You've heard of it. You've seen it.
Now we tell you everything you need to know about the iPad
In many ways, the iPad is the 'default'
tablet. It's the one most people are aware of, it's the one most people own and
it's almost invariably the yardstick by which all other tablets are measured,
whether that's in terms of price, capabilities or content. But it's also true that
more people have never seen or used one than have. If you're planning to buy a
tablet, there's every chance that you don't know what makes them so desirable -
if, indeed, anything does!
That's why we've compiled this guide to the
iPad. Its advantages, its disadvantages, its strengths and weaknesses, free
from any hype and bias. If you want to find out whether the iPad is the right
tablet for you, everything you need to know will be contained within the next
few pages.
Models
The original iPad was released in 2010 and
one thing that Apple can be relied on to do is release a new iteration every
year. Initially, this was more or less every 12 months. The first generation 'iPad'
was released in 2010, the second generation 'iPad T was released in 2011 and
the third generation 'New iPad' followed in 2012.
The
first generation 'iPad' was released in 2010, the second generation 'iPad T was
released in 2011 and the third generation 'New iPad' followed in 2012.
In late 2012, though, Apple released a new
version of the iPhone (the iPhone 5) which had some major hardware changes and
in order to keep their tablet line in step with that device, they released the
fourth generation iPad after only 8 months. This seems to be a one-off, however
and a 5th-generation device isn't expected until the end of 2013, resuming the
annual schedule.
There are currently three main models of iPad
available, although each may come with varying amounts of SSD storage (anywhere
from 16GB to 128GB) and in both 3G/4G-capable and Wi-Fi Only varieties.
iPad 2
Although the iPad 1 was retired upon the
release of the iPad 2, which had twice as much RAM (512MB) and a dual core
processor, the iPad 2 was not replaced by subsequent iPad releases and remains
on sale today. Restyled as a budget iPad the 32GB and 54GB models have been
taken off sale, leaving only a 16GB incarnation, although it is still available
in both 3G-capable ($644) and Wi-Fi only ($494) versions.
Although the specs are lower than
subsequent iPad models, the most obvious difference is the lack of a Retina
screen. The iPad 2 has a screen resolution of 1024 X 768, slightly lower than
its contemporaries and substantially lower than subsequent full- size iPads.
The
iPad 2 has a screen resolution of 1024 X 768, slightly lower than its
contemporaries and substantially lower than subsequent full- size iPads.
iPad (4th Generation)
Styled by Apple as the 'iPad with Retina
Display' {even though that was true of the third generation iPad) and
colloquially called the iPad 4, Apple's flagship tablet has changed
substantially since the original device's release, although these changes are
mostly under-the-hood. Like all previous iPads, it sports a 9.7-inch
touchscreen, although with the 2048 x 1536 resolution display only found in the
third generation iPad, which it replaced in late 2012, Perhaps the biggest
change is the appearance of a 'lightning' data and power connector, which is
significantly smaller than the previous version and also found on the iPhone 5.
Available with 16-12SGB of SSD storage and
in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi Only models, the iPad 4 retails for between $599 and $1,109.
Available
with 16-12SGB of SSD storage and in 4G LTE and Wi-Fi Only models, the iPad 4
retails for between $599 and $1,109.
iPad Mini
First released in late 2012 alongside the
fourth generation IPad, the iPad mini has similar internals and specifications
to the iPad 2, although with one major exception: a 7.9-inch screen and form
factor. Unlike the iPad 2, it remains available in 16, 32 and 64GB
configurations with and without 3G capabilities, priced between $404 and $794.
Future hardware releases for the iPad are
kept tightly wrapped ahead of time, but it's widely expected that Q4 of 2013
will see the release of a fifth generation iPad as well as the release of an iPad
Mini 2, perhaps with a Retina display. It is unknown what will happen to the iPad
2, but it's likely that it will be retired, with the iPad Mini and/or Mini 2
taking its place as Apple's 'budget' tablet.
Hardware & Accessories
It is often observed that Apple's hardware
specifications are lower or less impressive than those pertaining to many of
their competitors' devices, even though the price is substantially higher.
While this is true to, it's doesn't necessarily address the spirit of the
comparison. It's worth noting that in terms of RAM and processor speed, direct
comparisons are not always as helpful as they might seem when hoping to
understand the user's experience of a tablet.
This is because Apple's software is
proprietary and custom-build to fit a very narrow range of hardware models.
Speed and efficiency can be tightly tailored to the hardware Apple have chosen,
taking specific advantage of its capabilities. By comparison android is built
to run on more generalized systems, so inefficient use of it may not result in
proportionally faster results.
With that in mind, the fourth generation iPad
runs on a 1.4GH2 dual-core Apple Swift CPU with 1GB of DDR2 RAM. Input methods
include a multi-touch screen, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis
accelerometer, digital compass and 3-axis gyro. There's a 1.2MP/720p
front-facing camera designed for video chat and a 5MP/1080p rear-facing camera
that can be used for taking photos or recording video. The iPad 4 weighs 652g
or 662g in its 3G version and is available in both black and white.
The
iPad 4 weighs 652g or 662g in its 3G version and is available in both black and
white.
For accessories, the so-called 'Smart
Cover' (sold separately) can attach magnetically to all 9.7-inch IPads since
the IPad 2 and will wake it up when the cover Is folded back. The cover can
also convert into a basic stand. A number of other peripherals are available,
both official and unofficial, but the Smart Cover is worth considering due to
the range of features it adds, as well as the protection it offers,
Despite their exterior differences, the iPad
Mini and iPad 2 are broadly identical inside. Both run a 1GHz Apple A5 CPU,
which is based on the ARM Cortex-A9. Both have 512MB of DDR2 RAM inside. And
both have the same array of inputs as the iPad 4 (although the iPad 2 uses the
old-style connector, while the iPad Mini uses the lightning connector)
One area where the iPad 2 and Mini differ
significantly is in the capabilities of the cameras each contains. The iPad
Mini has a pair of more advanced peripherals - a 1.2MP front- facing camera and
a 5MP rear-facing camera. The iPad 2, by comparison, has a pair of barely
adequate cameras: 0.3MP front-facing and 0.7MP rear-facing Weight-wise, the iPad
2 is 601g in its Wi-Fi only version and 610g in its 3G incarnation. The iPad
Mini is (for obvious reasons) much lighter, with both versions 308g and 312g
respectively
All iPads have Bluetooth support (2.1 on iPad
2, 4.0 on IPad 4 and Mini) allowing for hardware keyboard input as well as
support for other Bluetooth-capable peripherals, such as speakers, headphones
and microphones. The cellular models of the iPad 4 and iPad Mini both support
4G LIE and earlier technologies, while the iPad 2 supports 3G and earlier.
One notable criticism of the iPad's
hardware is directed at its lack of expansible storage, although this is
Apple's policy across all of its mobile devices rather than a tablet-specific
decision,
