Matthew R. Hibbard

The iPad 2 has been attached to my hip for a full week now and I can’t put it down. When I got the device, I knew I was going to enjoy it. I probably should put it down every once in a while, but I feel like the more I use it, the more I discover new and exciting things about it.

The first thing I noticed when I turned on the iPad is its stunning display. The screen is big, full of color and is easy to read. Now, I haven’t read extensively on it yet, but as far as screen fatigue goes I’m wide awake.

The new iPad 2 comes with the second camera in the front, a thinner construction and a faster processor. But as exciting as those new features are, the best thing about having this device is the app store.

So far I have bought only free apps. I got all the well-know applications right off the bat. I downloaded Words With Friends, Angry Birds, Weather Bug and of course Newsy (represent). But there is one app in particular that I can’t stop saying good things about.

The news app Flipboard is amazing. It pulls in all the “news” from your social networks and displays them in such away that is both engaging, addictive and fun all at the same time. You can physically flip through news stories, tweet them if you find them interesting and send links to friends via email.

It took me a while to finally make the decision to purchase an iPad. Let’s be honest, a $499 price tag isn’t something you spend on a rainy day. It definitely fills a niche market and tenders to the traveller, the die-heart reader and well…the college kid who can’t resist the latest gadget.

I probably know a quarter of what this iPad can do and that’s fine. I see it as investing in the future. Some genius will come along and invent an app that will change the world and who is going to have the device to run that app? This guy.