Is the iPad 2 Worth an Upgrade

No doubt about it, Steve Jobs and Apple revolutionized the computer industry with the introduction of the iPad last year. It was easily the hottest new tech gadget of 2010 with its slim form factor, huge selection of ready-made apps, and sleek touch-screen interface. Meanwhile, for those who received the original iPad for Christmas, the shiny "new toy" feeling quickly wore off after Apple's spring release of the iPad 2. Did those of us who recent bought version one get shortchanged somehow?

Here's what the iPad 2 has that iPad one doesn't:

Dual Picture and Video Cameras

If you're familiar with the dual-facing front and back cameras on the iPhone 4, you'll know exactly what to expect with the dual cameras on the iPad 2. These cameras make it easy to take pictures and video shots of other people or of yourself. These cameras also enable you to run FaceTime and have a video conference with other iPad 2 users.

However, given that the technology is relatively new, the number of people you can talk to on FaceTime for the iPad 2 is relatively limited. If you're not already an active FaceTime user, this might not be a great incentive to upgrade. Additionally, don't expect to get the type of picture quality you'll get from an actual digital camera. The iPad 2 is definitely not a camera substitute. However, it will do just fine for snapping shots and uploading them to Facebook or Twitter.

Faster Processor

The iPad 2 has a processor that's twice as fast as the original version. It's great for running graphics-intensive apps at high speeds. However, there's not a large group of people complaining that the processor in the original version is slow. This might change as apps become more graphics-intensive and require more processing power. This is the same phenomenon that affects your old desktop computer-the computer seems to slow down as programs become larger and more complex. If you're the type of person who wants to get ahead of the game and be ready for the latest apps, then upgrading to an iPad 2 might be a good choice.

HDMI Video Output

The iPad 2 features HDMI video output, which will let you hook the iPad up to your television to do things like play slideshows, stream Netflix movies, or watch movies you've downloaded through iTunes. If you already have an internet-enabled television or a Wii, this might not be that big a deal. If you don't, it's definitely a handy feature.

A Thinner and Lighter Form Factor

The iPad 2 is 15% lighter than the original model, and it's also a few millimeters thinner. While this is cool, given that the original model is already exceptionally thin and light, the difference is not that pronounced. If you're upgrading because you think the new model will be tremendously lighter than the old one, you're likely to be disappointed. You're looking at a reduction from 1.5 pounds to 1.3.

Here's What's Wrong with the iPad 2:

Still No Support for Flash

If the iPad has one serious drawback, it has to be the lack of support for Flash. It's annoying not to be able to play videos shared on Facebook or Twitter. And it's frustrating to be surfing the web and come across a web site you really want to see but can't because it's powered by Flash. Apparently the lack of Flash support can be attributed to some kind of disagreement between Apple and Adobe. Meanwhile, as the war rages on, many rival tablet PCs will be offering Flash support. So if this is an important factor for you, the question is no longer "Should I upgrade to the iPad 2." The question is now "Should I stick with the iPad at all?"

Still Expensive

While the original iPad has dropped in price by one hundred dollars, the iPad 2 is still pretty expensive. For $500, you can go out and buy a high-performing laptop that does much more than an iPad, albeit without the iPad "cool" factor. No doubt as competing tablets come out, they'll be less expensive than the iPad, and they'll support Flash. In the meantime, if you're not quite sure you want to shell out hundreds of dollars for either model, there are a number of ways to get one for free. Just do a Google search for "free iPad," and you'll get more than 321 million results.

Apple iPad 2 Vs Motorola Xoom

Apple's iPad 2 is the company's second generation PC tablet and has a different set of rules that sets it apart from the company's first edition. And with the success of this remarkable machine, competitors are all the buzz on how to get their fair share of profits in this fast growing market of computer tablets. One major competitor of the iPad 2 is the Motorola Xoom, which has been on the market a little longer. Let's look at how these two machines compare side by side.

The Xoom features a 10.1-inch screen compared to the iPad 2 9.7-inch. It may not seem like much, but when held, it makes a big difference when surfing the web or watching videos. Although the Xoom currently uses Verizon's 3G network, it will offer a free upgrade to the super-fast 4G network with Motorola Mobility. Ipad 2 customers will not have that luxury any time soon.

Apple has cornered the market for the time being in the number of applications it offers. Last count it was close to 70,000, but more developers are getting on the Android development board and by year-end, there will be just as many of these tablet applications offered.

The duel-core 1 GHz A5 processor of the iPad 2 was a major improvement from its predecessor's A4, compared to the Xoom's NVIDIA Tegra 2 1.0 GHz dual core processor. In the area of web browsing, Apple did not make much of an improvement here. It still uses Safari Mobile, while Motorola uses Chrome browser in Honeycomb giving the user a faster surfing experience.

So where is the advantage? Well, looking at both tablets side by side, the only advantage the iPad 2 may have is that it's made by Apple. Both devices have duel core processors, offer WiFi and 3G, and have duel cameras. For a cost comparison, the Xoom runs close in price with the iPad. Apple has built a high quality product. It's thinner and lighter than the Xoom, but that's really the only area where it stands out. It is more comfortable to carry than the Xoom but in a bag or purse, it's just as easy to pick up and go.

Doing multiple tasks is simple for Xoom with all of the upgrades to the Google Android 3.0 operating system. Google wanted to give a desktop functionality to their product which makes the Apple iOS 4.3 look obsolete. It may be safe to say that the iPad 2 has found a formidable match in the Xoom. It just makes us anticipate what Apple will do when they bring the third edition tablet to market.

Tech Shortage Is Coming

This article is time sensitive and if your reading this a year from now in 2012 it may not be as true or true at all. If you are reading it in the summer of 2011 it is extremely important to know that the gadgets and gizmos you love so much; may soon be very hard to come by.

All the demand for amazing products such as the Canon 5D Mark 2 or the iPad2 or the N300NN security camera; combined with the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has led to one inevitable result; an inability to get high enough quality and quantities of the chips and processors that make these amazing gadgets run.

As stock is running out on your favorite gizmos including surveillance equipment and CCTV products; we are reaching a point where the ability to get these fine items, especially in the surveillance industry, but all over the ech world is going to be harder and harder.

This is already happening as I have seen some of the most popular CCTV products reduced to only one or two left in stock with no more coming until October or November, and still in very limited quantities. With this reality and information in mind it has made some resellers and distributors stock up early, but when these supplies run out there will almost inevitably be a rise in price as the demand continues to rise with limited supply. The closer we get to June and especially July of 2011 we are going to see fewer and fewer tech products available as their supplies dwindle without quick replenishment.

Furthermore for the smaller scale tech creators it will take a longer time to restock their products as bigger named companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Sony, etc... will get higher priority.

So if you know that in the near future you are going to be needing that key piece of surveillance equipment or wanting that really cool spy gadget; you may want to look at getting it soon as it may not be available for long; and if it is available in a month or so; you may be facing a higher price than you would have otherwise. There is of course the patient route in which you can always wait the 6 months or so and get your surveillance equipment then; otherwise you may want to act fast before it's too late.