Ihnatko: Apple iPad 2 is here and tablet rivals need to hit the drawing board

This experience by Andy Ihnatko illustrates the power of the introduction of the iPad 2:

Apple iPad 2 is here and tablet rivals need to hit the drawing board – Chicago Sun-Times:

If one of your company’s goals for 2011 was to introduce a tablet to complete with the iPad, you can expect to struggle.

The second most powerful evidence of this happened just a minute ago, as I pulled out my iPad and keyboard here in my San Francisco hotel lobby to write this very same column.

“Looks like you’re going to have to buy a new one of those,” said an electrician as he passed by me on the way to his truck. “The new one’s coming out on the 11th.”

Since today is launch day, this experience may be more poignant, but alas I probably won’t be purchasing an iPad 2 yet – at least not in the near term. However, the original iPad saved my bacon on taxes last year, so I still have a few months to reconsider!