Apple iPad 2 hands-on!

By on Mar 11, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Tablets March 11, 2011

We just returned from our friendly local Apple store and waded through the chaos to grab a pair of iPad 2 models to share with you — one white and one black. Our initial impressions? Apple has really evolved the tablet category it pioneered, and in almost every way possible. The iPad 2 is thinner, lighter and faster than the first-generation model it replaces. The end result is that the iPad 2 feels like something you want to use more and more, even more so than the first unit. Apps launch instantly, Web browsing is much faster and Photo Booth is ridiculously cool, if not completely useless except for those rare occasions. We obviously haven’t had enough time to go in-depth with things like the cameras or battery yet, but that’s all coming soon. For now, check out some photos of both models after the break in our gallery.

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  • Anonymous

    Baby Boy, why are you drinking the Apple Kool Aid? We trusted you at the Goofan (aka Apple Hater) Foundation! Not anymore! NO APPLE product is good. That’s our deep belief!!!!!

    • Anonymous

      Beat me to it. With the DROID powered Xoom 4G LTE available I really don’t know why anyone is even covering this garbage.

      • Anonymous

        Oh, so sorry sensei! It won’t happen again. Please forgive me.

      • http://twitter.com/ctt1wbw Wayne Williams

        Why are you guys drinking the Google Android kool aid?

      • Anonymous

        @Wayne Williams

        It’s simple. We have been told (by the leadership of the Goofan aka Apple Hater Nation) that Apple is bad, builds bad products and is a bad company and that Google and all their “manufacturing” partners (e.g. HTC, Motorola, Acer, Asus, Vizio, Sony, Samsung, LG, Wuanki, Kengua, Taiwan Electric, The Clone Makers, etc. etc.) are good and don’t do evil. We have also been told that we can’t be seen EVER using an Apple product. That’s why. We love Eric Schmidt, at least until April, at which point we will love Larry Page, and they don’t do evil, plus don’t charge for their products.

        Does that answer your question?

      • papyof goofannation

        by the way you really funny

      • numetheus

        Wow you are really dumb. You do know that most people are going for iPad 2 right? It will demolish Xoom sales completely.

      • normisnotatroll

        Yep, he’s really dumb. You saw right through him!

      • Anonymous

        Norm is a reverse troll. He fakes being an android fanboy to make people who like google look like idiots. He would no sooner buy an android product than turn down a sip of Steve Jobs’ piss.

      • numetheus

        Well … I know google people aren’t stupid. I really want an Android phone/tablet, but I can’t get one because they aren’t usable at work due to a lack of an official cisco VPN client. Android has generic VPN IPSec but does not support GroupID/Password features. I would get them for work use too. So unless that improves, Android is completely out for me.

    • papyofgoofannation

      All this time i`ve seen your post and have ignored them or laugh like i`m doing right now. goofan Foundation? apple hater nation? i think apple lovers “suckers” what ever you wanna call them are far bigger than your goofan club, foundation,hater nation and it`s proven!!!!! in your face. hahahahah

    • Fastwalking

      Moron

  • Anonymous

    The thing that sucks with launches like these is you either go out and wait in line before it begins (or monkey click like mad at 1 am), or you give it a few days to take in all the review and then have to wait weeks because nobody has any left.

  • Anonymous

    I just don’t see how this thing is all that big of a deal. Sure, it’s lighter and faster. But the changes are incremental at best! No high res screen, no true multitasking, same old iOS…

    • Driven1106

      blah blah blah… shut up moron! it’s not your dime….

      • Anonymous

        True. I can find better things to spend my money on. Like, I don’t know, anything else? Or just hookers. Hookers > iPad

      • Rob

        Hookers > most everything

      • Bluelou65

        hookers and blow?

        u on the OT @ td dot com?

    • Peter

      Go use your imaginary playbook.

      • Anonymous

        Actually, i think all tablets are pointless and gimmicky. I’ll go use my netbook, which is just as portable, less fragile, half the price, and is 50x more useful

      • Anonymous

        And doesn’t have a touchscreen which makes it about 1% as fun. But I’m sure you’re getting serious excel spreadsheets done on that tiny screen, so that makes it so worth the lack of fun.

