Introduction
I have been a Window or pc user for so long and I still am. However, the first Apple product I was involved with was IPHONE. Since then, my thought towards computer technology changed 180 degree.
Ipad2 is different from original Ipad because of addition of front/back camera. Ipad2 basically is an enlargment of IPHONE with few exceptions. Will discuss that in the feature section. Before buying this product, you must ask yourselves few basic questions. After the following questions, then you will have to consider the deeper questions which I will write about in the following.
First of all, do you like touch screen? If you don't like touch screen at all, this is not your choice, then you can stop reading. How do you plan to use it? If you want to use it the way PC is designed, with keyboard and sit in the chair and do it, then this is not for you either. The tablet basically designs quick use, in the bus, on your bed, and so on. You will have to hold it with one hand or put it on your laptop with the purchase of some holder. And it is more than just a electronic book reader.
Very Basic Requirement and what is in the box

Apple ID (required for some features)Internet access
Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires :Mac: OS X v10.5.8 or later PC: Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later iTunes 10.5 or later (free download from http://www.itunes.com/download/)

iPad Dock Connector to USB Cable
10W USB Power Adapter
Documentation
Back camera: Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still camera with 5x digital zoom. Front camera: Video recording, VGA up to 30 frames per second with audio; VGA-quality still camera Tap to control exposure for video or stills Photo and video over Wi-Fi
Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
Built-in 25-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music Up to 9 hours of surfing the web
30-pin dock connector port
3.5-mm stereo headphone mini jack
Built-in speaker
Microphone
30-pin dock connector port
3.5-mm stereo headphone mini jack
Built-in speaker
Microphone Micro-SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model) using 3G data network
Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system

Extra accessories
Before anything, if you get ipad2, I advise you to get some accessories along with the ipad2. I got that after I got the ipad2. You may need protection screen, some extra long cable (usb apple cable - I got six feet., put next to my bet outlet), and a holder (that is for it to stand up which you use it as a dvd player, clock or digital photo frame). I also got some stylus pen (that prevents you from putting finger prints on the screen.. I lately found it useless anyway because when it is on and bright, the finger prints are not visible easily)

Features
Before comparing with Iphone and Android Tablets, there are some features you need to know.
a. Touch Screen - as it is mentioned before, it is a touch screen. However, there is some keyboard attachment you can purchase to use it and make it like a pc. That means you need to spend more money on it if you want to do it.
b. Attached battery - Unlike PC, you cannot buy extra battery for this. When I mean extra battery, I do not mean those external battery pack where you have to plug that into the power slot. It does not make sense to buy those battery pack because your ipad2 will look awful. The battery life time will be few years depending on how you use it. (by then you may need to change another one, electronic items can be obsolete quickly nowadays.) Just like Iphone, you need to charge it with the apple cable. Each charge can hold up to 10 hours use.
c. WIFI - If you are using a 3G version, you will need to pay extra in service charge which will cost you more. All Ipad2 come with WIFI function which means you need internet connection to have it function fully. (Will discuss the possibility of WIFI use below)
d. Camera - Camera is nice, but there is no flash light, you hold up the big ipad2 and take picture, you will see clearly instead of phone camera, but then if you are in a darker environment, this function is not for you.
b. More Free apps - you can download lots of free apps from apple store. Of course, the sky is no limit, you can purchase songs, movie, application. I will talk about some apps that are important to you that you may consider that is buying factor.
More features - Iphone's resize?
People may think this is Iphone with a big screen. But the fact is there is more to that, and of course there is less to that as well.
Hardware - No flash light as mentioned above when you use it as camera.
Software - There are few basic application missing in the OS, NO ALARM CLOCK, NO CALENDAR, NO CALCULATOR, NO COMPASS. However, all those things can be downloaded FREE from apple store.
Hand features - There are some additional features in the ipad2 that is different from iphone and those functions are short cut to home keys, switching application. You can just use the pinch motion with 4 or 5 fingers to go home, 4 or 5 fingers you can switch application back and forth. 4 o 5 fingers together pushing up will get you to see the multitasking bar (where you can end your application)

Iphone vs Tablets
There are similar products out there and it is called android tablet. It basically is a different OS similar to PC. I was struggling about which one to choose. But finally I picked IPAD2. Before I talk about why I like it, let's see the difference.

Size - Tablets can have 7", 10", but Apple has only once size. So, you don't need to struggle for picking sizes.

Price - Android tablet is like public domain (like lynx OS for computer) while Apple is Apple. You can have many android tablets to choose from, they vary, but basically they are using same technology. You will need to know each one to choose. In other words, if you want to go for price which is cheaper than APPLE, then you will have to make decision on WHICH tablet to choose form, you will need to spend more time to look around after that. Decision, Decision!! If you decide to go for Ipad which is $200 more (at least) the price of Tablet (depending on which tablet and what size you pick from)

Popularity - With lots of free applications out there (more than android market), Apple store offers free and paid application, also subscription of tv shows, music, movie, books, games. When you get Ipad2, you don't have to worry about software or application. You can use those free applications and they are not trials, you can use them as long as you purchase it. Some have limitation like ads display or not having more features. Of course, there are costly paid ones as well.
Flash - (Flash is basically a internet browsing technology embedded in the browser, more like Java) If you are pc or facebook user or user who likes to watch some embedded videos from websites, you may have problem using ipad. Ipad does not support flash at all although there are some applications that can get away from it (either doing a remotely or developed some browser that can view flash video). For flash games, Ipad will absolutely not able to do so. Android tablet will have no problem with it. You can use it as if you are using pc. However, since you are not using a mouse, some function will be difficult to manipulate anyway.
External slot - Many tablets ofter extra slot for you to put external memory in it to save you stuff while Ipad has none. You will have to use some application to store into your ipad itself. The only extra slot Ipad2 has (3G version) is the sim card slot.

