how long will apple support the ipad 2 for.

I have a question about the ipad2 how long will apple support it with as in constant iOS updates with new features. a year or longer i just would like to know because the new ipad costs a lot of moneyi can get an iapd 2 32 gig for 499. as long as apple suports it with updates and os updates i would buy one.but i would not wanna buy one and then next year they will end support for it . iam stuck

 

I doubt anyone who knows would be on the forum announcing that info. Maybe Apple doesn't even know yet, given that iPad is still relatively new.

Apple has just upgraded iPad 1 to iOS 5.1, so the record so far is at least two years.

 

thanks kay kay i did not know that the ipad1 could upgrade to iOS 5.1 also.. iam such a newbie lol
so 2 years is not bad i guess for the ipad 1

 

I just updated my and my husband's iPad 1s to iOS 5.1, along with my iPad 2.

If I were in the market for a new iPad, I'd definitely get the newest model, partly because of the likelihood that you'd get updates longer. You'd also get better hardware and better resale later, if that's a consideration. But of course, each buyer's budget and needs will vary.

 

Just as my own rule of thumb, as a long time Apple user, I find that allowing two years after they stop selling a product for updates seems to work. As iPad 2 is still being sold then you've probably got a good two to three years.

Don't put too much on my advice though as there will always be exceptions.

The Archangel

 

I think this is good guidance with one possible hiccup: Apple kept offering firmware upgrades for iPhone 3G, but the firmware was so kludgy that the phones essentially became nonfunctional for some users (some even tried to sue). From what I remember, I had my iPhone 3G about 1.5 years before it was rendered useless by Apple's firmware upgrades, even though they offered them. I don't think that's been repeated as badly, but I'm a bit gunshy, especially after the last iPad firmware upgrade left many users with crashes, especially on iPad 1, because of RAM probs. I hope this upgrade has fixed the crashes (I've not used iOS 5.1 long enough to tell, but others are saying they're seeing fewer crashes), but I'm still skeptical.

 

Yes, I tend to upgrade my current devices straight away but I wait for others to test drive before I update older devices so currently my iPad 2 is on iOS 5.1 and my iPad 1 is still on iOS 5.0.1........I've not seen any bad reports regarding the iPad 1's updating so I'll probably update that shortly.

The Archangel

 

I wish that iPhone 1 could be updated past 3.1.1. But, that poor phone has no more updating life.

No reason to rid myself of that puppy. I still have use for that phone along with my 4s.

Sent from my IPAD 1st generation. WIFI only. 64GB

 

Good approach.

I plunged in with iPad 1 this time because I figured the odds would be consumer outrage if the crashes on iPad 1 got any worse with iOS 5.1, lol.

 

Yes, unfortunately hardware is often outliving firmware and software nowadays. I have a hardware graveyard of stuff that is in fine physical condition, but was euthanized by firmware/software.