Musings On The iPad 2; Of Bleeding Screens, Scratches And Speed
March 17, 2011
The iPad 2 is officially one week old today. Is it worth the upgrade? It definitely is, but the iDevice isn't perfect.
Later today, I’ll be celebrating a birthday. But instead of eating cake or going out for a nice dinner, I’ll probably make a quick movie or FaceTime a friend, or head to the App Store and download a new game. Today isn’t my birthday, but that of my white 32GB iPad 2. And like with most newborns, it can sometimes be a challenge.
Unlike other would-be iPad 2 buyers, I didn’t set out to buy the second-generation iDevice; at least not on Day One. Rather, I visited our local Best Buy to observe the growing lines and chat with a few of those people that actually did want an iPad 2 that day, and then report back to AppAdvice.
Actually, I purchased an iPad 2 because of a doll.
I brought with me my four-year-old daughter, Samantha, who wanted a Baby Alive doll. If I expected her to remain calm and stand in the Pennsylvania cold with me, I needed to bribe her with a new toy. So before heading to Best Buy we went to the nearby Target store.
In the end, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. At 3:45 p.m. local time, there was NO line of people waiting for an iPad 2, so I started the line myself. At 5:01 p.m., I was an iPad 2 owner, the first of only five that left the Target store that night.
We eventually did make it Best Buy, only to purchase a green Smart Cover.
I found out later that fifty people waited in line there to fight over ten tablets.
Simply put, I find the iPad 2 amazing. Its new design is magical, its screen crisp, and did I mention how much faster it runs compared to the original? And Apple’s design team deserves a fat bonus for coming up with the Smart Cover, which sits perfectly on the iPad 2.
Finally, although the white iPad 2 wasn’t my first choice (those were the only ones available at Target), it is growing on me.
However, the iPad 2 isn’t without its faults. For one, I’ve joined a growing list of iPad 2 owners experiencing bleeding. Second, while its new design is easy on the eyes, it makes charging the iDevice difficult, which can cause scratching.
Honestly, I didn’t even know my iPad 2 bled until I read the horror stories online. Then, I only recognized it by turning out the lights and viewing a dark movie on the tablet. To the left of the home button I found modest bleeding similar to what others are experiencing.
However, I’m not panicking.
In fact, I see no reason to return the iPad 2 and get a new one. Most of my days are spent in a bright room, and in this situation the screen looks incredible. Besides, Apple’s extended warranty will do the trick, if necessary.
While I respect those who are returning their iDevice, I really don’t see it as a big deal. Perhaps what I'm experiencing is minimal compared to others.
My biggest annoyance is the difficulty of attaching the charging cable. I often charged my original iPad in the dark, which was simple. However, I wouldn’t recommend this with the second-generation iDevice. Because of the iPad 2’s slope, it’s very easy to miss the plug and scratch the back aluminum casing in the process. Therefore, I’d recommend attaching the cable in a bright room and concentrate, making sure it goes in just right.
There you have it: the story of my seven-day-old, iPad 2. An amazing tablet not without its faults. But some would say, still a perfect little doll.
