Consumer Reports Tests Apple's iPad 2
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The iPad 2 hit the market last week and quickly sold out.
While Apple clearly dominates the tablet market, Consumer Reports said other companies are trying to take a bite of their market share.
Peter Scherer has the original iPad, and said it changed his life.
"After I looked at it a little bit, I realized it filled that perfect niche between the laptop that's sometimes too heavy and too awkward, and the iPhone," Scherer said.
Now, there's the iPad 2.
Consumer Reports' first look at the iPad 2 found it's an improvement over the original.
It has two cameras, one on the front and another in the back, so you can video chat and take photos.
It also has a sleeker profile and weighs less, making it more portable.
It processes graphics more quickly, which will be most evident if you play serious video games.
With everyday tasks, you might not notice a big difference.
As for competition, there are two tablets giving Apple a run for its money.
The newest is the Motorola Xoom, which is about the same size as the iPad and has a built-in USB port, which the iPad 2 does not have.
However, it's a little thicker and heavier.
The Galaxy Tab from Samsung is smaller than the iPad, which makes it easier to carry around.
Both include a memory card slot, something else the iPad 2 doesn't have.
"Both of these tablets run on the Android platform, and, unlike the iPad, they support Flash videos used by many websites. But, there are fewer apps in the Android Market than there are in Apple's iTunes store," Paul Reynolds from Consumer Reports said.
Of course, price factors in and at most configurations, the iPad still costs less than the competitors.
Apple improved the iPad and kept the price relatively low, starting at $500 dollars, making it the tablet to beat.
The iPad 2 scored well in Consumer Reports' battery tests with a life of about 12 hours.
That's several hours longer than the original iPad, the Xoom and the Galaxy Tab.
The tablet computer market is showing no signs of slowing down.
There are many more coming, including ones from BlackBerry, Toshiba and Acer.
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