Despite some operating system niggles, the otherwise slick iOS combined with elegantly designed hardware leads to some real, tangible benefits for the end user - such as excellent battery life. All this makes the iPad 2 the standard by which all other tablets will be judged.

The device can playback movie for up to 10 hours. You can play diverse files such as MP4, MP3, WAV and AAC on the media player. Other highlights of Apple iPad 2 include iBooks PDF reader, Google Maps™, A GPS support and Safari browser.

3G; Wi-Fi; Huge display; 16 GB/ 32 GB/ 64 GB memory options; Faster; lighter

There's so much to say about Apple's new tablet, the iPad 2, yet it really boils down to a few short and sweet sentences. It's the latest tablet on the market, having beaten the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook to market by a good month , and its return to store shelves (or lack thereof) comes just a...

Apple's original iPad virtually created the market for business and consumer tablets, and the iPad 2 aims to expand the company's dominance in the arena. Smaller and lighter, the iPad 2 comes with a new dual-core processor, longer battery life and twin cameras.

Superb battery life; very easy to use; slim and lightweight

Apple-only applications; limited connectivity; sub-standard cameras; no removable storage

The second generation iPad is a revision of the original, and it's a shame the screen hasn't been upgraded, but it's still incredibly quick

Another top tablet from Apple, but this one feels so much lighter and smaller without losing the screen size

Slim; Fast; Multitude of apps

Not different enough to warrant an upgrade; Screen scratches easily

The iPad 2 feels so noticeably thinner and lighter, you might easily mistake it for being disposable. Like a paper plate or a plastic cover, it triggers the habit to want to just toss it away once you're done with it. How many gadgets have I watched slim down to nothing? And yet it never gets old.

The Good Much faster in some areas. Thinner and lighter. Huge, intuitive app library. Smart Covers are slick. iMovie and GarageBand are killer apps. Dual cameras add functionality. Still excellent battery life. Tough-to-beat price. The Bad Not night-and-day better for some iPad owners.

Much faster in some areas; Thinner and lighter; Huge; intuitive app library; Smart Covers are slick; iMovie and GarageBand are killer apps; Dual cameras add functionality; Still excellent battery life; Tough-to-beat price

Not night-and-day better for some iPad owners; Cameras are sub-par by Apple standards; Android sometimes more powerful and open; Smart Cover doesn't guard the back; Still the same 1024x768 display

UPDATE (Jan 2015) : I no longer own this iPad, but it is still in use by one of my family members. As a matter of fact, my husband, daughter, and I have all owned the original iPads, iPad 2s, iPad 3s, iPad Airs, iPad minis, and iPad mini with Retina display.

Slimmer and lighter than original iPad; Faster than original iPad and other tablets currently on the market; Many configurations available; so you can choose the storage and connectivity you need; Lowest tablet prices currently on the market

Low-res cameras; iPad 2 is difficult to use as a hand-held camera because of its size and weight and the placement of the shutter button

The Apple iPad 2 right now is cheaper and easier to use, but not necessarily better endowed than competing tablets – but that doesn't matter.

Dual core processor; 10-hour-plus battery life; Bright 9.7-inch IPS LCD screen; A third thinner than the original; Front and rear cameras

Highly reflective screen; Slippery; No expandable memory; Poor visibility outdoors; Poor still image quality