New iPad a Hit with Buyers, Consumer Reports (AAPL)

The new iPad from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) turns out to be a hit with consumers and with Consumer Reports magazine, which recently reported that the new tablet could run pretty hot at times. In its latest assessment of the iPad, the magazine calls the Retina display “a new benchmark in excellence.”

That judgment is seconded by a survey of iPad buyers by research firm ChangeWave, which found that 75% of owners said the Retina display was what they liked best about the device. Overall satisfaction rose to 82%, up from 74% with the iPad 2.

Excessive heat from the new iPad was a “big” problem for zero per cent of owners, and even Consumer Reports acknowledged that after further testing, the issue is “not a cause for concern.” Only 4% of those surveyed by ChangeWave called the heating issue “somewhat of a problem.”

ChangeWave reported that 26% of new iPad owners though the device was too expensive and 23% disliked the cost of the data plans offered by carriers. That last concern should have been predictable given the high resolution display quality. All those display bits are not free, and many buyers probably didn’t understand the cost they would be incurring as a result of the increased screen resolution.

Clearly, though, Apple has another winner on its hands.

Paul Ausick