Apple announces Jan. 19 event at Guggenheim in NYC

You would think so, but it has been nearly a year since the iPad 2 announcement. It really does feel like we've had iPads forever but it's only been less then three years. Two factors come to mind. 1) We have been riding with the iPhone development for nearly 5 years and are used to the interface. 2) This is technology we've (as a culture) all wanted from Star Trek and SciFi in general since as early back as the 50s an 60s. Personally I've been telling people in my immediate circles that if they want the "latest cutting edge" iPad they need to forgo the Christmas gift glut and give an IOU instead with a maturation date in late March early April. Although as it stands I don't think the iPad 2 is bad buy, it has all the most critical parts to be useful over the long term (cameras, AirPlay mirror, A5 with built in graphics capacity). This makes it far more viable then even the A4 based devices.

While it won't launch there may be a hit or two dropped would be my guess. Likely about screen resolution and pixels per inch. It is rumored there will be no hardware, but it's kinda hard to talk about digital textbooks without demonstrating them on a platform.

Don't worry about it Troy. I also bought the iPad 2 not to long ago for use with college and experimenting with using technology as a teaching medium and the device is solid. You shouldn't have any issues for a while with compatibility or any of that. My dad is using the iPad 1st Gen and has no regrets about his purchase. I guess it's really in how you're going to use it, but the fact the new one is coming out soon shouldn't be a bother! :) If anything you can sell hers for roughly 80% of what you paid for it and then go buy a new one!