When it comes to tablets, Apple dominates the market with its high-tech iPads, especially now that the new-generation iPad is out and will soon hit the shelves. With the launch of the new tablet, the iPad 2’s price has been dropped to $399, leaving the $499 spot open for the new device.

The new iPad sports an exciting Retina display with a 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution, a more powerful graphics processor, an upgraded 5.1 iOS and a 5-megapixel rear-facing iSight camera. However, many people are still not convinced whether such features are worth the extra cash.

For those eager to own the newest gadget on the market, the $100 price difference may not seem like much. For the more budget-conscious, however, the iPad 2 still has some great features for a more accessible price. Nothing else available on the market in this price range manages to even come close to the iPad 2, which makes it quite a great investment even if it’s not the latest model.

As Apple CEO Tim Cook highlighted, we have now entered a post-PC era, and increasingly more people prefer more mobile alternatives for their workstation. Tablets are a big part of this change, and while many don’t own one yet, this will likely change in the coming years. Other tablet makers are catching up and offer cheaper devices compared to iPad, but people tend to compare all tablets to the iPad in terms of performance, features, apps and quality.

For Apple connoisseurs, the only decision is whether to purchase the $399 iPad 2 or to invest an extra $100 for the third-generation tablet. The decision is a tough one indeed.