Recycled Computing

Underwhelming iPad 2 Has a Silver Lining

- 2011.03.11

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Short link: http://bit.ly/geTYam

Underwhelming is the name of the iPad 2, but there is a sliver lining.

First off all, when I went to the Apple site to watch Steve Jobs brainwash me into suspending reality and running to an Apple Store and buying the latest and greatest. Well, even with a 20" iMac with a 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 GB of RAM running Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, I could not view Steverino at Apple's site. Seems I needed to have OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

I don't expect to watch a presentation of either one of my PowerPC laptops. I don't. They don't have the processor speed or the video card - but why can't run it on my big work iMac?

'Cause you ain't got no Snow Leopard.

Not to worry though. I could use my tiny iPod touch, which kept crashing on me. Perhaps that broke the Apple spell.

The iPad 2 comes in black or white.

Yes, I know that the iPad 2 has a new processor and two video cameras, and that it's been slimmed down and now comes in two colors! But it still lacks an SD Card slot and a USB slot and alternative methods of moving data to and from the iPad.

Say I'm visiting a friend and who has a classic CD I want to add to the iTunes library on my iPad. Can't get there from here. Same thing with a DVD. With a USB port and an external disc drive....

Want to use Bluetooth to sync or even get info from a computer or another portable device? Want to move anything to anywhere? Ya gotta use the cable and iTunes.

Isn't this just a little bit - I don't know - confining?

What about backing up the iPad? Here comes that cable again. If the dern thing would just allow you to back up it up to an external drive or even an SD Card, you could cut the cord to your Mac and back up the iPad when you are away from your computer. I thought that was what portable devices were for, to save you from dragging a larger device with you when you are out and about.

Now what is the sliver lining in all this? The falling value of the iPad 1. Apple is already selling refurbished iPads (16 GB with WiFi only) for $349 dollars online. I don't doubt that the terribly trendy among us will be selling their original iPads in anticipation of buying an iPad 2.

Wait on buying a used iPad, as I feel that the cellar has not been reached in terms of price.

Me, I'm going to see if I can pick up a refurbished one.

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