Any reason to keep the iPad 3 without retina?

[Redjericho]

the iPad 3 is more capable than the iPad 2 in graphical ability - but it can't match those abilities at the full retina resolution. As I understand it, it can do it at a resolution (I forget the figures) that gives it about double the number of pixels that the iPad 2 has - which is what Infinity Blade 2 does. The problem with N.O.V.A 3 is that the developers decided to make it at the full resolution - with four time the number of pixels - and found that meant they had to cut some effects. If they'd gone sigh iPad 2 res or even the Infini Blade 2 res then it would have been fine.

I understand this, but I would prefer a 1024x768 resolution game on a 1024x768 resolution screen, as opposed to whatever the iPad 3 is, like 9000x4*10^30.

What I would like to see is the a5x processor in a normal resolution screen. I understand it is directed toward powering the retina, but if they directed it toward app usage, you can bet there would be some delicious games out there. Though I know this probably won't ever happen.

 

[MacMane]

I don't know what WWDC will bring to the table in terms of the new iPad and iOS, but I wouldn't revert to the iPad 2 unless I'm sure that apples not going to reveal some cool things at WWDC that's new iPad specific. I wouldn't want to miss out on the newest tech.

 

[aznsmith]

If you don't care about the high resolution screen of the ipad 3, there's really no reason to upgrade. I personally waiting until the ipad got it's retina display to even purchase one. If I didn't really like the retina display, I'd probably go for the new ipad 2 with its die shrink.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

I'm not sure if I'm missing something or what, but I just don't see much of a difference, other than pixelation all over the Internet and in non-retina apps due to lack of resolution.

I'm a little confused - you say you don't see much of a difference, but you see a difference in non-retina apps? Well, when you're looking at a non-retina app, that's what the iPad 2 screen looks like all the time. So you are seeing a difference.

 

[TheWheelMan]

The difference is also there in how much easier it is on your eyes if you read a lot. My eyes got much more tired using my iPad 1 than my iPad 3.

 

[Redjericho]

I'm a little confused - you say you don't see much of a difference, but you see a difference in non-retina apps? Well, when you're looking at a non-retina app, that's what the iPad 2 screen looks like all the time. So you are seeing a difference.

Well, the pictures are Much more blurry because they are being stretched. It's like resizing a picture in photoshop or any image manipulation software, as you increase the size it gets blurry, because you aren't increasing the resolution.

A non-retina app is strecthed exactly in that way. The resolution is still 1024x768 or w/e it is, but iOS simply stretches it to match the massive resolution of the iPad 3. On iPad 2 the image is not stretched, as it the device displays at the correct resolution.

 

[TyroneShoes2]

...apple will surely release a new iPad in 6-12 months that will be twice as good as the iPad 3...

Surely you jest.

Apple has never released a new version of any product twice as good as the previous model, of anything. Retina display on the iPad is about as close to that as they ever have come, in fact. A screen with 4 times the number of pixels is great, but it is still just an evolutionary up rev to the iPad, not a revolutionary one.

That's no knock against Apple; there is usually little room for improvement and their original products are always top-shelf to begin with. The business model here is to release a kick-ass original product and then improve it incrementally on a regular basis maintaining cutting-edge status or at least state of art, which is also exactly why they are now sitting on a 1.1 billion-dollar mountain of cash. The only way to improve a product to "twice as good" is to start with a crappy product in the first place. Apple don't play that.

 

[Night Spring]

Well, the pictures are Much more blurry because they are being stretched. It's like resizing a picture in photoshop or any image manipulation software, as you increase the size it gets blurry, because you aren't increasing the resolution.

A non-retina app is strecthed exactly in that way. The resolution is still 1024x768 or w/e it is, but iOS simply stretches it to match the massive resolution of the iPad 3. On iPad 2 the image is not stretched, as it the device displays at the correct resolution.

No it doesn't stretch the image, if you think non-retina images look blurry from being stretched, you are imagining things. iOS retina displays pixel-doubles non-retina images, rather than stretch them. It takes one pixel of a non-retina image and uses 4 pixels to display it. Therefore, a non-retina image on an iPad 3 looks the same as a non-retina image on an iPad 2. This is the whole reason a retina iPad is exactly double the resolution of non-retina iPads, 2048x1536 to 1024x768, so that non-retina images won't get distorted when displayed on the retina screen.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Well, the pictures are Much more blurry because they are being stretched. It's like resizing a picture in photoshop or any image manipulation software, as you increase the size it gets blurry, because you aren't increasing the resolution.

A non-retina app is strecthed exactly in that way. The resolution is still 1024x768 or w/e it is, but iOS simply stretches it to match the massive resolution of the iPad 3. On iPad 2 the image is not stretched, as it the device displays at the correct resolution.

Non-retina iPad apps are not stretched. They are pixel doubled, so the iPad simply draws 4 pixels on the new iPad screen to represent an original pixel on the iPad 2/iPad 1 screen.

Those 4 pixels are exactly the same size as 1 pixel on the iPad 2. The original aspect ratio is preserved exactly. It was the same for non-retina apps on iPhone 4 when it came out.

