Too Soon for the iPad 2? Or Brave the Lines at the Apple Store to Buy One?

As an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) serving the Los Angeles area, our customers often ask us whether they should upgrade to the latest Mac computers or hold on to their existing ones. Because we focus on repairing and supporting Mac products, rather than selling new computers, customers want to hear our "unbiased" opinions on the latest devices before heading to the nearest Apple store to make new purchases. 
If you are up-to-date on the latest news about Apple computers, you may have seen the preliminary "reviews" for the iPad 2, a new iPad that is expected to launch in March or April 2011. It's always interesting to see how much publicity a new Mac product produces - even before it hits the Apple Store - but with popular products such as the iPad 2, it is not surprising. Here's the burning question - Is it now time to upgrade to the iPad 2, or wait until the 3rd generation comes out next year? 
Before you stand in line at the local Apple Store - here is our take on the iPad 2:
Although it is too early to conduct a comprehensive review of the product, we have read enough about the iPad 2 to know what to expect. Although, Apple must make some important improvements, the short answer is none seem interesting enough to warrant an upgrade now.  However, your decision whether to upgrade will depend on if the new features are a "must have" for you or if they are features you can live without. 
Reportedly, the new screen resolution iPad 2 will be 2048 x 1536, which is twice the resolution of the first generation. Many Apple Experts have weighed in on this by saying improvements are not needed because the iPad currently has a very good screen resolution. 
Another hope is that the iPad 2 will add a dual-core processor. While dual-core processors will improve the speed, it's hard to imagine that any current iPad owner will find this necessary. That said, it would be advantageous to have the extra horsepower in one or two years, when the IOS is expected to be more processor intensive. Some "Apple Observers" are even predicting that iOS7 may be released in 2013. 
Apple dealers are often asked if the iPad 2 will start offering a camera the faces front and back, especially now that Skype supports the IOS. The good news - this is one feature that is scheduled for iPad 2 inclusion. Apple users already have video conferencing on the latest iPhone and iPod Touch, so it will be an advantage to have it in the iPad 2 as well. According to many current owners of the iPad, the camera will be one of the best reasons to upgrade this year. 
Unless you are an "early adopter" who needs to have the newest version of every Apple device, you can probably save yourself a long wait at the Apple Store and hold on to your old iPad for a bit longer. The iPad first generation may begin to seem outdated at this time next year, but at that time you might want to hold out for the iPad 3. However, if you have not bought your first iPad yet, we recommend you get the latest iPad version the iPad 2.