A first look at the iPad 2, up close and personal (video)

Apple launched the iPad 2 tablet computer today, and it looks like another hit. The company has added a lot of new features to the device and still managed to keep the price the same. After today’s press event, we got a close-up look at the iPad 2, and it’s clear that the company has once again set the bar for rival tablet makers to beat.

It’s faster, thinner, lighter, and adds a lot of new features that make the device just about as functional as a laptop computer. It has, for instance, two new cameras — one on the front and another on the back — to enable Facetime video calls. You can also do new apps from the Mac, such as the iPad version of Photo Booth, Garage Band, and iMovie.

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You’ll notice from the video below that it has a cool new cover to protect the screen. That cover has micro-fibers in it that help keep the screen clean. If you flip the cover up a little bit, the screen wakes up from sleep mode. You can also fold the screen cover so that it becomes a stand for the iPad 2, so that you can look at it from an angle.

The price ranges from $499 to $829, depending on whether you get more flash memory for data storage and whether you get 3G service in addition to Wi-Fi. It will be available March 11 in the U.S. from Verizon and AT&T.

Check out our hands-on video below for the complete rundown.