“The new iPad 2 is about a third thinner and over 10% lighter, yet speedier and more powerful than the original version, which sold a whopping 15 million units in its first nine months and, for many users, challenged their laptops as a digital tool,” Walter S. Mossberg writes for The Wall Street Journal. “And it costs the same as the original.”
“I’ve been testing an iPad 2 for about a week and I like it a lot… Apple’s design wizards have made the new iPad feel much airier,” Mossberg reports. “Placed on a table between the original model and the new Motorola Xoom, it makes the others look bloated… Despite being slimmed down, the new iPad 2 still has the same vivid, large 9.7-inch screen, and claims the same lengthy 10-hour battery as the original… Apps launched and ran a bit quicker and the whole device felt very snappy. It never crashed in my tests, unlike every Android tablet I’ve tested… For most average, nontechie users, I would recommend it over the handful of tablet competitors I’ve tested so far, especially given that the entry price remains attractive.”
Mossberg reports, “The iPad 2 moves the goal posts, by being slimmer and lighter, boosting speed and power, and holding its price advantages, available apps and battery life. As of now, I can comfortably recommend it as the best tablet for average consumers.”
Read more in the full review here.
MacDailyNews Take: So, what would Uncle Walt have his above-average / prosumer / professional tablet users (whoever they are) do? Wait until they’re dead for some iPad wannabe to match the battery life, price, weight, and vibrant, organized, and secure ecosystem that Apple’s original version 1.0 iPad has been offering since last year? Walt’s advice is akin to “Don’t hop on Secretariat, pro jockeys! Wait forever and a day for the unicorn of my delusional dreams!”
Mossberg seemingly hasn’t noticed that nearly all of the “professional” enterprise apps for tablets happen to be *ahem* iPad-only.
Limiting your recommendation to “average consumers” simply makes no sense, Walt. No sense at all. And, no, it doesn’t make you look “fair and balanced” when covering Apple, it just makes careful readers of your reviews question your judgement and/or motive(s).
Related articles:
Unbeatable: Why the iPad wannabes can’t come close to iPad’s price – March 10, 2011
Associated Press reviews Apple iPad 2: Apple pulls further ahead – March 10, 2011
PC Mag reviews Apple iPad 2: The tablet to get; Editors’ Choice – March 10, 2011
Pogue reviews Apple iPad 2: Thinner, lighter, and faster transforms the experience – March 10, 2011
Baig reviews Apple iPad 2: Second to none – March 10, 2011
What’s wrong with Walt Mossberg? – October 22, 2009