In 2010, almost twelve months ago, the Apple iPad swaggered onto the stage and changed the way we viewed tablet computers forever. In the year that followed, it won Gadget of the Year at the T3 Awards 2010 and garnered a place on the tech world's exclusive hall of fame.

Extra processing power makes a; Thinner and lighter design; Same brilliant UI and Apple ec

No screen improvement; Sub-par cameras

If you're reading this, you're probably not one of the diehard Apple cultists who queued overnight to score the iPad 2 on launch day. Even more than its market-defining predecessor, the next-gen tablet from Cupertino was the subject of media hype, fan hysteria and in Asia, price hikes on the grey...

Incredibly sleek look and feel; video calling; tons of apps optimised for iPad; particularly magazines and new media

Lack of Flash video is galling for a media-centric device; bloated iTunes software; difficult to transfer media without iTunes

UPDATE 27/10/2011: upgrading to Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 5, brings significant changes to the iPad 2 that directly affect the user experience.

Design / Finish / Handling / iCloud; High-quality screen: responsive and highly contrasted; Battery life / Fast web browsing / Notification Centre; General responsiveness / User-friendly interface; Great choice of apps in the App Store / Wireless sync to iTunes

Poor-quality camera; No built-in SD card reader (optional adapter only) / No USB port / Single proprietary connection; No Flash compatibility for web browsing; Can't play DivX files without a special app or file conversion; iCloud can be intrusive in its interaction with other iDevices

, you'd have to be deluded not to admit that Apple's equally lauded and derided tablet has changed a market more dramatically than we've seen in a long time. Apple may not be the only company making a good tablet any more, but it was certainly the first and it definitely takes credit for opening up...

Fast dual-core CPU; Lighter and Slimmer than previous iPad; iOS best tablet operating system available

Somewhat low screen resolution; 3G model is expensive; Doesn't serve any specific function

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 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

The Apple iPad 2 first launched in 2011, and, despite all odds, managed to stay on sale among Apple's iPad line-up until 2014, outlasting the iPad 3 and

I've owned my iPad 2 for over 2 years and still use it daily. I use it for reading and writing mainly but I do like to watch YoTube too. When I'm using apps or just browsing the internet my battery life will last a long time but if I watch YouTube it drains quite quickly.

The iPad defined a new category of personal computing and inspired many a me-too offering. The iPad 2 isn't the next step in the evolution of the media tablet - Apple still has flaws to fix - but there's no question it's better than its predecessor - and a lot of its rivals.

Most users will know what they're getting with an iPad 2 before they buy it: great apps, performance and excellent iOS usability. The hardware hasn't changed much since the original iPad, though it does offer front and rear cameras, and the exterior is sleeker and shinier than ever.