Is it me, or does the camera quality suck?

The camera quality is not good. The iPad camera was really designed to use FaceTime in the device. Yes it is a camera and yes it will take photos. But the quality isn't so hot. You will find that the better the lighting, the better the quality of the photo. The camera on the new iPads is supposed to be a little better than previous versions, but like I said, the camera is intended to be used for FaceTime, the fact that the iPad takes photos is a bonus whether we see it that way or not. Actually, the video quality is pretty good, much better than the still photos.

Personally, I would never use such an unwieldy device to take pictures anyway.

The photos will improve a great deal if the conditions are just right. Outdoor pictures in good lighting actually come out pretty well. I was in Disney World in October and people were lugging their iPad around shooting photos and vidoes like crazy. Personally, I think they were nuts, but whatever floats one's boat I guess.

It is a bit of a disappointment to a lot of users when they realize how crappy the photos can be with the iPad camera, but the iPad is such an amazing device in so many other ways so the lack of a decent camera becomes a non issue for most people I think.

I hope your son will love the iPad!

You are quite welcome. Enjoy the new iPad - both of you!!!

Actually, the quality of photos taken with the iPad rear camera on the 3rd gen and 4th gen is quite good. The quality is far better than the iPad 2nd gen. Since the iPad does not have a flash it is important to have decent lighting.

See the tech specs here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/