Why I pick apple Ipad
Using Iphone application - Since I am iphone user, many applications are free. And some iphone applications can also be used in ipad, you will need to hit two times x2 enlarge button in the bottom of the screen and the application will work, of course, you may as well download ipad applications and most of them are called Hd as in high definition.
Fast boot up - I have a laptop at home, a 4 or 5 years old. As I install more applications onto the pc, the pc will get slower. When you turn it off, it will take some time to boot it up. Yes, you can put it on standby, but you know, all those updates, virus check will slow down the pc. While Ipad2 can go to sleep and come back quickly. With notification on, it can alarm you for things you need. Once I need some information, i can just hit home button and slide and unlock my pc and I got all the information I need. I basically have no worries about virus, spyware, and/or boot up time.
16 gig
One thing I want to point out about this device. Even it says 16 gig, the actual capacity that you can use is 14 gig, 2 gig are reserved for the OS. However, with 14 gig, it will be more than enough unless you have lots of videos, photos, and game application.

Can be anything electronic related
Basically it is the application that motivated me to buy IPAD because they are available for free. Of course, the reputation of Apple is another reason that I bought it.
PC - You can browse internet as if you are using a pc (except flash and java application)
Camera and Camcorder- Besides taking pictures, with front and back camera, you can do IM, video conference, facetime with friends and family.
Scanner - You scan your documents with the camera and act as a scanner
Radio - Listen to radio as if you get one at home. Most radio stations have their application for their station and/or application will stream their broadcasting
Mirror - with the front Camera, you can use it as Mirror, but I like the Iphone better in this function because you will see yourself as look away in ipad2
Alarm clock - You can wake up with this big alarm clock
Movie player - Watch live or recorded movie free or paid just like you are having a DVD player.- It is way better than using iphone to watch movies, videos or shows.
Book reader - Book reading is a basic thing, you can read from news, books, Bible, education learning to email.
Compass- You can know to know your direction, of course, with location service on, you can do that too. (Because of built in magnet, there is metal detector application available too!)
Temperature - View the world temperature right on this ipad2. You will know what to wear and how to wear.
Digital Photo frame - Have a good collection of pictures or album, this is a replacement of your digital photo frame, you probably with spend more than 20 dollars to get one if you buy a digital photo frame.
Language tablet - Know other foreign language like arbic, japanese, chinese or korean, etc? You can use this one to write without learning how to code into the keyboard.
Voice command / dictation is also available for this IPad, Some software will let you speak to it and translate into text. Pretty cool.
Translator - yes, some application can translate your native language into any language.
Extra phone - If you have internet access, nowadays most we do, or ipad will be 90% unless. You can use ipad as extra phone - voice over ip phone. Google voice provided that for free (to call within US and cheap internationally). In other words, I can have extra phone line while I am reading or gaming.
Fax machine - You can fax out or fax in depending on the application you download
Gps - if you have a 3G version or you choose to use tethering (pay extra service charge) you can have internet access every where you go, GPS like driving direction or navigation will be a a plus, but you must pay extra. In that case, you will have to carry your iphone and ipad2 at the same time in order for ipad2 to use internet access.
Game console - last but not least, games.. use your fingers or hold the ipad itself, you will have endless possibilities of logical games, arcade games, stimulation games! Playing games on a bigger screen is way better than iphone. When I go back to my phone and play the same game, I feel like deleting some games from iphone and installed onto ipad2. It is way better to play on a bigger screen.
What can be improved?
I would love to have the flash light back, and have extra slot for memory expansion (or for easy storage - take out and put back) like android tablets as well as putting back some basic applications that iphone has. If Apple can do those, then this iphone will be perfect.

Another not so good thing is that you must have a pc to have itunes installed (backup) to have Os, application, music, pictures, video, etc installed. In other words, this ipad2 tablet is not a replacement of PC or Mac. It is an additional electronic multiple functional computing device in some sense.
Conclusion
Ipad 2 is another high tech toy that I love. It is more than just a pc. With internet available, the possibility is endless. After a year time, the price did not really come down while tablets or pc, you will see some price changes a lot. By the way, apple did not put this one on sale on Black Friday, so you see how confident they feel about this product. It is little costly. However, for about 500 dollars nowadays, it is not considered expensive. When I got my first XT clone IBM pc, it costs me $2000 when it first came out. I thought I could do more on that pc. But what I did was just "computing and playing chess games", with this Ipad2, the possibility is endless as long as they are electronic related.

Sorry, you can't use it as vacuum, fan, or razor or cup holder! (But some application will make it as warmer or heater, but I won't suggest that). If you would like to know what free application, feel free to message me, I will give you some pointers.

Recommended: Yes