Maybe the name change isn't a bad idea but it's awkward in those videos the way they kept saying "the new iPad" over and over.

All the specs were pretty much expected so it seems a lot of the reaction is ho-hum, partly because some of the rumors were grandiose -- nothing new for an Apple product launch.

The hi-res screen doesn't seem to have quite the impact that it did last year, when it was first rumored. Unheard of but then for the past year, everyone expected it to be on the next iPad.

It'll be interesting to see if the screen stands out, side by side to other tablets -- or laptops for that matter. Or the difference is more subtle and people with poor eyesight won't notice the difference.

Some competitors have already announced their own tablets with hi-res displays. Samsung is rumored to be coming out with something that has even higher resolution.

iPad is more likely to get software support more quickly for the higher resolution though. Looks like they already updated some of their apps, like GarageBand, iBooks, iTunes U and so on for the retina display iPad.

iPhoto looked great. Serious photographers aren't going to switch from LightRoom or Aperture but for $5, a lot of people are going to check it out.

I'm waiting on international 4G specs though. I'm UK-based, but tempted to buy a US-model, since we won't have workable and useful 4G here for a couple of years and I spend enough time in the states, that it might be worthwhile. Unless the international model has US-band support as well?

For those not on the cutting edge of technology, picking up a used Ipad2 will get a whole lot cheaper.

Or a brand new iPad 2 - apple will continue to sell at lower price points. ^

Screen and faster graphics seem like they're worth the $100

but is worth it to upgrade from an Ipad 2...I guess I'll need to see both screens side by side

Been waiting for the higher resolution to hit the iPad so I'm all in on this one.

We bought our father an iPad 1 16GB WiFi originally. He turned out to love it and got the SD card adapter and has now used up all 16GB for photos.

We'll probably get him a 64GB WiFi iPad "3" (3rd gen).

Anyone have any details on the tethering? Are nickel and dime VZW and ATT going to allow it?

Which way? Using the iPad as a hotspot or connecting to a tethered phone?

I've already upgraded my iPad (1) to iOS 5.1, and there's no hotpsot options in the Cellular Data setup, so my guess would be no.

joe

Correction. Looks like Verizon will allow it, but not AT&T:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles..._att_wont.html

Still not sure about costs.

joe

I saw something today (LifeHacker or Gizmodo, possibly the Times) that said both AT&T and Verizon will support tethering and that Verizon will not charge additional for tethering.

REVISED - approx. 1 1/2 hours after original post -
REVISION - MacWorld on the Twitters (crediting "The Verge) is saying that Verizon will support tethering and that Verizon will not charge additional for tethering and that AT&T will NOT repeat NOT support tethering. See https://www.macworld.com/article/165...c.twt_macworld

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Overall for me, iPad 3 or iPadHD is a pass.
I'm not a gamer, graphics crazy and the last I video I watched was Backyardigans with my kids. So, a fantabulous screen is not needed.
I'm not that good looking and neither are the places I visit and the people I take pictures of (if they are, I use a DSLR) so I don't need a fantabulous camera in my iPad.
I barely have time to upload my photos from my DSLR to my computer and a photo sharing site to send them to the grandparents, etc. much less completely rework the whatever - so a full blown iPhoto on the iPad is not needed.
I use my iPad for the aforementioned Backyardigans, my morning scan of news, traffic and weather, gmail checks, Spotify and a couple of banking apps rather than lugging out my laptop. So, the worlds fastest chip is not needed.
4G - whatever, WiFi's fine, though my iPad is AT&T 3G, I don't have service for it (going to probably go with a MiFi type device in the future) - I'm slightly more excited that this means Apple is potentially moving towards TRUE 4G/LTE whatever in the next iPhone (guess that would be around Sept. 2012).

I'm sure there are many who need one or more of these features and, of course, people will buy it. Just for me, a pass. Overall, as the various "leaks" came out, I was pretty much a "meh" about them.

Yes, but it likes only the 16 Gb versions which, as a non-heavy 64 Gb iPad2 user, I would say would not be enough in most applications.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/hom...d/select_ipad2

I'm pretty much in the same boat. Definitely don't need the hottest graphics or fastest chip. My iPad 2 is also 3G, but I do have a Verizon 4G mifi device, which is great, as it allows up to 5 devices to connect --> both ipads and a laptop compared to just 1 ipad.

I have the original iPad, not the iPad 2, and I spend a lot of time using it for reading. The better screen and the faster CPU make it a worthwhile upgrade for me. If I currently had an iPad 2, it would not be as compelling.

joe