The New iPad

Apple always seems to make their technology, whether completely revamped or slightly added to, a completed and utter revolution. This year, despite only making a few adjustments to their iPad line, the revamped tablet has once again become a hit.

This years iPad features the same dual-core processor, but with quad-core graphics. Despite what many are saying, this is not a quad-core processor, but instead apple’s new A5X chip. In addition, the new device features 1GB of RAM (finally, right?) and a new 5 megapixel iSight rear camera; the front-facing camera has remained the same.

The bulk of the story here is the new retina display, which features a resolution of 2048×1536. This results in a total of 3.1 billion pixels, or 264 ppi. This is a little insane considering the human eye can only see up to a maximum of ~250-300 ppi. Nevertheless this enough for many, including myself, to dive into the tablet experience for the first time. For those who already have an iPad, it may not be the best time to upgrade, but for those who have never had a similar device, this is the best opportunity to get the most out of your money.

Edit – March 10th, 2012: iPad pre-orders have now sold out online, and new shipments aren’t expected for another two to three weeks. The only way to grab yours on the 16th is to wait in line friday morning.