Ahead of the pack

APPLE IS BEGINNING to take the South African market more seriously. Testament to that is the rapid local launch of the iPad 2 and the way journalists are being addressed behind the scenes in terms of product announcements and briefings.

It’s a welcome change for South African fans of the brand, who were treated previously like third-class citizens by Apple’s HQ.

The iPad 2 is officially in SA as one of only 12 countries to receive it in the second wave of its launch. Prices are competitive in the global scheme of things and the new iPad offers some refinements over its predecessor that will be welcomed by existing users.

The iPad 2 is thinner and lighter than the original iPad but unfortunately still a tad too heavy, for example, to make for comfortable reading in bed. The addition of front-and rear-facing cameras is welcome, especially as I use Apple’s FaceTime video chat extensively when travelling.

The new tablet also has a dual-core processor that makes it substantially more powerful on that front. Resource-intensive applications load more quickly and the device is now generally more responsive.

A new cover – called the Smart Cover and sold separately – was developed for the iPad 2 by Apple and is perhaps my favourite additional feature of the device.

The Smart Cover attaches to the iPad 2 magnetically and can be folded in several ways to either prop the device up for easier typing or for viewing movies or making video calls. It’s a very clever accessory.

The iPad 2 offers a clear upgrade from its predecessor without making existing owners of the original device feel that they must upgrade.

It reaffirms Apple’s lead on the tablet market and keeps Steve Jobs and co head and shoulders above the competition. If you’re considering a tablet computer, this should be the only one on your list. Though its competitors are stacking up none are a patch on the iPad 2 – yet.

* This article was first published in Finweek

* To read more Finweek articles, click here.