Customer Reviews on Amazon.com

1. 134 of 142 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By J. Anderson

   Perspective from an Android and Windows User 21 March, 2012

   I realize I must have been living under a rock for the past few years since I've never owned an Apple product. I've been using PCs since I was a kid in the early 90s and Android on my smartphone for three years (Blackberry before that). So it was not an easy decision for me to take the plunge on the New iPad. Below are my findings thus far, some of which I knew before buying and some that I've learned since. I won't spend time reviewing technical details or comparisons to the iPad 2. There are dozens of professional reviews out there that have done as much. Instead, this is my perspective in using the iPad after so many years with non iOS products.
   
   Positives:
   + Beautiful design, form, fit, etc. Always seems to be the case for Apple products (sometimes to the point of diminished functionality as noted below)
   + Best screen. I've always worked with large, high resolution monitors (current is 1440 27"). This screen is gorgeous as everyone has called out.
   + Best battery life at 10 or so hours; I've only had it 6 days but nothing leads me to believe 10 hours is overstated
   + Best selection of tablet-specific apps. There's really no comparison here and it will likely take years for Android and eventually Win 8 to catch up
   + Tons of 3rd party products such as cases in every possible style
   + Easy to use content via iTunes
   + Compared to laptop, instant on and long battery life are ideal for videos and entertainment on the go, quick surfing, etc. Touch of course is very intuitive (love to watch my five year old use it on her own)
   
   Negatives:
   - Big Brother In Charge: Locked factory home screen, really? I guess I've been spoiled with all the freedoms that Android includes (no iron curtain there). But if I want to get rid of an Apple factory icon, I can't. Instead, only secondary screens are up to me. In general, there is very limited ability to tweak settings. Way too controlling for a $700 device in my opinion.
   - No guided turn by turn navigation and GPS struggles to get location where my Android phone picks it up instantly; standard on even $50 Android phones
   - Having used the Android Market (now Play) for years, I am accustomed to trying out ad-supported apps for free, and then buying ad-free versions of the ones I find the most useful. Now I'm still early into iOS, but I am finding a lot more paid only apps and far fewer ad-supported free apps. I'll keep looking but this is my initial impression.
   - No SD and overpriced memory upgrade only available at time of purchase
   - No USB to connect camera and other accessories to, and Apple OEM only camera kit for a high price for what it is.
   - Occasional stutter or delayed response. Generally very smooth as reviewers have said, but both my wife and I have seen this happen once or twice an hour.
   
   I'll do a follow-up in a couple weeks when I've had more time with it. I still wouldn't consider an iPhone over Android. But for tablets, Apple is the game in town right now both for hardware and ecosystem. If Android/Win 8 tablets approached the hardware quality of the new iPad (screen, battery life, etc), and their respective app stores built up a good base of available apps, I probably would choose one of them over iOS due to above negatives. I realize some of the reasons Apple has been so successful is that they lock their products down fairly tight. But they also clearly are gaming the customer to drive additional purchases, expensive upgrades or future product replacements, etc.
   
   In summary, I think the new iPad is an amazing product that I wouldn't have imagined only a few years ago. For that, I'm willing to part with my hard earned dollars and enjoy it. But I'd also gladly swap it for an Android/Win 8 tablet in a couple years when those markets mature.
   
   Update 1 Month In:
   
   + Battery life continues to be amazing
   + Form/weight/screen all a delight
   + Compared to using laptop, find that we use more including short-bursts; instant on is great
   + Awesome as a digital photo frame for sharing photos
   - 10 Watt power supply is somewhat ridiculous considering iPad contains laptop size battery; charges take about 6-8 hours, depending on how far one lets it run down; for comparison, typical laptop comes with 40-60 watt power supply and charge in 1.5-2.5 hours
   - Lack of Flash is bigger drawback than I anticipated; Kids sites/games especially depend on Flash
   - Wi-Fi is considerably slower than on laptop and even Android phones; SpeedTest confirms speeds 50-60% slower
2. 43 of 49 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By W.Cladley

   iPad from an Android Perspective 18 March, 2012

   After reading a lot of hype and reviews about the new iPad, I thought I would give it a try, despite the fact that I have been using and mostly enjoying the Asus TFT101 (Transformer) for about a year now. Some quick pros and cons:
   
   PROS vs Android/Asus:
   
   *Retina Display: The screen is very good, but coming from the Asus, which has a higher resolution than the iPad 2, I was not blown away by it. It feels like a larger version of the Retina display on the iPod Touch, a device which I also use frequently. Coming from these two quality screens, the new iPad display was not a massive step up in quality, but I suspect many people who have been using different devices will be pleasantly surprised. Where this display shines is in color saturation and text quality. Images pop off of the screen and reading is the best I have seen on any handheld device.
   
   *App Selection: Many have made this point, but it is worth mentioning again. The App selection on iPad blows Android out of the water. There really is no comparison here. Even the free apps seem to be of higher quality than on Android.
   
