Introduction

The iPad is still new—the first product of its type, with no significant competition until about a year after it was introduced. Apple used the breathing room to ship its second version, the iPad 2, and it’s been a huge hit. The iPad occupies a unique position: It’s the easiest way to perform most computing tasks; it’s the most flexible and powerful entertainment and education device available; and, it’s a large-screen device that’s almost as easy to carry around as a PDA or smartphone.

The iPad is a big success. Children and older people particularly love its ease of use; everyone in between likes how easy it is to carry and how fast it is to get started. Even today, try pulling out an iPad—either the original, thicker device, or the newer, thinner iPad 2—in a meeting or on a crowded subway carriage, and you may get asked by a friendly passerby if he can take a look at it.