As is typical after practically any Apple announcement, many have already come forth to express their disappointment over the new iPad for a variety of features: the name, for being “evolutionary” and not “revolutionary,” and so forth.
Frankly, I don’t get it. I really wonder what people who are disappointed about the new iPad are really so put off about. It’s lack of a 42 megapixel camera? It’s lack of a quad-core processor? The fact that it isn’t lighter than a piece of paper? In reality, the new iPad is the most significant update that Apple has ever made to the iPad.
In my opinion, the new iPad is anything but disappointing, and here are a few reasons why:
What’s in a name?
Many expected Apple to call their new device the iPad 3 or the iPad HD. Instead, Apple chose to simply call it the “iPad”. Some view this as a bad decision, or even the beginning of the end for Apple’s creativity. In reality, however, the name change is consistent with all of Apple’s other product lines except the iPhone. We don’t refer to the iMac as the iMac 6, or the MacBook Pro as the MacBook Pro 14 (or whatever the number is), so why should we refer to the iPad as anything other than the iPad?
Not Fast Enough? Not Good Enough?
I suspect that some people were dissapointed that Apple didn’t put a quad-core processor in the new iPad. But did the iPad really need a quad-core processor? Frankly, I don’t know of anyone who really uses the full processing power that even the iPad 2 offers, let alone the new iPad. The advantage of a quad-core processor would, in all likelihood, not come anywhere close to justifying the extra cost (or extra battery consumption).
Apple also failed to include haptic feedback in the new iPad. Then again, they also failed to include an automatic beer dispenser, a functioning industrial laser, a floppy disk drive, and FireWire 800. The point is that the iPad doesn’t need any of these things. It’s already the best tablet on the market in terms of user experience and actual usability, and now Apple has made it even better.
A Solid Upgrade
The iPad 2 was already a fantastic tablet. It has outsold competing tablets by staggering margins. Apple couldn’t even make enough of these to keep up with initial demand. Apple took a tablet that was already fantastic, and made it even better.
By adding a Retina display, a faster dual-core processor, an incredible quad-core graphics processor, 4G LTE, 1080p playback and AirPlay mirroring, a great new 5 megapixel camera, and Siri Dictation, all while keeping the same 10 hour battery life and only marginally (negligibly) increasing its thickness, Apple has made the new iPad faster, more efficient, and more usable for all of its intended purposes. That’s a solid upgrade in my book, and if you disagree, you are obviously using a different definition for the word upgrade than I am.
Conclusion
I’d like to say that the new iPad is more than meets the eye, but that fact of the matter is that it isn’t. It’s exactly what meets the eye, and that’s what makes it so great. Users of the new iPad will notice the new Retina display and improved performance from the very first time they pick up and use the device. That’s what makes a quality product. That’s what makes it such a stunning release.
If a faster processor, new productivity features (dictation), an incredible new display, faster mobile data, a seriously upgraded graphics processor, a great new camera, and no reduction in battery life aren’t enough for you, go buy an Android tablet. You probably won’t be happy with that either. But at any rate, please don’t bother the rest of us with your pathetic whining. Either buy it or don’t.
