so... i took another bite of the apple.

Why??  Why am I so addicted to Apple products??  Is it the insanely sleek packaging??  How I walk into the store and am immediately jealous of everyone walking out while swinging one of those sleek little boxes in the white bag?!  I want to open that box and see a gleaming new electronic with that brand-new smell!!  Or maybe it's because the products are just good... They are high quality and I've never had a functioning problem with any Apple product I've owned.  I like their products so much I give them names and they almost become a part of me... Hiding my anxiety behind a 15 inch screen in law school, connecting me to my friends and loved ones with a simple click, getting to spill my thoughts and creativity just like the very post you're reading?!  I don't know what the reason is... But I love me some Apple.  And I just took another bite with the iPad 3.  

 Hello, pretty...

I bought the iPad 1 as a gift to myself after my Spring finals my first year of law school.  This year, it was a gift to myself after I took the MPRE on March 17th.  Note: I do not suggest starting this habit.  

A couple people on Twitter asked me how I liked the iPad 3 and how it compared to the iPad 1.  Although I haven't had tons of time to play with my new friend, I've spent some time comparing the two side by side and checking out the differences between them. 

#1 - Holy Moly Beautiful Screen.    

The first thing I noticed about my iPad 3 was the beautiful, crystal clear screen.  Videos and photographs look absolutely perfect on this screen.  The iPad 3 has Apple's new "Retina Display"... Basically, there are more pixels packed into the screen.  This will make a huge difference if you like to edit photos or movies on your iPad.  If you have screen sensitivity from pixelation (tired eyes, headaches, etc.) you will appreciate the crystal-clear, razor-sharp graphics and text on the screen!!  

 A photo I took of Miss Lo... Crystal clear!!

#2 - Speed Demon. 

There is a major difference in the speed between the iPad 1 and the iPad 3.  I think this is mainly because the iPad 3 is the first iPad to have the 4G/LTE capability.  I don't know enough about this to explain it in techie terms, but... Just check out the video below.  It's a little race between the 3 iPads!!

#3 - Say Cheese!!

Going from not having a camera on my iPad 1 to having a camera on my iPad 3 is great.  I can snap a quick pic of my dogs running around the house or an outfit I've just put together.  It gives me the portability of taking photos on my iPhone with a bigger screen to view it on.  This bigger screen will also be nicer for FaceTime!! 

There's not much difference between the cameras on the iPad 2 and iPad 3, but the iPad 3's rear camera now autofocuses.   

#4 - Size.

The iPad 3 is about the same thickness as my iPad 1, but you might notice a slight difference if you're upgrading from an iPad 2.  The weight is about the same as my iPad 1 as well.  The size and weight doesn't really bother me because I'm used to carrying 40-50 lbs of backpack + handbag for the past 3 years!!  Anything is a major improvement from that!!  I can't wait to be done feeling like a bag lady/hunchback at school!! 

#5 - iPhoto??  Yes, Please. 

I love the new iPhoto... It makes editing photos so simple and fast.  The new layout, with the "palettes" of tools, is both fun to use and very functional.  It's really easy to email multiple photos at once... Or view a few at a time in order to decide which to edit and use.    

 "Brush palette" for editing...

 Another palette for choosing photo finishes/effects. 

 The Verdict??

 If you are upgrading from an iPad 1, the iPad 3 is worth the money in what you will gain from speed, screen improvement, international capability, and the camera.  But... I don't think it's worth the upgrade from an iPad 2.  The iPad 2 is still fast and has a camera, so you're spending a lot but not gaining much with the 2-3 upgrade.  

I hope this helps some of you!!  I always appreciate hearing tech advice from friends... It's much more believable than what a "geek" or a "genius" tells you at the store!!  :) 

Xoxo B.

Watch Apple's video on the new iPad HERE.