All iPads: Is this fairly common?

[brig2221]

I purchased an iPad 2 when it first came out, and shortly thereafter, my wife pretty much confiscated it for her own exclusive use. I find this funny as she gave me a lot of crap for spending $600 on something she was sure we didn't need.

Anyhow, fast forward to present time, with me deciding to pick up an iPad 4 for my own exclusive use. Past history being what it was, I didn't want the wife using my iPad for fear she would want it (mainly due to the Retina screen).

The first few weeks went fine, and then it happened, her iPad ran out of juice, and I noticed she seamlessly moved over to my iPad. Long story short, she could not tell the difference between the two screens. One would think I would be happy, but I was more incredulous and offended that she couldn't tell, to the point of me offering to pull up the same websites on both so she could see the difference. She was completely indifferent to my proposition and passed.

So my question is, how common is it (or isn't it) that a person cannot tell the difference between a Retina and non-Retina iPad?

In case anyone is wondering, my wife has had LASIK and has 20/20 vision.

[modelbehaviour]

Neither of my parents can, but they both wear glasses. I can, I have 20/20 vision. I think it's more noticeable in some contexts than others, like iBooks for example.

[ThatsMeRight]

Well, there are people who just don't really notice it. I think she would notice if she had used your iPad for like, let's say, a month and that she than went back to her iPad 2.

To me, the move from using an iPad 1 to using an iPad 3 isn't as big, as using an iPad 3 and than using an iPad 1.

I think most people don't really notice is that well at first, but when they use the older, less pixel dense displays, they notice a difference.

[token787]

I was playing with IPad 2 in BB and kept wondering why people was so big on the retina UNTIL I started playing with the IPad 3 in store and then I had no more questions. I noticed it, at first you may not until u start messing around with a retina IPad. That was my experience and I was sold on retina.

[LeeM]

some people genuinely dont give a ****, and an ipad is simply an ipad.
i can tell with iPads, but not really with MacBooks

[SlasherDuff]

I have low vision so i cant tell the difference between the two

[taedouni]

Some people just don't have the eye that notices the "small" things in life.

[MisterKeeks]

I can tell the difference, but I don't really care as much as some.

[bevsb2]

I notice a big difference in retina display. I have the iPad 4 and 15 inch rMBP. I would love an iPad mini, but can't get past the non retina screen. My brother was visiting recently and was unimpressed with my rMBP. He was using my Macbook Air and said he just uses the computer to get information and doesn't care what the screen looks like. We're all different.

[KeepCalmPeople]

My wife had a 2 and I got her the 3 with cellular. She didn't notice the retina display until I pointed it out to her, but after that she noticed that pictures in particular were a lot clearer. I have no doubt that if I replaced her 3 with a 2 without telling her, she would quickly notice.

[rbrian]

I could tell immediately. I was always disappointed with my original iPad, the text looked blurry. Then I got an iPhone 4S, and my iPad looked worse. I bought an iPad 3 on launch day, and it was like a drink of cool water for my eyes. Putting the two side by side, the difference was night and day.

I mostly use mine for text; with pictures and video there's less of a difference. I'll never go back to a lower resolution, that's why I skipped the iPad mini despite loving the small size and low weight.

I have also had laser eye surgery, but it didn't affect my close vision, which was always good, only my long vision, which used to be poor.

[kjmff5]

hahaha your post made me think of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdIWKytq_q4