I actually really like the tapered edges of the new iPad and iPad 2, but that’s just a personal preference.

Are you using any type of skin? I haven’t put my new set that just arrived on yet, and I have to say that I don’t like the feel of the back of the iPad nearly as much without them. I much prefer the feel and extra grip that a rear skin gives to the device. A BodyGuards, Invisible Shield, or Best Skins Ever rear skin may take the edge off that sharpness that you speak of.

What I don’t see reviewers talking so much about is the ergonomics change. While the 3 is certainly lighter and thinner, what I really notice is the sharpened edges where your hands go, unlike the more flattened shape of the Classic. I guess the feel is similar to the 2 so nobody thinks to mention this, or they don’t think it’s a step backwards as I do.

I totally agree with you on the “work” point, Alex. I use my iPad and Bluetooth keyboard combo ALL the time for work. In fact, I am currently using it as a secondary display for my laptop using the app DisplayLink. I used the same app occasionally with my iPad 2, but it is light years better with the new model.

Not only does the improved display make my programs and blueprints clearer and easier to read, but this is where I really see the processor/GPU bump. I only used this app to view “static” screens and elements in the past, because there was always lag. I could watch the cursor blink its way across the screen, and moving windows had to redraw and refresh several times. Now, all of the movements are dramatically faster and smoother, making this app so much more useful.

So, for the stone throwers out there, maybe you don’t notice a massive difference if you are just checking email and surfing the web, but please recognize that, for those of us who work with photos or video, game, or push the boundaries of the device in other areas, the new iPad IS a substantial upgrade, and is definitely worth every cent.

You, and people like you, who have purchased several Apple products, are not who the company is currently targeting. They have your money. They are trying to scoop up customers new to the iPad, or even new to Apple.

Also, I must be an ass and ask this: You dropped a minimum of $500 on a device, and you had no idea what to expect? Or at least, that’s the impression I’m gleaming. Apple is touting an improved screen, they delivered that to you, and you are disappointed? You got precisely what they had written on the tin.

Reasonable people can disagree. First off, I have indeed shown the people I listed the original iPad. Again, they noticed the awesome screen on the new iPad. They were no longer blown away by the concept of the device as they were with the original iPad, they were now in awe of the display in the new one.

Secondly, I will argue that processing power is still lacking. Your example of web browsing is still computationally heavy task. Notice how a desktop can and will render a webpage faster than an iPad or iPhone simply due to processor differences. In fact, many reviews of the new iPad point out that the LTE network is not a bottleneck. Data is transmitted to the iPad faster than it can render it. There is plenty of progress to be made in this area.

Lastly, just because you do not want to work on an iPad, does not necessarily mean others do not want to either. I’ve written many term papers, blog posts, and articles on my iPads. And, if you are writing a weighty tome, the iPad can be paired with a Bluetooth keyboard. I can see where this would be an annoyance to some, while being a non-issue for me.

I think the issues that you bring forward are valid, but, if I had to wager, they are issues that will be addressed with iterative versions of the iPad. Who knows what the next decade might bring.

Oh, as for this being an “ad” for Apple, I disagree. There is plenty of room for improvement. It is not a perfect device. However, as I pointed out at the end of this piece, and as you did in your comment, this iPad isn’t necessarily aimed at consumers who already have an iPad, but rather, people new to the device.

I suspect very shortly we will see the entire MacBook line “aired” (my wife has a late 2011 MBA), and the we will see monitors go to the new iPad resolution. The future is here and I welcome it.