Apple iPad 2 testing countdown: What we'll be looking for

Consumer Reports News: March 11, 2011 03:11 PM

In just a couple hours, Consumer Reports shoppers will be purchasing several new Apple iPad 2s for our testing. CR's technology editor Jeff Fox and others will be here tomorrow—maybe even tonight, depending on store lines and timing—posting their first impressions and results of early testing, so check back often!

After reading early reviews, we've already identified a number of things we want to examine. We also canvassed original iPad owners on staff to see what they're curious about regarding the iPad 2. Here's a list of just a few things we'll be looking for.

Update: Check out CR technology editor Jeff Fox's first impressions of the Apple iPad 2, iPad 2 First Look: Video-conferencing with Facetime, and iPad 2 First Look: Using adapters and external devices.

Speed: How much faster is graphics performance?

We'll give our first impressions of how much the thinness and lightness affect usage.

We'll assess the Smart Cover's design and usability.

How well does Facetime video-conferencing work between two iPad 2s? Between an iPad 2 and an iPhone 4?

We'll check the reported low resolution of the rear camera for still photos, as well as the controls and features (comparing them, if possible, to those of the Motorola Xoom).

Are there any usability issues with the new HDMI adaptor?

Does the new iOS 4.3 make much of a difference? (We've downloaded it to our original iPad, and the ability to switch functions on the slider button was a change we welcomed.)

We'll also try out accessories for the original iPad: the camera kit, wired keyboard, USB adapter with a CompactFlash reader, and so on. And of course, as testing progresses during the following days, we'll look at battery life, performance, and so on.

What do you want to know about the iPad 2? Leave questions below in comments, and we'll do our best to answer them.

—Carol Mangis