Apple Failed to Move Hardware Bar With iPad 2, Say Experts

From PC World: By the time that Apple CEO Steve Jobs wrapped up Wednesday's launch of a revamped iPad, analysts were already calling it "incremental" and pointing out that it the new tablet delivers "no surprises."

The bottom line? Contrary to Jobs' assertion that iPad 2 will stymie what he called "copy cats," Apple hasn't staked out an insurmountable hardware position.

"Apple didn't really move the bar all that much," said Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates. "I don't see this as heads above the competition, especially the Xoom, right now. Apple fans who want the latest will buy this or upgrade, but I don't see any overwhelmingly compelling capabilities that would make people sitting on the tablet fence go out and buy one."

Other experts echoed Gold's take.

"It's all very nice -- smaller, lighter faster, but there were no surprises," said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research. "Is it nicer? Yes. But it all was predictable, things that everyone was betting on, including competitors."

Stephen Baker of retail research firm NPD Group chimed in as well on the theme.

"It seemed like this time, everyone knew everything ahead of time," said Baker. "It's all incremental. But there are only so many ways you can surprisingly change things."

The iPad 2, which according to Apple features a dual-core processor, faster graphics and two built-in cameras, will go on sale March 11 in the U.S. at the same price points as the original tablet: The Wi-Fi model starts at $499, while the 3G device starts at $629.

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