Who will buy iPad 2?

Is it you? I'd like to know. Apple's second generation tablet goes on sale this Friday. There was a ridiculous amount of rumor and hype pre-launch event and overly large amount of buzz post-launch. Has someone started calling this thing the Jesus tablet yet, like iPhone as the Jesus phone? No wait! Moses brought the tablets down from the mountain top, right? You get the point. There's much buzz. But who really is going to buy, particularly among Betanews readers.

If you plan to buy iPad, please also answer if you're a repeat buyer (meaning you purchased iPad 1) or if you're a new buyer. If new, why now and not before? For those people resisting the temptation to follow the presumed crowd, why not iPad? Did you buy or do you plan to buy another tablet, or perhaps none at all? Why? Please respond in comments, or email joewilcox at gmail.com.

For informational purposes, below are some tablet comparisons. I've included the original iPad, since some people may choose the older model -- now that Apple has chopped $100 off the price to clear out inventory. Maybe this should be topic of another post: If iPad is selling so well Apple can't meet demand, why then does the company have to reduce prices to clear out old inventory?

iPad: 1GHz A4 processor (single core); 9.7-inch LED display with 1024 by 768 resolution; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; compass; WiFi; 3G (on some models); iOS 4.2.

iPad 2: 1GHz A5 dual-core processor; 9.7-inch LED display with 1024 by 768 resolution; front-and-rear facing cameras; 16GB, 32GB or 64GB internal memory; 720p video recording; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; compass; gyroscope; WiFi; 3G (on some models); iOS 4.3.

Galaxy Tab 10.1: 1GHz dual-core processor; 10.1-inch TFT display with 1280 by 800 resolution; two cameras -- rear-facing 8-megapixels with LED flash; front-facing 2MP; 16GB or 32GB internal memory; Flash 10.1; 1080p video recording; WiFi; 3G, with support for HSPA+ 21Mbps networks; GPS; Android 3.0.

HTC Flyer: 1.5GHz processor; 7-inch display 1GB of RAM; 32 GB of internal storage, expandable with microSD to 64 GB; a 5-megapixel back-facing and 1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras; light sensor; velocity sensor; digital compass; Bluetooth 3.0; GPS; Android 2.4.

Motorola XOOM: 1GHz dual-core nVidia Tegra 2 processor; 10.1-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1GB of RAM; 32GB internal storage, expandable with MicroSD card; 5-megapixel back-facing and 2-megapixel front-facing cameras; 720p video recording; 1080p video playback; HDMI and USB 2.0 ports; accelerometer; barometer; gyroscope; Android 3.0.

On March 2nd, as part of a longer iPad 2 analysis, I asked Betanews readers which, if any, of these tablets they might buy. Robert Rauck responded: "iPad 2 of course. That is a no brainer. You cannot just look at spec sheets. The iPad 2 has, by far, the best O/S and is embedded in an ecosystem that blows the others away."

Matt Shulman asked Rauck: "Best OS? Have you used the OS on any other devices? I've owned an iPhone for awhile. I'm now on Android. I thought the iPhone was great, but the Android is just as good, if not better in certain areas. There's really just a couple of key points the iPad has going for it." He rightly identified iTunes, Apple's App Store and iPad 2's price.

"I will definitely go with a Tegra powered Honeycomb tablet, still trying to make my mind up between the XOOM (hate Moto, but might have a great dev community), the G-Slate (looks cool, could be more expensive, LG newish to the game, but has solid devices and good update record) and one of the upcoming eeepads from Asus (Great concept, dual battery packs don't hurt either)," writes new Betanews registrant anasqtiesh.

By the way, I'd like to commend commenters for really lively and thoughtful debate about any tablet's permits to that post.

So as those readers' comments as ticklers, please answer: Will you buy Apple 2? Again in comments or by email: joewilcox at gmail dot com.