Apple is selling refurbished iPads for a pretty good discount.
16GB WiFi models for only $349
Just wanted to share in case anyone hadn't seen that. ...
Good price on a 32G WiFi + 3G model too.
It's situation much like what I went through in October with the Olympus E-5 release. The E-3 was what I was planning to buy when the E-5 came out as I expected prices to drop from their then-current $1200 average to around $900 new, but when I assessed the benefits from the $1700 E-5, I came to the conclusion that the premium for the new model was worth it.
I haven't done the evaluation for the iPad vs iPad 2 yet, but I think the 2 has enough additional benefits to warrant waiting and buying the newer model, on first glance. The faster processor, graphics, thinner form factor, cameras, etc etc are compelling advantages.
I'm not interested in looking at other tablets
a) because sticking with all Apple products for my computing uses guarantees a level of integration and workflow ease that no mix of alternative products does, and
b) because no other tablets have the range of application software available appropriate to my uses, and
c) because I have no desire to learn how to program and build applications for other tablet operating systems. I've already got my project for the iPad nicely spec'ed out and am eager to get started on it, have put in my time learning the software development model, etc.
A first gen iPad would be fine for the work I plan to do at the moment, but the second gen iPad has some new features that might be advantageous to work with, and seems that it will suit my use outside of the project better too. So I am still considering.