The iPad's storage isn't expandable: What you get when you buy the tablet is what you'll have for the rest of its life. As mentioned, the iPad 2 only offers 16GB of storage. The new iPad, on the other hand, is available in 16GB ($499), 32GB ($599), and 64GB ($699) sizes. If you plan to load your iPad up with not just oodles of apps, but also your full music library, a bunch of movies, and a heavy helping of photographs, .

Thus, if you do expect to store all kinds of large media on your iPad, I wouldn't consider a 16GB iPad model acceptable anymore. That means your lowest-cost option is the $599 32GB new iPad. If you instead don't plan to store several gigabytes of music on your iPad--either because you plan to use iTunes Match, or sync no or little music--the 16GB size remains a viable option, which means you needn't cross the iPad 2 off your list just yet.

If you're content with a Wi-Fi-only iPad, this question isn't relevant to you. But if you want a model that has the ability to connect to a cellular network, you'll need to consider the fact that the iPad 2 is only compatible with 3G networks.

The new iPad can connect with faster Long Term Evolution, or LTE, networks. This early version of fourth-generation (4G) cellular technology means faster, more efficient downloads, as my colleague Glenn Fleishman details in his . And in his review of the new iPad, Jason Snell found that downloads and uploads over LTE gave Wi-Fi a run for their money. If you plan on connecting to a network with your iPad, the third-generation model and its LTE capability may be the way to go.