      • Anonymous

        @bigfatduck

        I’m guessing you’re a twelve year old girl, cuz no logical person in their right mind would pay that much for “fun”

      • Anonymous

        A netbook with, let me guess, an Intel Atom processor?

        I have one of those and it is *painful* to use. There’s just no other way to put it.

      • LIFESAYS…

        we all know u sit at home and wait for BGR to post and Apple or Android post so you can rant like a lunatic…stick with your desktop buddy.

      • Nofanofdeb

        You use a NETBOOK?! HA! What a loser!!!

      • Nofanofdeb

        “no logical person in their right mind would pay that much for “fun” ”

        Hey, YOU’RE the one buying $500 hookers – that’s a lot of money for (what I’m guessing is) only 10 seconds of fun for you.

    • http://www.facebook.com/JustinBauder Justin Bauder

      When you look at it from the point of…..hey I didnt have an ipad because of the small problems…most of which were fixed. Weight, thickness, and speed are all I needed to take the plunge into the tablet world.

      If you have an ipad already, quit complaining, it is still a better device. Sell yours and buy a new one or enjoy your ipad1 and shut up.

      really :/

      • Anonymous

        Your first argument was actually sound, then you ruined it with your ignorance. I don’t have one, or any other tablet. They’re for people who can afford a real computer, but are too stupid to see past marketing and media hype. But you hipsters walking around with them are really sticking it to the man, i have to admit.

        -Sent from my Fuck You

      • reason

        hmmm…you assume all iPad users r hipsters. should i assume you’re a fat guy who resembles Michael Moore and jerks off to his mothers Macy’s catalog (lingerie section) while eating cool ranch doritos?

      • Nofanofdeb

        Wow Kyle, sounds like you need another look at your Mom’s Macy’s catalog. Then maybe a nap.

    • http://twitter.com/jesterthejedi Billy Butler

      Spoken like someone that is envious of others with their iPads.

      • Anonymous

        Of who? You? LOL look at that mug. You and your iPad probably get all the chicks at the tranny club don’t you?

    • Nofanofdeb

      It’s they new improved product for the same price as the old product’s original price. If you are the type of person that buys every new version of every product you own, then yes, you might be disappointed when you get it home. But for the people who haven’t bought an iPad before (yes, there are some out there) this is a great time to either buy the iPad2 or even the $100 discounted iPad….. oh and it’s not the same old iOS – it’s the new iOS 4.3.

    • Derail Doax

      I agree dude. iProducts are over priced, over hyped products that are good for simple minded people. But I totally left my Acer netbook behind for an Archos 101 tablet that was $299. So I think tablets are handy, just spending over a thousand dollars on one after two years of data charges is absolutely stupid.

      Ignore the iFags flaming you, they’ll never understand being intelligent with money, if they could understand they never would have bought Apple products in the first place. Oh and when they come back with “I have a ton of money, I make blah blah a year. So I can afford nice things.” BS. Then why did you put it on a credit card dummy? and why its your car and house not paid off yet? See stupid with money…

    • Shawn Guse

      That is what apple does to keep the sales coming in. You would do the same.

      • Anonymous

        Indeed I would. But, I wonder about the mental health of the modern consumer that thinks this device is a revolutionary change and is excited beyond reason to get it.

  • http://twitter.com/ctt1wbw Wayne Williams

    I see the Android fan boys are drinking the kool aid en masse today. You can always tell the Android fan boys because they call people who like Apple products fan boys and accuse them of drinking the kool aid, when they themselves are fan boys and drink Google’s kool aid.

    • Anonymous

      Wayne you seem to be a smart man. You should be a Goofan (aka Apple Hater.) You sure you don’t want to switch sides?

      • http://www.jeffreychew.com Jeff Chew

        My computer is better than your computer.
        My sports team is better than your sports team.
        My smartphone is better than your smartphone.
        My religion is better than your religion.
        My tablet is better than your tablet.

