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.

The Apple iPad 2 is neither a revolution nor a revelation. Rather, it's an evolutionary bump over its predecessor, which is enough for iPad 2 to be...

Slimmer design with curved edges is easier to hold; Comparatively light at 1.3 pounds; Slimmer design with curved edges is easier to hold,

Tediously slow to charge; Relies on PC link to iTunes for updates; backups; Tediously slow to charge; Relies on PC link to iTunes for updates,

Other than improved JavaScript performance, surfing the web on the iPad 2 feels pretty much identical to the original tablet. And that's not a bad thing. Scrolling and zooming is still silky smooth.

As cocky as it may seem, when Steve Jobs boasts that most of the new 2011 tablets are no match for the original Apple iPad, he has a point. Currently, only the Motorola Xoom (Verizon Wireless) ($599-$799, 3.5 stars) shows enough promise to compete with Apple's tablet.

Thinner than the original; New A5 chip offers faster graphics processing, general performance; Dual cameras for video chat, HD video recording, and stills; Improved design incorporates internal magnets for Smart Cover accessory; 3G versions available on AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Image quality with rear-facing camera is not great; Front-facing camera is not HD; Still no Flash video support; No earbuds included

That doesn't mean it isn't a great tablet, because it's certainly one of the best. But if you've already shelled out for an iPad, there's no strong reason to buy an iPad 2 (other than you just want one!).

As always with iOS, the iPad 2 is fun and easy to use; Fast, thin, good looking and a little lighter than the first gen iPad; Sharp, bright and colorful 9.7" IPS display with fingerprint-resistant coating and wide viewing angles.

Apple's iOS is limiting for power users: there's still no file manager or direct access to the file system; Everything must be transferred via iTunes and conduits for various file types are often fragmented inside of iTunes syncing settings.

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

The iPad 2 is exactly what I expected it to be. It's a refresh with some much needed hardware upgrades like more RAM and a pair of cameras, but not leaps and bounds beyond the original.

Great battery life; super thin design; very bright and clear display; dual-core processor for graphically intensive games and apps; color choice; name your price with a selection of different models

Some are experiencing

Still the smoothest tablet experience, even if Apple is no longer the only game in town

Lighter; Faster; Better

Terrible camera; Kindle's screen is better for ebooks

Everybody wishes the iPad 2 had a higher-resolution display like the iPhone 4, but Apple didn't even have to go there yet. All Apple did was put the iPad on a treadmill. The tablet shed some weight and gained some speed to become the iPad 2 , and it's incredible what a difference that makes.

Skinnier profile shows mercy to your joints; Big performance boost makes apps, games and web browsing more zippy; Same 0 starting price and 10-hour battery life

Mediocre cameras make still photos look slimy; Thinner body makes physical buttons on the side a little harder to press

With properly calibrated expectations--think minor refresh, rather than next generation--the iPad 2 continues Apple's reign as the king of tablets. If you haven't bought one yet, the iPad 2 is a stellar device that still feels like a little slice of science fiction come true.

New A5 chip and RAM significantly improve overall performance, and gaming in particular; Dual cameras work fine for video calls; Thinner, lighter unibody looks slick and makes the iPad more comfortable to use.

No transformative new features; Display is unchanged, so it still isn't usable in bright sunlight and attracts lots of smudgy fingerprints; Cameras yield poor, low-res photos; Using cameras is often difficult and requires awkward grip; No support for 4G cellular data.