The new iPad

News: April 2012

The new iPad

It seems like only yesterday that Apple launched the all singing, all dancing iPad 2. Business and personal users alike have really taken to the device; indeed, it has helped to define a new sector of the personal computer market. With the new iPad setting the standard in visual display, processor speed and 4G networking, many users will consider an upgrade. So here’s a rundown of what the device has to offer.

First of all, it looks almost identical to the iPad 2, which is a good thing as this design is fantastic. It is a few millimetres thicker and a few grammes heavier, but not to the extent that you would notice any difference if you held both devices at the same time.

The new iPad includes a high resolution Retina Display (similar to the one on the iPhone 4) and has a screen resolution of 2,048 x 1536, offering 264ppi. The screen also boasts 44pc better colour saturation than the iPad 2. In plain English, the picture quality is better than its predecessor and the screen is superb for watching video content. The device also comes equipped with LTE (4G) connectivity and an A5X chip with quad core graphics.

Apple have also equipped their latest model with voice dictation, allowing users to speak into their iPads to type a message. Languages currently supported include UK English, US English, Australian English, Japanese, German and French. This is a great addition for business users, as typing on an iPad isn’t nearly as effective as typing on a laptop.

The big question that many business users will ask is: “do I need to upgrade from an iPad 2 to the latest iPad?” The answer is probably no. 4G networks have only just been rolled out in the USA and although there is a huge increase in internet speed, the networks aren’t that widely available – yet. If you have a first generation iPad then an upgrade to the new iPad would make sense, as the increased processor speed and multi-tasking are vastly superior to the older device.

If you have an iPad 2 you won’t really notice a huge difference and as such, the investment required to upgrade is not as easy to justify.