That is, if you live in an area that offers LTE coverage. Neither nor have extended their 4G networks across the nation yet. When LTE's not available, your next-generation iPad will fall back to the same 3G networks that serve the iPad 2.

Still, carriers are building up their 4G reach. by the end of 2012 while . You may not live in an area with LTE coverage now, but you might soon enough. For that reason, the third-generation iPad trumps the iPad 2 if you place a premium on network connectivity.

So if you don't plan to use your iPad for extensive photography and constant reading, you don't need more than 16GB of storage, and cellular connectivity is a moot point for you, should you just save the $100 and go for the iPad 2?

The answer is a definite maybe. $100 buys an awful lot of apps; saving that extra hundred bucks on your iPad purchase affords a whole lot of games involving birds in various emotional states.