"It's all very nice -- smaller, lighter faster, but there were no surprises," said Ezra Gottheil, an analyst with Technology Business Research. "Is it nicer? Yes. But it all was predictable, things that everyone was betting on, including competitors."

Stephen Baker of retail research firm NPD Group chimed in as well on the theme.

"It seemed like this time, everyone knew everything ahead of time," said Baker. "It's all incremental. But there are only so many ways you can surprisingly change things."

The iPad 2, which according to Apple features a dual-core processor, faster graphics and two built-in cameras, will in the U.S. at the same price points as the original tablet: The Wi-Fi model starts at $499, while the 3G device starts at $629.

Yesterday, Baker said Apple might preempt actual and potential tablet rivals by , but the company didn't take his last-minute advice.