Early iPad Reviews Hit the Net
While the rest of the world will still have to wait until Friday to get their hands on Apple's new iPad lucky tech reviewers are already testing the iPad. Here's a brief rundown of what everyone has been saying about the third generation iPad and whether or not you should line up on Friday to get the hottest tablet around.
Walter S. Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal says the new iPad's upgrades are massive. "Using the new display is like getting a new eyeglasses prescription-you suddenly realize what you thought looked sharp before wasn't nearly as sharp as it could be."
Apple has also managed to provide the iPad with a longer battery life that gives it an edge over other tablets on the market. Although the improvements are great, Mossberg does warn that the new iPad weighs more and is thicker than the iPad 2. But mostly the iPad is still better than any tablet currently available.
"I've been testing the new iPad, and despite these trade-offs, its key improvements strengthen its position as the best tablet on the market. Apple hasn't totally revamped the iPad or added loads of new features. But it has improved it significantly, at the same price."
SlashGear also gushes about the new retina display saying that the level of detail is impressive and that the graphics are smooth to look at. Images on the iPad looks like a "printed, high-res image" and that the viewing angles are broad. The review also notes that Steve Jobs would have been approved of the new iPad which epitomizes the post-PC world Jobs conceived.
"No lag or delay; no frustrating cloud settings or arcane minimum software requirements. Simply pick up, swipe, and you're immersed in a joined-up ecosystem. Apple doesn't need another revolution, it has already started one, and the new iPad brings a fresh degree of refinement to a segment in which it is undoubtedly the king."
Macworld acknowledges that the new iPad's retina display is a welcome upgrade but iPad 2 users shouldn't rush to turn in their iPad 2s for the new iPad as the iPad 2's screen is still good a year later. Macworld's buying advice is that the new iPad is something for people who don't have a tablet.
"Users of the iPad 2 shouldn't fret: Their iPad investment is certainly good for another year. But they might not want to look too closely at the new iPad's screen. Once you get a load of that Retina display, it's hard to go back to anything else. "
Apple's next generation iPad will hit the market on Friday. The iPad will sell for $539 for the 16Gb and Wi-Fi only model while the 64Gb version with mobile broadband capacity sells for $899.