   * UI: The smoothness of the UI on the iPad is second to none. The screen registers every swipe and gesture, and pages flip seamlessly and with high quality animation. The ASUS Transformer features the much discussed 2 second "Android lag," which is not a deal breaker, but feels less sophisticated compared to the iPad (although this seems less of an issue in ICS).
   s
   * Build Quality: The solidity of the iPad is a major plus compared to the Transformer. The iPad is heavy, solid, and the tactile transition from glass to brushed metal is appealing and borderline luxurious. The Asus simply feels like a sheet of plastic (which it is). The Asus also suffers from noticeable light bleeding, the charger also died within a year and the keyboard dock had to be RMA'd and repaired. I don't think these things will be an issue with the iPad.
   
   CONS vs Android/Asus:
   
   * OS: I may be in the minority here, but I find Android to be a more feature rich and deep OS. I like having some degree of control over my devices, and I appreciate the fact that Android lets me get "under the hood" a bit more than iOS. It doesn't trap me within a proprietary "ecosystem" of content, it allows me to use the device as an external hard drive to transfer media, and I can expand the storage via MicroUSB as I see fit (This has been beaten to death, but Apple really needs to allow users to expand storage-even on a proprietary basis). And there are also little touches that I think are well done, such as Android's ability to run many programs at once and allow the user to flip through them- a feature that I miss in iOS. Its Gmail widget is an invaluable and quick way to check email, and its placement of the back button is far superior to iOS. This last point may seem minor, but the Android back button at the bottom of the screen is more convenient as you do not have to remove your hands from the device to go back to a previous screen.
   
   *Weight: I prefer a heavier device but I know this is an issue for some people. The iPad is noticeably heavier than the Transformer (but lighter than other Android tablets, such as the Acer Iconia).
   
   *Keyboard Dock: This is a wonderful, albeit expensive, add-on for the Asus Transformer. The keyboard dock/charger is incredibly useful as it extends battery life, expands storage, and enhances usability. I know that you can use Apple's bluetooth mouse and keyboard with the iPad, but the all-in-one solution from Asus is more appealing as it basically affords you the convenience of a netbook and a tablet. I suspect this will be the future of mobile computing. As I noted above, however, my keyboard was defective out of the box and reviews suggest that the build quality of these units is quite poor.
   
   OVERALL: If you are new to tablets and want the best UI and great ease of use, go for the iPad. If you are technically inclined and want more control over your device, go with a high-end Android tablet. The iPad has the best tablet hardware on the market, but Android as an OS is closing the gap. That having been said, Apple's iPad, while not revolutionizing the act of computing, is instead changing how we consume the internet, and the newest iteration of the iPad is the most convincing example of this vision.
   
   **UPDATE**
   
   I just wanted to confirm that I too have experienced the extremely long recharge times reported various internet outlets (about 5 and a half hours in my case). It by no means detracts from my enjoyment of the product, but planning recharges and making sure to top off the charge at appropriate times does reduce the device's mobility.
3. 55 of 65 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By Just Trying to Help

   Desktop Replacement? Almost there! 21 March, 2012

   I've had the pleasure of trying out most of the new Apple products for the last few years. If you have any questions or requests for clarifications you can leave a comment, and I'll be emailed, or you can email me directly by clicking on my name and looking for the link.
   
   I mostly use an iPad 1, but I have the opportunity to use an iPad 2 often.
   
   A lot has changed since the iPad came out, and I wrote my original review (located here: Apple iPad (first generation) MB292LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi) titled with a quote from Woz, saying "Everyone wants things to be simpler, and along comes this simple thing" and its still very true. Tablets aren't like PCs, you don't need to maintain them or worry about software requirements at all. Its wonderful for people who hate that. My friend can tell you exactly what processor his last laptop had, but what processor does his iPad have? He'll say "Don't know, don't care". If you are wondering why to get a tablet at all, I would recommend that you read that review. Its the second review on that page.
   
   So I bought the new iPad, the 2.5, or whatever you want to call it. I'm not going to go into the tech specs, because, they are posted everywhere and unless you are a geek you will also fall into the "don't know/don't care" category. I'm going to try to focus on just telling you what I would want to know before I bought it. This review will be about real use.
   
   I chose a 32GB version. Why?
   1) The new apps that will support the retina display are supposed to take more memory, so you should expect that whatever you had on your older iPad will take more space on this new one.
   2) I feel that the days of 16GB being enough may soon be passing. With my 16GB iPad I was actually having to start managing my memory. I had to start leaving things off it.
   3) The more powerful the iPad becomes, the more I expect to use it. And this means, more memory will be needed. The iPad has never been my primary "computer", but with this iteration it might be there: I can plug an HD screen into it via HDMI now, and use a nice bluetooth keyboard. However, you have to use the iPad itself as a gigantic touchpad, as you can't use a pointing device. It mirrors whats on the screen, so, its clumsy-but-possible. Still, we are getting so close to throwing the ipad down on the desk at work and just... working.
   So for the first time I plunked down my hard earned money for the 32GB version. I think the 16GB version will be like having a 4GB iPhone 2G.
   
