March 2 is nearly here, and as you'd expect, the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive, suggesting the immediate availability of the new iPad 2, massive debates over whether the iPad 2 will get a 'retina-esque' resolution screen, how might lighter the iPad 2 will be, and exactly what kind of specs are due within.

With Apple enjoying massive sales of the iPad, breathing life into a category first dreamed up in the era of the Dynabook and then sort-of popularised by Microsoft's Tablet PC for vertical markets, the iPad has without doubt been the tablet that consumers were waiting for to make tablets a mass-market consumer and business success.

But now we stand on the precipice of the iPad 2 insurrection in the face of the coming Android tablet army, although already, Apple is still winning as Google tries catching up.

With over 60,000 iPad specific apps already available, compared to only 16 Android tablet apps, even a technically superior Android tablet will be a hard sell.

After all, the technically superior Beta video recording system lost out to the technically inferior VHS, at least in the consumer market, just as the technically superior Mac OS lost out to Windows.

Google's Android OS 3.0 looks technically superior to iOS 4.2.1, but then there's the rub: what dreams and what realities may come when iOS 5 is unleashed unto the world?

We already know of the new multi-touch gestures the iOS 4.3 beta will bring, along with the rumours that Apple's iDevices will now become home button-free, but with iOS 4.3 looking little different to iOS 4.2.1 beyond the multi-touch gestures and some nice animations, and with Android OS 3.0 looking much more advanced, all eyes are on how Apple will drive iOS 5, and whether its fifth-generation operating system will be the mega-blockbuster Apple has trained us all to expect it to be.

So, wherefore art thou, iOS 5? Please read on to page two'¦

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However, just because iOS 5.0 is expected does not mean it will immediately appear.

There's all that talk of another iPad due in September, at which time iOS 5.0 might make an appearance if it doesn't turn up on March 2.

That's also an opportunity for Apple to launch any retina-type displays should one not appear this week either.

As for possible carbon-fibre bodies, dual-core processors, 512MB RAM, a lighter weight, front and back facing cameras, potential 3D capabilities, a better speaker, possible iLife inclusions, the potential for 3G and CDMA 'world' iPad 2s and more'¦ we know one thing for certain.

We know that the rumours indicate what the people want, but we also know that Apple doesn't always give the people what they say they want, but what Apple thinks the people want, or at least, what Apple thinks the people should have.

So far, that strategy has worked incredibly, amazingly, unbelievably well. Let's hope Apple releases an iPad 2 even more fantastic than we could have imagined, for the alternative is what the iPhone 3G was to the original iPhone - not much of a change.

Still, we won't have to wait too long to find out an answer. March 2 is only a few tens of hours away, where the iPad 2 beans will hopefully be well and truly spilled.

Let's hope the iPad 2 is immediately available, too, at least in Wi-Fi form, should any FCC regulations still need attaining for the 3G and CDMA versions to likewise appear in the not-too-distant future.

As always, expectations are sky high when it comes to Apple, with or without Steve Jobs at the helm full-time or not.

Roll on, March 2, roll on. We're all as keen as anything to see what's what and who's who in the iPad 2 zoo!