Following a whirlwind of announcements about the “new” Retina Display-equipped iPad, Apple’s Phil Schiller confirmed several rumors about the fate of the existing iPad 2 -- which gets a new lease on life with a $100 drop in price.
While a number of existing iPad 2 owners have been eagerly trading in their current models in recent days ahead of “the new iPad” introduced on Wednesday, let’s not forget that the second-generation tablet still has a lot to offer. At the tail end of today’s flurry of Apple announcements, the iPad 2 got even more loveable, with a $100 price drop.
Rather than put a stake in the heart of the iPad 2, Apple has taken a nod from the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 playbook, keeping last year’s model around at a reduced price for budget-conscious buyers. The entry-level iPad 2 Wi-Fi only now starts at only $399, which makes it an attractive option for those shopping Android-based tablets, including Amazon’s $199 Kindle Fire.
Of course, buying an iPad 2 won’t get you that sweet Retina Display or improved rear iSight camera, not to mention any hope of 4G LTE -- but for many, the lure of saving a hundred bucks will be too much to bear.
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