   I'd also like to point out that despite the improvements and upgrades, Apple is maintaining the same starting price that it did for the iPad 1 and the iPad 2. This is very nice.
   
   The main new things -for me- in order of importance are:
   1) The 4G LTE network (I have the AT&T version). We'll skip the cell phone enthusiast argument over whether this is really a 4G device, because 4G was actually supposed to be (clears throat) even better. Because in spite of that, the 4G LTE may be the primary reason I plunked down my change and bought it. I want to be able to do my work remotely without problems.
   
   I ran some tests on the new iPad.
   --In my office, which has a 6mbps DSL and wifi, I saw a 3.6Mbps upload and a 512k upload. You might say "who cares?" Ah but wait.
   --I signed up for the 3GB Data Plan at $30/mo, and when using the 4g LTE network, I saw a 17Mbps connection.
   --And at home, where we have the fiber optic connection, I only saw an 11Mbps connection.
   --And finally, my iPhone 4s got a lousy 2.5Mbps on the AT&T 4G non-LTE network.
   So there you have the relative speeds. All calculated using the Speed Test app.
   
   So here's the point... the new 4G service is a major upgrade. On the LTE network it is very fast - however, I did experience some latency when just checking emails traveling in a car driving 70 mph. This is typical for this technology, it seems to have problem switching from tower to tower. But if you are sitting at a park downtown then I don't think you'll see those problems. What does this mean? You should see a movie download in 1/2 to 1/4 of the time. And the iPad will be able to act as a wifi hub for all your devices. In other words, I will be able to use the iPad for internet for my laptop too. Now, at the time of this writing, it should be noted that you cannot use your iPad as a wifi hotspot with AT&T. At this time only Verizon supports that feature. (Maybe you want to pick the Verizon version if this is important to you).
   
   Now, I live in a metro area in one of the biggest cities in the USA, so, your 4g service may vary. And they are charging a super premium price: $10 per GB. A full length movie on iTunes is 2GB or 3GB, so it can't replace my home connection, but its great for work and casual use.
   
   Back to the countdown:
   2) The "resolutionary" screen. It is true that this screen is amazing and a pleasure to look at. You can't see the pixels, and I love that. I love that on my iPhone 4 too. It will take a while for the App makers to really utilize this to its full extent, so I don't think you need to got all excited and upgrade tomorrow.
   3) The faster processor. I actually did not have a problem with my old iPad processor, but soon my old iPad will be like using a 2G iPhone. But it will take a while for the App makers to really utilize this to its full extent. Once again, I don't think you need to upgrade tomorrow, but, a few months after release it should be a lock (I happen to know that many iPad developers wait until they can actually get their hands on a retail unit before upgrading their existing apps, although once they get the retail unit its like a race to finish).
   4) Dictation. I have used this with success. However, like most voice recognition software its usefulness is reduced by the fact that I'm seldom in a quiet place. Still, I like it. I think its a valuable addition, and I typically use it when I only would have to type a few words. I don't use it to type long letters, as its not completely accurate and I think editing out all the mistakes would take longer than typing it out. (I do use an Apple brand bluetooth keyboard for serious typing: Apple Wireless Keyboard MC184LL/B [NEWEST VERSION ] I have also tried a chicklet style one but it didn't work well for me: Kensington iPad 2 Case with Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard for Apple iPad 2 3G Tablet, WIFI Model K39521US .
   5) The camera. I don't think I'll use this much. Mostly when taking pictures of things that I'm writing about, which isn't that often. Maybe for some FaceTime. But I don't think this makes it worth it to upgrade from the Original Ipad. (the iPad 2 had a camera, so you can ignore this if you have an iPad 2)
   
   Other usage changes since iPad 1:
   1) I bought an HP envy ( HP Envy 110 e-All-in-One Printer for the wireless printing from iPad and iPhone. This has worked out VERY well. I think the AirPrint implementation has worked nicely.
   2) One thing I was disappointed with the original iPad for was the inability to see what was on the iPad screen on a TV. Since then I have purchased an Apple TV Apple TV MC572LL/A (2010) [OLD VERSION ] which is now the old version. And Apple has made it possible to see whatever is on the screen of the iPad on a bigger screen, and you can buy HDMI adapters now: Apple Digital AV Adapter (MC953ZM/A)
   3) On my first review I talked about the ability to put your iPhone sim card into your iPad and share your existing data service. I tried this out, putting my iPhone microsim in the new iPad and I was invited to purchase a new data plan. So apparently that little moneysaver has been eliminated.
   
