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It seems like it’s only been a few days since Steve Jobs strutted around on stage, cradling his new iPad tablet, looking for all the world like Charlton Heston on the mountain in “The Ten Commandments.”

Of course, it’s actually been a while since Steve received his missive from God about tablet computing, and the world is a much different place.

Back then Apple had a commanding lead in the mobile segment and pundits were predicting the demise of Flash, which has since gone the way of fossil fuel … which is to say, it’s still with us. The original iPad entered a market with no serious competition. Granted, there were other tablets, but none had the array of apps that the iPad had, and none could match the sheer “slickness” of the iPad. The new I pad arrives in a much more hostile world then its predecessor.

Android now commands the mobile market, and the iPad 2 faces stiff competition right out of the box. The device I’m writing this column on, for example, is a Motorola Xoom. Dual Core processors, dual cameras, a higher resolution screen than the iPad, and 4g capabilities all make it a serious competitor. But as usual, Apple has some tricks up its sleeve.

The new iPad does feature dual cameras, face time for face-to-face conversations, and a dual core processor to keep up with the other next-generation device. And, as usual, Apple is all about style.

The iPad 2 is thinner, lighter, and sleeker than the original, and comes in white or black. Even better, the price point hasn’t moved from that of the original iPad. The base model cashes in at $499, while the top-of-the-line model will cost you $829.