Tablet Shootout: Apple's iPad 2 Vs HP's TouchPad

Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled iPad's new avatar, the iPad 2, an evolution rather than a revolution -- slimmer, lighter and faster.

Apple has just set the specification bar even higher for iPad 2, sticking with the 10-inch display but made it thinner than an iPhone and faster. Apple also managed to reduce the weight of the tablet despite adding new hardware.

The iPad 2 features a 33 percent thinner and lighter design, a new dual-core 1GHz A5 processor, GSM or CDMA 3G connectivity, front and rear cameras for FaceTime video chat over Wi-Fi and gyroscope for gaming.

iPad 2, which runs on the latest Apple's latest mobile operating system iOS 4.3, is expected to be available on March 11 in the U.S., and in +26 countries on March 25 with all of the new features but same pricing and no degradation to the 10-hour battery life.

iPad 2 with Wi-Fi is priced $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 for the 64GB model. iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G will be available for $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.

iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G compatible with the Verizon network will be available in the US only for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model.

Meanwhile, HP announced its upcoming tablet PC the TouchPad on Feb. 9, 2011. The device is expected to sport a 9.7-inch screen and run a tablet-optimized version of webOS 3.0, and is powered by a dual-core Snapdragon processor. The device also supports a new HP Touchstone Touch-to-Share proximity-based sharing feature, which allows compatible devices to instantly exchange data, media, and information.

HP TouchPad is scheduled to be available in the summer. Exact pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

Following is the comparison between Apple's iPad 2 and HP's TouchPad.