   Other things that stay the same:
   You still won't be able to use Flash, a website programming language that allows websites to act more like computer programs. I've read that the reason that Apple won't allow this is that Flash is often the gateway to getting viruses and other nasties. As a result, there is no need to have antivirus software on your iPad, its very very safe. The iPad is rock solid reliable. In fact, the only virus I've heard of for the iPad is where someone had to send you a Pdf via email and get you to open it. And of course, thats threat was removed before I even heard about it.
   
   On my last review, I talked about usage. Apps I use a lot now:
   1) Logmein: to do anything on my computer that I can't do on an iPad. This would include Flash based software. I connect to a computer THROUGH my iPad, and control the computer to go to flash sites. Ordinarily I would say this is not worth it, but the computer also runs engineering programs and other programs that don't really exist for the iPad.
   2) Gopayment to accept credit cards, although Quickbooks Online usage is hampered by the fact that Quickbooks makes you use a stripped down version through the safari web browser. Once again, use LogMein Ignition.
   3) I find the spreadsheet program (numbers) to be highly annoying. However, there was recently an announcement that MS Office programs Excel Word and Powerpoint will soon be available for the iPad with an interface similar to MS OneNote. I'll be buying a copy of Excel and hoping that it doesn't suck.
   4) Find my Friends: I see where people are without having to call them and say "where are you?" which is nice. Because I can see where my wife is without calling her, I get less honeydos. Wipe that smirk off your face >:( But also if you know they are driving you don't have to worry about distracted driving causing an accident.
   5) I don't end up playing many games on the iPad. I play a lot of games on the iPhone. But thats just my usage experience. Maybe that will change with the new screen.
   You can read my original iPad review (linked above) for more usage ideas, if you are new to tablets.
   
   A bit more about usage, someone pointed out in a comment that you don't need the HDMI adapter if you intend to use AirPlay. Airplay includes the ability to wirelessly stream audio and video from your iPad to a TV. Typically this is only from apps that share music and movies, which is the functionality of Airplay (You PLAY things over the air). There are Airplay adapters, including the AppleTV. However, the HDMI connector does more than the Airplay allows: You can share the actual screen of your iPad, no matter what it shows, to a TV as a mirror image. If you were to want to use the iPad as your primary "computer", you would probably want an HDMI adapter for big screen use. I meet more people each month who do use a Tablet as their primary computer, so I felt this was an important point to clarify. I own the AppleTV and the HDMI adapter, and use them in different ways at different times.
   
   Will this Ipad 2.5 make my original iPad as useless as a 4GB iPhone 2G? For the first 6 months, no. But after that, its likely. Overall I am happy I bought it, mostly for the native 4G LTE internet. Followed by the beautiful screen. The faster processor is the 3rd reason, and as soon as the app developers start utilizing it to greater advantage, it will likely become the #1 reason. And I think I'll feel that that has happened in about 6 months.
   
   After MS Excel comes out I may make an attempt to make the iPad my primary computing device, using the HDMI out and a bluetooth keyboard. Wish me luck.
4. 16 of 17 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By D. Young

   Lamen terms please!!! 21 July, 2012

   Okay, first of all I have read through about 10 customer reviews of this new iPad 3rd Gen. I must say that I am very impressed at some of these "editorial like reviews". Well after all of the technical stuff, I'd like to just keep it plain and simple.
   
   I never owned an iPad before last week. I was always saying that Apple was overrated and actually they're not. I have owned all kinds of "other" cellphones, smartphone and tablets. Well, last month I finally brokedown and purchased an iPhone 4S and now this cool looking iPad 3rd gen 32GB. I will just say that it makes my Samsung Galaxy Tab look pretty lame and boring. I had ordered mine online and could not wait for it to arrive earlier this week. Well anyway, I opened it up registered it on iTunes and began to sync it to my account. Well after that I began to mess around with everything and had so much fun doing so, that I didn't go to bed until really late. I was impressed that it was fully charged up when I turned it on for the first time. The graphics are second to nothing elso out. I purchased some Beats by Dre Studio headphones so I could listen to music and movies in quiet places. I love everything about the new iPad...I really don't even need a regular desktop anymore. I have considered buying an iMac desktop maybe later on down the road. I heard that some people complained about the iPad getting hotter than normal on one side, well mine has not so far, I assume Apple fixed the problem with that.
   
   Now, on the flip-side of the coin, I must say this new iPad is really heavy and dense like, I am turned off from that aspect, especially since a lot of reviews say the iPad 2 is much lighter, why is this one so heavy!? Secondly, I think this model should have an sD card reader and at least one USB 2.0 port. Lastly, I think they should have added Siri to this new iPad since she's such a hit with the iPhone 4S.
   
   Well hopefully this review is pretty simple to absorb and can be really helpful to someone. All and all, I really enjoy my "new iPad", but the last things I mentioned above is the reason why I gave it an 8/10 or equally 4/5 stars rating.
   
