should give you an idea of
what exactly the new iPad 2 is all about.
Design
The iPad was never particularly thick but it's only after you hold the iPad 2 do you realize just how thick it really is. The iPad had a curved back and almost a centimeter thick edge. The iPad 2 has a flat back and almost no side edge at all. Instead, the back just curves upward to meet the front side, just like on the fourth generation iPod touch.
This does have a considerable effect on the ergonomics. While the new design worked against the iPod touch, it improves the feel of the iPad 2 considerably. The iPad 2 feels much better in hand and also gives you a better grip. The weight is also better distributed on the iPad 2 unlike the iPad, where the bulging center felt heavier than the sides. Apple has also reduced the overall weight, however, it still feels a bit heavy for extended single-handed usage. The problem, more than the weight itself, is the width of the device, which spreads the weight away from your hand, thus putting more strain on your wrist.
When viewed from the front, the iPad 2 again looks smaller. It lacks the substantial metal border found on the iPad and in case of the iPad 2 the glass now seems to go almost till the edge. There is still a significant bezel around the display, necessary if you are to hold the device without touching the touchscreen. You may also notice the FaceTime camera above the display, with the ambient light sense located slightly above it....
Design
The iPad was never particularly thick but it's only after you hold the iPad 2 do you realize just how thick it really is. The iPad had a curved back and almost a centimeter thick edge. The iPad 2 has a flat back and almost no side edge at all. Instead, the back just curves upward to meet the front side, just like on the fourth generation iPod touch.
This does have a considerable effect on the ergonomics. While the new design worked against the iPod touch, it improves the feel of the iPad 2 considerably. The iPad 2 feels much better in hand and also gives you a better grip. The weight is also better distributed on the iPad 2 unlike the iPad, where the bulging center felt heavier than the sides. Apple has also reduced the overall weight, however, it still feels a bit heavy for extended single-handed usage. The problem, more than the weight itself, is the width of the device, which spreads the weight away from your hand, thus putting more strain on your wrist.
When viewed from the front, the iPad 2 again looks smaller. It lacks the substantial metal border found on the iPad and in case of the iPad 2 the glass now seems to go almost till the edge. There is still a significant bezel around the display, necessary if you are to hold the device without touching the touchscreen. You may also notice the FaceTime camera above the display, with the ambient light sense located slightly above it....
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