----------

Surely you jest.

Apple has never released a new version of any product twice as good as the previous model, of anything. Retina display on the iPad is about as close to that as they ever have come, in fact. A screen with 4 times the number of pixels is great, but it is still just an evolutionary up rev to the iPad, not a revolutionary one.

That's no knock against Apple; there is usually little room for improvement and their original products are always top-shelf to begin with. The business model here is to release a kick-ass original product and then improve it incrementally on a regular basis maintaining cutting-edge status or at least state of art, which is also exactly why they are now sitting on a 1.1 billion-dollar mountain of cash. The only way to improve a product to "twice as good" is to start with a crappy product in the first place. Apple don't play that.

I think the next iPad will be quite a bit improved. Apple had to make compromises to get a retina display in the iPad. Because of the screen technology, we get:

- Thicker
- Heavier
- Warmer
- More extreme color shifting/dimming at smaller angles

The resolution is so incredibly high that the above may be totally worth it for most people, but an IGZO or OLED screen in the next iPad will likely eliminate at least 3 out of the 4 above. I consider the new iPad to be a transitional product.

 

[TheWheelMan]

Non-retina iPad apps are not stretched. They are pixel doubled, so the iPad simply draws 4 pixels on the new iPad screen to represent an original pixel on the iPad 2/iPad 1 screen.

Those 4 pixels are exactly the same size as 1 pixel on the iPad 2. The original aspect ratio is preserved exactly. It was the same for non-retina apps on iPhone 4 when it came out.

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I think the next iPad will be quite a bit improved. Apple had to make compromises to get a retina display in the iPad. Because of the screen technology, we get:

- Thicker
- Heavier
- Warmer
- More extreme color shifting/dimming at smaller angles

The resolution is so incredibly high that the above may be totally worth it for most people, but an IGZO or OLED screen in the next iPad will likely eliminate at least 3 out of the 4 above. I consider the new iPad to be a transitional product.

Yeah, if a non-retina image looks blurry on the 3rd gen, then it probably was real sharp on the 1st and 2nd gen. It just wasn't as obvious on the non-retina displays. After all, an image can be blurry whatever resolution it is, especially if it's a bad photograph.

 

[Sylon]

I think more and more apps will be "retina-ready" as time goes on. If apps are not updated to be retina-ready, then they are probably not supported by their developers anymore. I keep getting app updates for retina-support every couple of days. So give it time, its not like all the apps out there are not retina-ready.

 

[student_trap]

Apple has never released a new version of any product twice as good as the previous model, of anything.

you are clearly forgetting the switch from PPC to intel

 

[davidinva]

Kind of funny you say that--my parents are both 59 and have an iPad 2. When I showed them my iPad 3 and we compared side by side, they could not see the difference. Granted, neither of them had their glasses handy.

Yuup!

(from Storage Wars for those of you who don't watch it)

 

[slimjim.dj]

If you truly don't appreciate the extra resolution or camera, then there's probably not much reason to pick it over ipad 2 for wifi version especially, no.

Personally, there is no way I could go back to the lower res now, the sharpness different in fonts, and being able to read magazines without zooming in, is just too great an improvement.

I didnt own an iPad 2 I love it to pieces, wouldn't want to downgrade at all, the iPad 2 seemed tempting at the price but i wouldn't want anything less than my iPad 3

 

[iEvolution]

I think retina is the biggest reason for getting the 3.

Another thing to consider is upgrading, its possible that iOS 6 is only compatible with the new ipad.

Other than that I think the refurbed ipad 2s are a better bang for your buck considering the 2 and 3 have essentially the same processor the 2 has the same app compatibility.

 

[student_trap]

Another thing to consider is upgrading, its possible that iOS 6 is only compatible with the new ipad.

Doubtful, the iPad 2 and 3 are essentially the same spec wise. They are also both still being sold. It is not nearly as big a difference as from iPad 1 to iPad 2

 

[iEvolution]

Doubtful, the iPad 2 and 3 are essentially the same spec wise. They are also both still being sold. It is not nearly as big a difference as from iPad 1 to iPad 2

The ipod 5th gen and 5.5 gen were essentially the same too and the 5th gen didn't get the search function added.

Ipod classic 6th and 7th gens are essentially the same but the 6th gen didn't get genius updates and the new shortcuts menu.

That being said I too think it is doubtful that they'll make iOS 6 only for ipad 3, Im just saying the newest device is the best one to pick as far as life span goes, it is one year newer than the 2.

 

[student_trap]

The ipod 5th gen and 5.5 gen were essentially the same too and the 5th gen didn't get the search function added.

Ipod classic 6th and 7th gens are essentially the same but the 6th gen didn't get genius updates and the new shortcuts menu.

That being said I too think it is doubtful that they'll make iOS 6 only for ipad 3, Im just saying the newest device is the best one to pick as far as life span goes, it is one year newer than the 2.

Good point.

Although I was more concerned with any technical limitation that could limit future upgrades (like with the iPhone and iPhone 3G). Seems to me that in theory at least, both the 2 and 3 could support the same updates.

 

[tigress666]

um, sounds like a pretty big difference.

