Apple's thinner, lighter iPad 2 arrives

Apple launched the iPad 2 last night, with a surprise appearance from company chief Steve Jobs that delighted the brand's fanbase.

But what does the new iPad bring that IT leaders should take note of and will the device have an impact on the market in the same way that the original did?

The key features of the tablet were much as anticipated by the technology press. It has two cameras built in for taking photos, recording video and video chatting. It has a 1GHz dual-core processor, which makes it faster than the original, and will mean that it is better for multi-tasking and creating music, video and other content, rather than just consuming it.

As with the original iPad line-up, iPad 2 comes in Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and 3G versions, each available with 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage. The prices for these remain the same as for the original iPad.

The battery life is around 10 hours – the same as the original. And while the screen is the same size – 9.7in – the iPad 2 is thinner and lighter at 8.8mm thick and 1.3 pounds, compared with the13.4mm and 1.6 pounds of the original. It is also available in white, unlike the original.

However, those hoping to integrate the device seamlessly with a Windows environment might be disappointed to know that there is still no USB connectivity, or even an SD-card slot. It does, however, have HDMI output, which means you can connect it to a TV.

In terms of the software, the new iOS version 4.3 operating system has features such as personal hotspot support for the iPhone 4 and a speedier version of Safari, but there seems to be little else to attract business users.

The iPad 2 will be launched in the US on 11March and then in 26 other countries on 25 March.

It was also revealed that, in the US, the pricing of the iPad 2 will be the same as the iPad: $499 (£306) to $829, but the price of the original iPad has since dropped by $100. Therefore the launch of the iPad 2 makes investing in the original iPad a more attractive proposition for businesses, although the faster processing power of the iPad 2 may make the original feel outdated.