The iPad 2 Is Nice But...I Don't Know If I'll Buy One.

Apple just announced the next iteration of the iPad – the iPad 2.  To date, the iPad has been wildly successful, having sold 15 million units in just nine months.  As usual, Apple has made it very enticing for existing iPad customers to want to upgrade to the brand new iPad 2.  After all, it’s 33% thinner, it has a new CPU (dual cores, too – Apple’s A5), a front and rear facing camera, includes a HDMI output, and even sports an all new design – it also comes in two colors – black and white, both of which will be available at the same time.

On top of all that, it starts at just $499.  In fact, it retails at all of the same price points as the original iPad.  Add to that the fact the iPad 2 will be available on March 11th doesn’t give diehard Apple fans much time to let reality sink in to question whether or not they need to upgrade.  As always, Apple’s execution is flawless.

But even still, I don’t know if I’ll be one to go for the upgrade, as tempting as it may be at this point in time.  The iPad 2 is going to lure in all the people who held out on the first generation of the device.  For example, I know both of my parents will be buying one and they can’t wait to get their hands on it – especially my dad who has been telling me since last April (when the first iPad was released) how excited he was for the iPad 2 (a product which technically didn’t even exist yet) because he’s going to hold out for it.

I should also note that my dad isn’t by any stretch of the imagination a technically savvy person, so I’m sure there are plenty of people out there like my dad (tech savvy or not), who have been chomping at the bit for this day.  Nonetheless, this iteration of the iPad is definitely the one where I am going to say if you don’t have one yet, this is the one to buy and the time to buy is now.

However, for existing iPad customers, you may want to consider holding off.  Sure this iPad is a pretty significant improvement, but the iPad 3 will most likely have a Retina Display in addition to all this other new stuff that was announced today and of course whatever other new stuff Apple comes out with between now and the iPad 3 release.  Once again, Apple has added (just) enough to the iPad 2 to make it that much more tempting for existing customers.

For me though, the new display is really what I’m waiting for at this point.  Additionally, for what I use the iPad for currently, I don’t see these new improvements benefiting me that much.  When the Retina Display comes to the iPad is when I’ll most likely be making my next iPad purchase.  We’ll see if I can hold off my urge to click “Buy iPad” come March 11th.

I’d like to know do you plan to buy the iPad 2?