      • Vlkkeith

        My politician is better than your politician

      • Anonymous

        my dad can kick your dad’s ass

      • http://twitter.com/ctt1wbw Wayne Williams

        I am no Apple hater, for sure. I’ve been using Apple since the day the Apple // went in to the education market. It’s what I learned BASIC on. I use Google products, only for Google Reader though, which I think is an unsung product of the internet. But I get so sick and tired of the Apple FanBoy crap. I love calling Android users Fan Boys, it works both ways. I have an iPhone 4 and an iPad and now a Samsung Focus, and I can honestly say Windows Phone 7, the OS itself, is better than iOS. But the apps are few, but there are many gems in there. And yes, I have an Android phone for work and I freaking HATE it.

      • Anonymous

        Well, you seem to try everything and I applaud you for that. There are things I like and dislike of all the platforms from my days of using a palm pilot til today. :-)

      • Derail Doax

        You should try webOS next. WebOS > all. If you don’t care about apps…. LOL. Seriously though if you have a working brain that likes doing more than one thing at a time webOS is the way to go. Quick app switching, and soon to be Touch To Share makes for smart people phone.

    • heyhey

      goofan is a lonely geek who has never been laid. he is pathetic, just like most android fans. those people are geeky, ugly, and desperate for a quality app in the mess that android market is. they keep begging for good apps and yet developers give them the finger……just wait till windows phone 7 and webos gain traction and u’ll see the demise of the fad that android is…..i totally dig google’s web services and i use them daily….g-docs and gmail and gmaps are awesome but google has proven time and again that it is unable to produce good mobile OS……also it seems that matias duarte is not doing anything because android is still ugly as heck and just plain tackey, especially that ghastly green color they use for the android logo….

  • Sean

    So, BGR — I’m curious: Which one looks the best? White or Black?

    • Anonymous

      Well, it depends on your preference. I am Latin, so I like Cafe con Leche!

      • Anonymous

        AYE PAPI…if only u liked Apple products.

      • Anonymous

        I could be persuaded!

  • Bob

    Apple iPad 2 Hands-on!, An in-depth review brought to you by Apple Inc.

    • Anonymous

      Where was the in-depth part? I’m trying to live vicariously through these early ipad 2 buyers so I’m hoping for some serious articles on how they are being used. Can’t wait until I have $600 burning in a whole in my pocket.

      • Derail Doax

        I’ll part with about that amount when the HP TouchPad comes out. Until then I’m not interested.

    • Anonymous

      So….where is your playbook?

  • Anonymous

    Apple Came, Saw, and keep Conquering.

  • serpentor

    BG I’m glad Apple doesn’t think of you enough to give you an early review unit. They only give those to their fanboy bloggers.

    Good to know they don’t think you’re fanboish enough.

    • Bob

      They apparently sent out packages with an iPhone 4 plus a note that said ” a bit bigger + slightly faster + more magic” as early review units..

    • Anonymous

      serpentor the world still thinks you’re a dumb cunt rag

  • Anonymous

    You couldn’t have used it for another 30 minutes before posting this mostly blah article. Let’s see real hands-on.

    • Anonymous

      Doesn’t matter. It’s BGR. They’ll tell you its sent from the heavens aka Apple headquarters, throw out 6 articles on individual features like the placement of the power switch, try to balance it by throwing out a fake “where the iPad 2 falls short” article containing little contrived grievances to seem balanced, and then continue to post articles about it until the first iPad 3 rumor.

  • Grey Alien

    well lets see here – I am not a iPad hater or a Playbook fanboy but

    Adobe Flash 10.1
    1 GIG Ram
    Rear-facing camera – 5-megapixel
    Front-facing camera – 3-megapixel
    0.9 Pounds
    1080P HD Video Capture vs ipad 2 which is 720

    the hardware on the playbook is pretty compelling
    and the ipad is lacking in some areas. But the eco system is
    larger for the iPad 2.