   **Forgot to mention**, iTunes is really cool and now they have the iCloud feature. So what ever you decide to download it will automatically appear in other Apple devices that you have registered. I currently own 2 other devices and it's nice not to have to download everything via the computer, with iCloud it's already there.
   
   **UPDATE** 9/22/12
   A few days ago, I was able to update my iPad 3rd Generation to iOS 6 (so this means "Ms. Siri" is now available on this generation of iPads). I said thank you, they have answered our prayers. One strange thing that happens when you update your operating system is the YouTube App disappears...IDK what that's about.
5. 8 of 8 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By Sidehop

   It all depends on how you'll be using this device 24 May, 2012

   From an Android based perspective, this device will get a 4-star if not 3-star for many reasons. While loyal Apple fans or people who want to use the basic apps but appreciate its design you'll likely give it a 5-star. So I had to go with the 4-star to be fair.
   
   Where the iPad 3 shines:
   - Gorgeous screen; not much complaint here as watching HD movies including Netflix and YouTube video is amazing
   - Thin & lightweight; for its size, it's not too big of a hassle to carry around
   - Beautiful design overall; Apple pretty much set a standard for today's tablets and they still keep simplicity in a beautiful design
   - Simple; you don't need to know how to use Apple products, great for kids and adults that aren't exactly tech savvy
   - Amazing battery life; I could play Minecraft for hours and don't eat up batteries like other tablets do
   - Very responsive; for the most part depending on the app. Rarely freezes (yes, it still does freeze from time to time) and is fast enough to run any HD games and apps.
   
   Where iPad 3 doesn't impress:
   - No flash. Flash enabled sites either need a flash compatible browser if not you cannot view the content.
   - No GPS for the Wifi version; this would annoy you if you're looking to use it for navigation (you'll need separate GPS module made by another company that cost at least $100)
   - Slow charging; with the wall charger it comes, it does charge very slow. The only negative side of the longer lasting tablet
   - Keyboard is not intuitive; difficult to type in landscape mode, no swype or other after-market keyboard like Android has
   - Expensive; for the money you'd think you'll get more out of the unit
   - Screen size icons; for the massive screen, you don't have a way to cram more icons forcing you to either create folders within or use multiple screens.
   - Many apps that are free on Android market often times are not free on Apple Stores.
   - Proprietary plugs; when will Apple learn? No HDMI, mini-USB, etc.
   
   I personally recommend the iPad Wifi version for:
   - General entertainment for games, movies and news reading + where Wifi is available
   - Children; easy to navigate and use
   - Don't care about GPS navigation or use it for related purpose
   - Are not tech savvy or don't mind not having flash options
   - Want something simple and reliable
   - Want long battery life
   
   I don't recommend the iPad Wifi version if you:
   - Want to use this in the car, boat or wherever you need a GPS for navigation and plotting
   - Want to do any sort of modification including custom ROM's
   - Need flexibility in terms of the O/S
   - Are looking for cost savings and best bang for your money
   
   Personally I'm more of an Android guy than Apple guy but it doesn't mean Apple's products are bad either. It's one beautiful tablet I've ever played around with (it's my wife's) and aside from it not having GPS and other features available on Android, it's a solid performer.
   
   On a personal note, if they come out with a 7" tablet I wouldn't mind owning one. Especially if it had GPS even on the Wifi version I'd buy one in a heartbeat. To me, the pro's outweigh the con's for the iPad 3. For as long as I can remember I've been a PC-guy where I didn't care for Apple but ever since iPod's came out, they've really changed the computer industry.
   
   You won't regret your purchase either way. Just take note of what's not on the device and what to expect.
6. 6 of 6 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By TheMan

   The new Ipad 3 16 August, 2012

   I have had the new Ipad for almost 3 weeks now. I've downloaded lots of apps, use it for business meetings, play HD games on it, take pictures in different settings, use it to stream videos, watch my own videos on it, do some ppt presentations on it, use MSWord and Excell documents on it, read some iBooks on it, put the battery into constant abuse to see how long it last and I gotta tell ya, I'm pretty much impressed! But I do have a few cons about this tablet. And now I will list my pros and cons below.
   
   PROS & CONS:
   1. Retina display is stunning! I have view wallpapers, photos, videos(my own uploaded & streaming)and it looks incredibly sharp and crisp. I have some photos that were taken during a trip to SF Bay a few months back and forgot to bring my Cannon DSLR camera so we took some pictures with my wife's little samsung handheld 8mp camera. When these photos loaded onto my laptop they look ugly, blurry, and pixelated but when I had them transfer to the new Ipad to view...wow they look great (not amazing, but great). The retina display help the photos to shine! I've also uploaded the movie "The Lorax and Acts of Valor" to the new Ipad and even at 720p, the pictures looks stunning. Then I stream movies from Netflix and Amazon and the pictures looks even more stunning. Last week we went to a hiking trip and I took some pictures with the Ipad's camera. I was a little skeptical due to the fact that it didn't have a built in flash, but when I view the pictures both on the new Ipad and my laptop, I was amazed how good the pictures look (it makes me wanted to take it to walmart and have it printed). I even test the display laying down and try viewing from the side and the picture still looks stunning. Overall, the Retina display on the new Ipad is topnotch and you will love it! Definately a PRO!
   
