Back in the middle of the March, I went to an event at Liberty's on Regent Street where I was met with a long line of people camping outside the Apple store ready for the release of the new iPad. Many thoughts crossed my mind, the main one being "Crazy people, why couldn't they just order it online like everyone else?!" Luckily it was during that beautiful spell of summer sun that we had, but that didn't stop them huddling together on camp chairs in ski jackets and woolly hats. It looked to be a long night ahead of them.
So, was it worth the wait for these eager consumers? Here is the lowdown on the new iPad:
iPad 3 Pros:
Amazing retina display: Better graphics, improved pixilation, much sharper picture.
This one has voice dictation, meaning that you can type an email or to-do list without actually typing.
Definitely resolutionary. In fact, I actually get nervous to touch it because it looks so fine and delicate. There really is no need to worry in fact, as the iPad is still as resilient as ever. Just don't let your two year old carry it around, as a friend of mine has found out. Twice.
Improved camera at 5MP. And Apple have released iMovie for iPad, meaning that this is the perfect video camera for you. It is now on a par with the iPhone 4S, which is a very good camera.
iPad 3 Cons:
The voice dictation isn't foolproof. I find that I have to edit the text typed out, in the same way that I have to with Siri on my iPhone 4S. However, you would probably use the iPad for longer texts, so it is a little irritating. I read somewhere that I might have something to do with a British accent but my Apple UK iPhone doesn't seem to have that problem and Siri speaks back to me like my own personal English butler, so I don't see why that should be an issue.
The advertised improved battery life serves to support the improvement in pixels, so although it appears to be increased, it actually lasts about the same time as the previous model.
Some people have mentioned in various reviews across the internet that the corner gets warm when the improved processor has been working for a few hours. I am yet to notice this. Or be bothered by it in the slightest.
Can it replace a laptop yet?
There is still no USB hub or HDMI port, which would be good for so many reasons, but I guess it's a lot to do with not wanting to make it too similar to a MacBook. From a writer's point of view, it will never be a replacement for a real computer as I like to have a nice big keyboard and screen in front of me, but I do really appreciate being able to carry it around and have all of my online banking, social media and blogging accounts easily accessible.
TIP! Get a case straight away. The iPad is designed to carry around, but you need something to cover the screen and protect it should you drop it or it knocks against something in your bag. A case with a stand on it is perfect as you can prop it up to watch videos, read books and articles and type easily.
So, is it worth paying the extra for the new iPad?
Many people are asking themselves this question as the cost of the iPad 2 has dropped significantly, as expected, when the latest version came out. So should you pay for the improved version? Well, yes and no. Right now, app developers haven't quite caught up with the graphics so you won't quite see the benefits yet for many things. If you aren't a pixel snob, then the iPad 2 is a great price at the moment. But there is a lot more to come and once these start coming out, the iPad 3 will be unstoppable.
