CNETAnalysis: There’s only one story in tech this week: the iPad 2 , which comes to the UK later today (or in a few week’s time, if you’ve ordered one online already). You can buy one in the flesh from 5pm today, and there are lots and lots of iPad 2s going into Orange shops . Will there be queues? You bet – and Motorola has been quick to harness the hype to promote its own tablet, the Xoom. “Not keen to waste the finest weather we’ve had in ages waiting in a queue?” Motorola asks . “Fear not friends, ditch the winter coat, head out for a pint and pre-order your Motorola Xoom online instead!” Are we the only people wondering whether “hey! Don’t buy their popular gadget! Buy our considerably less popular one instead!” is the smartest marketing strategy? So is the iPad 2 worth the hype? Gary Marshall predicted that some would whinge – “it isn’t the entirely imaginary device the internet has been happily inventing for the last few months” – but our in-depth iPad 2 review says it’s great, with a few reservations: “it’s the best tablet around”, we found, but it’s evolution rather than revolution. Dan Grabham explains the differences between iPad vs iPad 2 , but as Craig Grannell points out, specs don’t tell the whole story : “it’s no good having a quad-core tablet with 8GB of RAM if the only software available is a slightly knackered version of Solitaire. Apple gets this… it’s a win for everyone.” Buying an iPad 2 If you’re planning to buy one, there are a few things to consider. First up, do you need a 3G one if you’ve got an iPhone? Not if you’ve got an iPhone 4: iOS 4.3′s personal hotspot means your phone can be a Wi-Fi access point, although Gary Marshall reckons that by charging for it, networks are ripping us off: “wait and see ! what new tariffs emerge,” he recommends. “And if they still expect you to pay for tethering? Jailbreak your iPhone.” If you think you do need a 3G one, we’ve put together a handy breakdown of the different iPad 2 data plans so that you can see what you’ll pay on Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, O2 and Three. As Adam Hartley discovered, Vodafone is the cheapest by a mighty 50p . Our data plan comparison also includes the prices of all the different iPad 2 models, including the Wi-Fi-only ones. One last thing to think about: according to an anonymous Apple insider, the iPad 3 is the one to get excited about – and rumours of a 2011 iPad 3 release date are already flying. With an iPhone 5 due in June and new MacBook Pros already out, the rumoured September iPad 3 release means 2011 could be an expensive year for Apple fans. Related Stories GarageBand and iMovie for iPad get early release iPad 2 officially launches in US Apple AirPlay-friendly third-party apps showcased Opinion: This app should NOT be free iOS 4.3.1 on its way to end your iPad 2 jailbreaking fun