    • NormisaDROIDsupporter

      you lost me at adobe flash

    • Anonymous

      need camera just buy camere not a tablet , also the hardware on the iPad 2 is better …

    • http://twitter.com/jesterthejedi Billy Butler

      All you can list is specs for an unreleased product. I think you should spend some time with the iPad before claiming the Playbook is better.

      • Todd

        I’ve spent a few hours with the PlayBook. It for sure is better than the iPad2.

  • Greatday

    I’m wondering if the black or white border will make a difference in viewing pages, so which one do you think works better?

  • Anonymous

    “…ridiculously cool, if not completely useless…”

    I may be alone in this, but that seems to sum up the entire tablet market…

    • Derail Doax

      Lolololol. You meant entire apple market, amirite?

  • Jayhammy

    Folks, I’ve sold my Galaxy Tab and I’ve purchased and rooted a B&N Nook Color. I’ve installed Phirenook’s ROM 4.1 on it and I also alternate between that and Cyanogenmod 7. For $250 (I’ve seen it for as low as $200 new), this 7″ “tablet” is now all I need. It was just a reader; now, it’s an Android tablet, thanks to the Android community who has developed some great ROMs for it.

    • Anonymous

      Geeze, that’s a lot of work for a simple device. No?

      • Bluelou65

        Easy for any member of the GoofanAKAAppleHater army brah.

        you just flash it and root it and customize it with some killer custom roms from the free and open awesome android community on the interwebs and then all you have to do is switch back and forth between 5 different OS and voila! you have a tablet that blows the ipad, xoom, playbook etc outta the water. i don’t see what the big deal is and why everyone in the world doesn’t do this; prolly because they are teh sheeps.

    • Mike

      dude. thats sick. for real.

  • http://twitter.com/kirkewilliams kirkewilliams

    iOS owns Android any day.

    • Anonymous

      In what? Sales? Look again.

      Products? Fail.

      What exactly do you mean?

    • http://twitter.com/Kevniv Kevin N

      If you like a big app launcher lol

      • LIFESAYS…

        is that a jail photo?

    • Derail Doax

      I own your mom anyday, so who’s counting?

  • Anonymous

    I got a hands down for ya. It’s hands down better then anything out there.

  • Anonymous

    tablets are just so freakin boring

    • Anonymous

      Couldn’t agree more.

  • Ian Medina

    iPad2:
    You can do a lot of things to it. Because there are apps for all you need! No flash? There’s skyfire and iSwifter, you need to access your pc? There’s vnc, logmein app!! You need a news reader? There’s a lot of app for that!! iPad has lots of options and to do with it!! Camera sucks? Im sure u have a decent camera of your own, just buy a camera connector for it and you are good to go!!

  • Shawn Guse

    iPad 2 is interesting. I’d use it for flight maps and things like that. Not much of anything else.

  • Faith Champion

    Man I really wish I had one but I have nothin of apple devices

  • Anonymous

    I’m really impressed with the iPad2′s hardware performance. Makes XOOM look not it’s zooming at all.

    The GLBenchmark scores shows the iPad2′s hardware is actually a generation better, while the CPUs are par when the iPad2 is clocked slower.

    That really makes the XOOM look overpriced too.

    Guess I’ll just stick with the Sony Z as a “tablet” instead, lol.

  • Anonymous_coward

    Now if you make that cover flap thingy into a slim bluetooth keyboard with a track pad built-in then you’ld have spent $1000 dollars for a SUPER COOL lookin’ 1/2 of a netbook crap-a$$. With an apple logo on it. Paste a sticker of the beatles on the back and you can sit with the cool kids. Or just buy a $300 netbook and do about a thousand times more…but you have to sit with the nerds…

  • Anonymous_coward

    Now if you make that cover flap thingy into a slim bluetooth keyboard with a track pad built-in then you’ld have spent $1000 dollars for a SUPER COOL lookin’ 1/2 of a netbook crap-a$$. With an apple logo on it. Paste a sticker of the beatles on the back and you can sit with the cool kids. Or just buy a $300 netbook and do about a thousand times more…but you have to sit with the nerds…

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