   2. Performance wise, the Ipad is a quard core (4X) processor and with only 1g of internal graphics memory I don't really have much issues with it. I have had a few crashes with some apps but I believe it's due to the app. I have run apps that are processor hungry such as Air Supremacy and Garageband without a glitch. I know with any tablet, you will experience some problems and the Ipad 3 is no exception. I only wish apple put a 6 cores and 2g of memory inside but that would up the price too. Neither PRO or CON.
   
   3. Responsiveness, the touch screen response pretty quick with my fingers but I'm using a stylus pen and depends on how hard the tip of your stylus pen is sometimes the screen won't register. You will need to push a little harder. Still a PRO!
   
   4. Productivity, with any tablet you buy it because you want it to use it for work and play, right? Well, I have work with the new Ipad and play with it and this is how I feel. I've used it to take notes during a meeting (I'm the notetaker) using just the app "Note" with a bluetooth keyboard and I was able to keep up with the meeting. Pretty impressive! I have use it to give out speeches using ppt slideshow and able to use and edit MSWord on the tablet. Even if I have to use third party apps to be able to use ppt and words, it runs great and very impressive! I've used the tablet to remote controll my laptop and wow it runs smoothly without a glitch. I was able to download some of the files I needed to my new Ipad within minutes! You can access ONLive, Dropbox, etc. on the tablet without any issues. Reading on the new Ipad is great also. The letters on the screen is truly crisp, clear and sharp and I gotta say it's the best compare to any tablet on the market now (Even with the new Asus Infinety TF700). PLAYTIME! Games, Games and Games! I've downloaded tons of games, bowling, Angry birds, hockey, fruit ninja, pool, DH reloaded, Riptide, Dark Me, FLcommando, Dead Trigger, Juggernaut, GT HD, Air Supremacy, Metalstorm, F18 Carrier, Gunships, Blood and Glory, Infinety blade, and many more that I've played and deleted. The games looks stunning on the new Ipad and it plays well (especially Air Supremacy, wow you gotta check out the graphics on that game!). THIS IS MOST DEFINATELY A PRO!
   
   5. Well, every tablet has it goods and bads and it's no exception for Apple's new Ipad. I have the screen brightness at "AUTO" and in my opinion I don't think the battery lasted long enough. It lasted about 6.5 to 7 hours for me. This made me want to get the Asus Infinety TF700 with the keyboard dock. I went to bestbuy to ask them why didn't the new Ipad support flash and they gave me a bunch of bullship excuses. Well it's APPLE! They want to be different! I really wish that my wallpapers could be a moving background like all the android tablets. NO ANIMATED BACKGROUNDS - a bummer for me! NO microSD card slots, HDMI, or anything else except your power button, wake, and volume buttons. And it will cost me an arm and a leg to get accessories/adapters for the new Ipad to be able to stream (HDMI) movies to my HD TV, shoot my ppt presentation on a screen, transfer photos/videos to and from my new Ipad. And most of all, I can not expand my internal storage cuz NO microSD card! I bought (well...my wife bought it for me. What a nice wife I have!) the 32g Ipad and with all the apps, movies, videos, photos I have already I'm down to 7g of memory left. Darn! should have told her that I wanted the 64g!
   
   6. Other CONS that I have are, IT GETS HOT! as hot as my 3 year old laptop. The new Ipad can be a heater for winter (although the new Ipad might freeze during winter). Do not put your Ipad in the car! It does not like heat! Even under the seat it will overheat, it likes to breath just like you and me. It's like why would you lock your animal or kids in a warm summer car. Same concepts here people! why would you lock your Ipad in a hot summer car. When you play intense games or run application hungry apps it will get hot and you will notice it. Another gripe, I mean CON. What $#R@# is the use of a facing camera that takes pictures or video that looks like VHS quality. All these tablet companies that have a little wimpy low resolution facing camera on their tablet need to go and do more research. If you're willing to put a 8MP camera on the back might as well put one in the front. I want to look stunning when I facetime with friends and family. It's an advertisement gig! LOOK GOOD on camera to show the world they will come and buy your product! PUT a decent camera on the front!
   