But if it isn't something that bothers him, it's obviously not a huge deal to him to have the retina display.

Honestly, if the pixelation doesn't bug you and it is true the iPad 2 does gaming better, I'd go with the iPad 2, especially if you game. I would agree I'd rather have the machine that does the games better myself (I've seen the difference and while the 3 is nice for reading books, everything else just doesn't bug me. And I have an iPhone 4. And my mom gave me her 2. The screen on the 2 doesn't bug me even after having the 4 since the day it came out. Even reading books on the iPad 2 is fine with me, the only thing that bugs me is the device is a lot heavier to hold over my head in bed). I mean it would be nice to have the retina display for book reading but it really isn't that noticeable enough that it bugs me when reading on the iPad 2 (even when I've been used to my 4's screen).

I have to say I hear the 3GS does gaming better than the 4 (because of the same thing, worse really. They didn't give it much of a processor upgrade and the retina display needs more power) and I know my 4 is pissing me off now cause it's so laggy (especially with games but even now just regular stuff it freezes a lot though it seems more of a needs more RAM thing. My iPad 2 is so much nice to use solely cause it runs a lot smoother than the 4 and does games a helluva lot better).

 

[mzjin]

I think retina is the biggest reason for getting the 3.

Another thing to consider is upgrading, its possible that iOS 6 is only compatible with the new ipad.

Other than that I think the refurbed ipad 2s are a better bang for your buck considering the 2 and 3 have essentially the same processor the 2 has the same app compatibility.

iOS 6 is definitely going to have compatibility with even the old iPad 1.

iPad 1 may lost compatibility in maybe 2 more ios generations.

 

[tigress666]

If nothing else, you're iPad 3 will be supported later than an iPad 2 will, so an iPad 3 is better future proofed than an iPad 2. Seeing as you play a lot of games, I am curious as to why you would want to return it since the screen alone would make gamers go gaga for it? I know you mentioned your dislikes about it, but honestly I think you should stick with the iPad 3.

This is the one reason, OP, given what you say, that I'd recommend maybe keeping the 3. Cause this is very true (it's the one thing I worry about with my 2. But I didn't have a choice. I can't justify buying an iPad and I'm just lucky my mom upgraded and handed me hers. Still, I'm quite happy with it and the biggest reason I would rather have the 3 than 2 is future proofing. Then again, the 3GS has lasted three years and I bet the 4 isn't so lucky (it already is showing problems running the current OS. Small now but about as bad as the 3G was about this time before the 4 came out... and we saw how long the 3G lasted) so sometimes it more depends on the processor and how well it can keep up with current OS's and software.

 

[Redjericho]

The iPad 2 is going to support updates for quite a while, it has much more than it needs to support its resolution.

 

[PhoneI]

But if it isn't something that bothers him, it's obviously not a huge deal to him to have the retina display.

Honestly, if the pixelation doesn't bug you and it is true the iPad 2 does gaming better, I'd go with the iPad 2, especially if you game. I would agree I'd rather have the machine that does the games better myself (I've seen the difference and while the 3 is nice for reading books, everything else just doesn't bug me. And I have an iPhone 4. And my mom gave me her 2. The screen on the 2 doesn't bug me even after having the 4 since the day it came out. Even reading books on the iPad 2 is fine with me, the only thing that bugs me is the device is a lot heavier to hold over my head in bed). I mean it would be nice to have the retina display for book reading but it really isn't that noticeable enough that it bugs me when reading on the iPad 2 (even when I've been used to my 4's screen).

I have to say I hear the 3GS does gaming better than the 4 (because of the same thing, worse really. They didn't give it much of a processor upgrade and the retina display needs more power) and I know my 4 is pissing me off now cause it's so laggy (especially with games but even now just regular stuff it freezes a lot though it seems more of a needs more RAM thing. My iPad 2 is so much nice to use solely cause it runs a lot smoother than the 4 and does games a helluva lot better).

obviously its an opinion thing, BUT IN MY OPINION everything just looks far better on the iPad 3. Whether its pictures, games, videos, ebooks, etc; its really no comparison. I just think its worth the little extra money.

 

[tigress666]

obviously its an opinion thing, BUT IN MY OPINION everything just looks far better on the iPad 3. Whether its pictures, games, videos, ebooks, etc; its really no comparison. I just think its worth the little extra money.

I know it is an opinion thing. That's why I said if the pixelation thing did not bother him . I mean if he doesn't see a big bonus in the screen for him do you not think the iPad 2 would be better?

 

[Ecoh]

Red Jericho,

I'm totally with you on this. If my husband hadn't taken my iPad 2, I would have returned iPad 3 and waited for next gen to upgrade. Too many compromises for $900 IMO.....

I was willing to skip this new iPad, but my husband decided he needed an iPad. So he took my iPad 2 and I got the New iPad.

I don't regret getting it, the colors are beautiful, I really like the dictation for emails and the better camera is a bonus. I didn't know what I was missing until I actually owned it.

Next year, I am sure the iPad 2 will be passed to a relative, the iPad 3 will go to my husband, and I will be getting the new New iPad.