iPad 2

You'll still be able to use GarageBand on the iPad
Next to iMovie, GarageBand is the biggest new app Apple announced alongside the iPad 2. However, it will run on the original iPad. Yes, the iPad 2's faster, but you won't need that power to cut some fresh tracks in the iOS version of GarageBand.

The iPad can output video to an HDTV just like an iPad 2.
Apple announced the Digital AV Adapter alongside the iPad 2, and showed off its video-mirroring feature as a strong benefit of the new tablet. Unfortunately, video mirroring only works with the iPad 2, but the adapter itself works just fine with the old iPad.

The iPad can access the same online content as the iPad 2
Again, just like playing local media files and loading ebooks, the iPad 2's additional power won't make online content any smoother or prettier. The iPad can already load Hulu Plus. It can already load Netflix. It can already load the Adult Swim mobile app. What more could you want?

The iPad is as good an ebook reader as the iPad 2
Once again, same screen, same ebook reader. The iPad 2 isn't going to display newspapers, magazines, and books any better than the original iPad. At best, the iPad 2 will load large documents like PDFs faster than the iPad, but that's it.

The iPad is as good a media player as the iPad 2
The iPad 2 doesn't increase the resolution or improve the brightness or colors of its display over the first iPad, so as a plain movie viewer, there's no compelling reason to replace your iPad.

That said, if you’re a first-time tablet buyer, it’s perhaps your best option on the market right now. It has a fast processor, is light, is ultra thin, is available in a week, and more importantly, it’s far ahead of what else its rivals are selling (or are planning to sell.)

So how does the iPad 2 stack up?

I got a chance to play with one for a solid half hour after the event today in the hands-on area. It’s great. It’s everything you love about the original iPad, but better.

The rear-facing camera shoots in HD, and also outputs in HD using the HDMI cable accessory. Loading it was quick and painless, and scanning around the room taking a few quick snaps, it was already obvious that most users will find the camera a joy to use.

This thing is insanely fast. We're not joking -- it's blazingly fast.

P.S. - While you're poring over these stats, don't forget that Apple's decided to slap a $100 price cut on the original iPads, making them eminently more desirable today than they were yesterday.