   7. And LAST but not LEAST! I was very happy that the next system upgrade on the new Ipad, Apple will finally have SIRI on the new Ipad. Well...at least I will have a woman to talk to when my wife is not home. I just hope Apple don't use a man instead! better yet, give options to choose man or woman or an alien. I guess, after all the PROS and CONS and gripes it all comes down to one last question. DO I RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO BUY THE NEW IPAD 3? Yeah...yeah! If you have the cash ($499 and up) or if you have a beautiful and very nice wife that would buy one for you. " GO AHEAD MAKE YOUR DAY! YOU WON'T BE DISSAPPOINTED! "
7. 8 of 9 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By TomWilly

   Decent upgrade from the iPad2; some compromise 26 March, 2012

   I love my iPad 2. The weight and size was about the max that I thought I could withstand in a handheld device. For me, the iPad 3 is a set of compromises that I decided was worth it in the end.
   
   Weight/thickness: If you hold your iPad a lot when using it, then I think you will notice the extra heft of the third gen iPad. It's not major, but it's noticeable. I find that I become a fatigued more quickly when reading in bed or holding the iPad on the plan while watching a movie, etc.
   
   Heat: Yes, it runs a lot warmer than my iPad 2. You will notice it. The heat adds to the overall fatigue, largely because the greatest heat occurs exactly where you hold the iPad in portrait mode (lower left corner). Sure would have been nice if they cold have flipped something around inside to put the greatest heat elsewhere.
   
   Screen: Nice improvement over the iPad2. Makes reading easier on the eyes. No more jagged fonts. When I go back to reading on my iPad 2, I wonder how in the word I managed with it. Colors are more vibrant too. I won't call is revolutionary, but it is a very nice upgrade. At the end of the day, my iPad 2 would still be fine if I had never seen the iPad 3 screen.
   
   LTE: This is a major selling point for me. AT&T LTE has been faster than both my home and work WiFi. I did notice that LTE drains the battery very quickly, however. I saw a 10% drop in battery within about 15 minutes while using LTE. Battery drain was much slower when I jumped onto my work wifi.
   
   Overall: I am happy with the new iPad, but I do find that I miss the smaller size and weight of the iPad 2. The iPad 2 "disappears" when you use it, which was Steve Job's main objectives. The iPad 3 does not have the same effect. The screen pulls you in, but the extra heft becomes apparent more quickly. IF the heft doesn't become noticeable, the heat will get your attention. The heat is within acceptable limits, but it is there to remind you that you are holding an electronic device. It's harder to get lost in that book or movie. So if the magic of the iPad disappearing is important to you, then wait for the fourth gen which is bound to be lighter and cooler. If you want a graphics and LTE workhorse that you will use on a table more than holding free-form in your hand, then the iPad 3 is a good choice. Overall, I prefer the iPad 2 for the reason that it does disappear and pull you in. Already waiting to see if the iPad 4 returns to this experience.
8. 5 of 5 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By Harkanwar Anand

   LIMITED IMPROVEMENTS OVER iPAD 2 28 May, 2012

   Apple can say what they want but as a keen follower of Apple I can tell you the reason they're calling this the ipad and not ipad 3 is not what they want you to think. There are very few improvements over the ipad 2. If you have never had an ipad, then go for the ipad 3. If you have an ipad 2 like I did, I would say stick with it and wait for the next year's ipad. Let me nonetheless talk about how I use this device.
   
   What do I use my iPad for -
   
   a) I stepped on my Kindle four months back and have been using my ipad for "reading" since. It is a much better experience because of the backlight, the smooth transitioning of fonts. It is so easy for me to send myself an ebook. I simply attach the .epub file to an email and send it to myself and it opens within seconds on iBook. On the other hand, if I have a .mobi file - I can simply open it using the Kindle app. If the Kindle app is installed on your ipad, when you click on the attached .mobi file in your email it simply opens it in Kindle.
   
   b) I sometimes like to watch mp4 files on my ipad. I do this when I'm lying on the bed leaning on a couple of cushions I can simply place the ipad on my stomach holding it with a hand and watch an episode of Game of Thrones. Bear in mind, it will not play any avi files or divx files and Apple iOS devices support only mp4. If you have a mac, I recommend a s/w called "smartconverter" which specifically converts avi files to mp4 for iPad 3.
   
   c) I'm using a Speck case so the fact that this little man heats up more than the predecessor hardly makes a difference. Does it heat up? yes, sometimes, it gets very annoying and does definitely heat up more than the ipad 2.
   
   d) Portable mp3. If you switch the screen on the ipad off and let it play music for you, it will keep playing at a sufficient volume for hours. I often go to sleep on my couch with the iPad singing away for hours. It can play audio for several hours without losing the battery. I am disappointed in saying the audio is the exact same as it was on the ipad 2, so it not Louder than the ipad 2.
   
   e) Checking email, facebook, the web browsing still needs improvement because often times I have found Safari a bit lacking and buggy but trust me I am saying this from the point of view of someone who's been using the iPad for a year. If you have never used an iPad you will find it sufficient, I just find it annoying when I'm trying to use it on forums. The world wide web is still not very iPad friendly. Is it better to serve than any other tablet? Hell yes. But is it as good as using Firefox on my macbook air? Never. The keyboard is great.
   
