Apple iPad 2 review round-up

The year 2011 started with the launch of many new tablet devices. Of course, if the device happens to be an Apple product, it is bound to generated enough curiosity amongst the tech enthusiasts. No wonder, the Apple iPad 2 is the most talked about tablet in the recent times.

Although, India has just now tasted the first version of iPad only, so it will be a good long time before we see the iPad 2 reaching this part of the world. Still, you must be willing to know more about this device. So, without further ado, here’s our round up of the initial reviews from those lucky enough to score an iPad 2 ahead of its official release:

msnbc.com: "Apple didn't need to do a lot to stay in the tablet lead, but it has certainly done enough to create more distance between itself and the rest of the field. The thinner, lighter iPad 2 raises the bar for design. And while the new dual-core processor didn't blow us away, it provides a noticeable performance boost while making resource-hungry apps such as iMovie feel buttery smooth. The camera quality isn't great, there's no 4G data, and iOS could do a better job with notifications."

"But the $499 starting price still can't be beat, at least by tablets you might want to buy. When you look at the whole package — hardware, software, apps, battery life, accessories, and yes, that price — the iPad 2 is the king of tablets."

SlashGear: "Apple has put together a superbly capable, class-shaping tablet, which can now legitimately take on not only other slates but lighter ereaders such as Amazon’s Kindle."

"The iPad 2 benefits from Apple’s cohesive hardware and software development together with the vast third-party developer support of the App Store, consistent and simple to use in equal measure."

"Apple’s vision of the post-PC world isn’t quite here yet – the iPad 2 still works best with, and at times demands, integration with a “proper” computer – but when it comes to tablets the iPad 2 maintains its position at the vanguard of the market."

Engadget: "In all, it's an incredibly handsome and svelte package. Pictures don't quite do the iPad 2 justice -- it feels really, really great in your hands. Not only does the construction give it a feeling of heft and permanence, but the thin profile combined with the new, tapered edges make holding the device a real joy."

"The CPU and graphics performance of this tablet felt extremely impressive to us -- the iPad 2 performed excellently no matter what we threw at it, games and graphically taxing apps seemed to have higher frame rates, and even when dealing with CPU intensive programs like GarageBand, it rarely (if ever) seemed to be struggling."

"For those of you who haven't yet made the leap, feel free to take a deep breath and dive in -- the iPad 2 is as good as it gets right now. And it's really quite good."

MacWorld: "For Apple’s competitors in the tablet-device market, the iPad 2 is a bucket of water to the face. After more than a year of struggling to catch up to the original iPad, here’s a new model that addresses many of the iPad’s deficiencies, dramatically improves its speed, and doesn’t cede any ground on price, features, or battery life. The iPad 2 raises the bar Apple set a year ago—and it’s time for the rest of the industry to scramble again to catch up."

"From the moment I started using the iPad 2 with familiar apps from my original iPad, I could tell that the system was faster. I thought scrolling through tweets in Twitterrific on my iPad was smooth as can be … until I scrolled through the tweet list on the iPad 2. Everything felt smoother, and items loaded faster."

Well, the initial verdict suggests that the iPad 2 is the gadget to look forward to in the coming days. The verdict is good and it's getting rave reviews everywhere. Beware Android 3.0 - It ain't going to be an easier ride for you as iPad 2 is here to pose real tough competition ahead.

Stay tuned for our in-depth review of the iPad 2 that we'll be carrying very soon for our exclusive readers.