The iPad 2

The iPad 2 was demoed by Apple on March 2nd, but you can see it (and own it) for yourself on March 11th in the US, on March 25th in many other countries. Plenty of details leaked out ahead of time about the new version, and most of that speculation was right on target. Here's a recap of what the new version offers:

• Faster processor - The CPU is twice as fast and it's 9 times as fast with graphics. We've had no problems viewing videos with the original version's processor, so we suspect this will come into play more with games.
• Front and rear cameras - More than for taking photos or video, the two cameras will facilitate running Apple's Face Time program, which is Apple's answer to Skype.
• Thinner and lighter frame - The new device is 1/3 thinner than the current model and about 3 ounces lighter.
• White color option - Now available in black or white.

These are all nice upgrades, but probably not enough to get most owners of the original iPad to upgrade. Instead, the benefits of the upgrades will accrue to Apple as it strives to stay ahead of the competition such as the highly-regarded Motorola Xoom.