   WHAT HAS CHANGED FROM THE IPAD 2 -
   a) A bit heavier but I got over that soon.
   b) The graphics are slightly better. The retina display is not that different. Brightness is the same.
   c) The 5 megapixel camera is very bad for indoor shooting. I havent traveled that much with my ipad so I can't say if the camera is all that good outdoors.
   d) This heats, that didnt
   e) The battery is the same. I thought this will give me a much better battery because the battery is thicker, turns out, the battery is thicker to support the RETINA display.
   f) Faster graphical processor .. making it overall the fastest ipad.
   
   4G iPad - I feel all of this technology behind ipads supporting 4g is actually very misleading. In what you will really use your ipad for you will never need 4g. I urge you not to fall and become prey to ill effects of consumerism. I strongly advocate purchasing the wifi model. Even if you do get 4G and want to watch Netflix video, you get a limited data limit so why would you do that to your money?
   
   **Pulse application is good. Youtube looks the same but the newest OS has made it buggy and sometimes you have reload a video. Very amateur mistakes by Apple.
   
   I should have stuck with my ipad 2. This is really the iPad 2s. Facebook app is good. I wish Apple would charge us five bucks more and include one of those white headphones. Do buy a case if you're buying the new iPad because if you drop this it is more likely to crack the screen. Stay away from big cases, buy something practical, be a little careful and avoid those screen protectors. There is no excuse to making such a good looking device cheesy. Though it's a good reader, bear in mind, you will need to charge it daily. I turn it to aeroplane mood when Im reading but I'm not sure how much battery that saves.
   
   RETINA DISPLAY - If you put the ipad 2 and ipad 3 side by side you will notice the ipad 3 icons seems to be more clear and seem to take less space, seem more organized. It is a slight increase in the dots per inch. The hue on the buttons and icons for the ipad 2 is MISSING from the ipad 3. The new ipad does have a better display guaranteed. Here's a funny thing to consider. When I stopped looking at my ipad 2 and playing with it, I thought a month after using the ipad 3, the ipad 2 would look a little cheesy. The same way my ipod touch looked cheesy compared to the new ipod touch. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. The ipad 2 still holds its own. All said and done, gotta love the iPad.
   
   Do I use a case? Yes. Speck. It is a must have and somehow camouflages both the heat and weight.
9. 35 of 47 people found this review helpful

   on  Amazon.com

   By A. John

   ATT Signal stronger on 3G version (iPad 2) 16 March, 2012

   This is going to be a short review since I'm basically comparing both versions of my iPad. I have both versions, receiving my iPad 3 via FedEx this morning. So I've had a little time to compare them side by side instead of reading all the great things the iPad 3 can do online etc.
   
   The first thing I noticed when I opened the box was that the packaging was no different than the iPad 2. The only difference being that it states 32GB 4G on the new iPad (3) instead of 32GB 3G on the iPad 2. Set up was very simple. There was no need for me to connect it to iTunes which I dreaded. It came 80% charged and all the steps needed to connect and set up your new iPad is actually done on the iPad without you needing to connect it to iTunes.
   
   Edit: Just realized that this means that for those who have a windows based PC and don't want to install iTunes, all you need is an apple ID. In order to get one you can go to appleid.apple.com. Once you have that you can purchase all you need from iTunes without the use of a computer. Great for those who also don't own a computer although in this day almost everyone has one. :)
   
   The clarity of the new iPad is a lot clearer compared to the iPad 2, (I've uploaded a pic but you may not notice it since it still has the plastic on that it came with). It's also a little heavier than the iPad 2. I did notice though that my ATT signal is a lot stronger on the 3G version compared to the new iPad. I have a lot more bars. If that's going to be a problem then I'd suggest getting the iPad 2 unless you're just going to be using the WiFi option.
   
   Here's my pros of the new iPad. The 5mp rear facing camera compared to barely existent one on the iPad 2. Sure you're still not going to get pictures you can send in to National Geographic but it's a lot better than before. If you want it to just use as a camera you're still going to be disappointed. The retina display makes your screen pop and sure makes it look a lot more vibrant. The processor is supposed to be a faster but I really didn't see much of a difference when going from page to page on the Safari built in browser. Both iPad have the new iOS 5.1 software.
   
   If you have the money I'd grab the new iPad (3) but if you don't I'd stick with the iPad 2. You'd still be getting a great tablet no matter which one you chose.
10. 7 of 8 people found this review helpful

    on  Amazon.com

    By Lee the Reader

    Too many reviews already so let me just some it up. 27 June, 2012

    Expensive tablet, beautiful high screen resolution so do not purchase a screen protector (I did and it caused the resolution quality to fade...just get a jacket that protects the front and back like a book cover does), adapter can also be used for iPhone, good size (Apple please do not make the iPad any bigger or smaller...this is a very GOOD size).