A short review of the new iPad

I've had it only a few hours but I am already happy to comment on the new iPad. Indeed, for anyone who has used wither of the previous models, the new iPad will be very familiar. Turning on the new model is like being re-introduced to an old friend who has, to the absolute delight of his long-term acquaintances, lost weight, regained his youth and acquired a huge new collection of sparkling anecdotes; it is, quite frankly, a joy.

There have been lots of reviews over the last few days from various Apple bloggers and technology journalists (John Gruber, David Pogue, Jim Dalrymple, The Verge) but I'd like to think my take, as a long-term user, will also be interesting.

The first thing that strikes you when you upgrade from a first generation iPad is that the thickness and weight are dramatically reduced. Simply removing the device from the exquisite packaging is enough to make you fall in love again. The first-gen unit, so useful and brilliant until this morning, is now a little lumpy, destined never again to command the respect and desire that were once it's own.

The next thing you notice when you upgrade from your iCloud-enabled first generation iPad is that the process is entirely painless. Within minutes of entering your Apple account details you will have access to all your apps and data as if nothing had really changed. If you've ever experienced the "joy" of switching laptops and transferring applications and data files, you'll understand why a seamless upgrade is so refreshing.

When you get past the upgrade and realise that your system is now up and running, the next thing you notice (if you haven't spotted it already) is that the display is absolutely stunning. Quadrupling the resolution has made text sharper and images (generally) more beautiful. Actually, the low resolution of images used in many websites is a minor problem - they look awful - but that's hardly the fault of the iPad. For text, and if you're using applications like FlipBoard, the experience is akin to reading a backlit magazine; absolutely amazing.

And the other features? The rear-facing camera is pretty good (although you feel a bit of a tit wielding such a large device) and the huge screen makes composition very easy. FaceTime and iMessage work seamlessly, exactly as you'd expect. Everything, from touch response to app opening, is fast; I've found no noticeable delays anywhere.

In short, the new iPad is a huge upgrade from the first generation model and a significant step forward from the iPad 2. If you're considering a tablet, but can't decide between Apple and one of the recent Android releases, get a new iPad. If you're not sure which iPad to buy, visit an Apple store, play with the display models, then buy the new iPad (iPad 2 is great but you'll really want the Retina display).

Trust me; the new iPad is not going to disappoint. It's simply superb.