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iPad 2 not really thinner

vincenz

vincenz

macrumors 601
Original poster
Oct 20, 2008
4,285
220
Why is everyone so excited about the iPad 2 being 8.8 mm? I mean, other than the surprising fact that it's just a little thinner than an iPhone 4, in real world use, it will LOOK thicker than the original iPad.

If you look at the picture, you can see that the entire width of the 2 is thicker than the sides of original iPad, which because of the heavily-tapered back is technically all that you see when someone is using it in the real world.

It's a visual illusion and a damn good one, that coupled with equally brilliant marketing, has everyone giddy over it. In reality it'll actually look thicker. :eek:

2v3opra.jpg
 
Last edited:
I don't believe you can call it a visual illusion when it is in fact 33% thinner. It also looks noticeably thinner to me. Not that the look really matters, what matters is how it feels in the hand and the people who have held it say it feels much thinner.
 
Wait... This has to be a wind up

I dont think they're 'out to get you' with visual mind tricks.
 
I don't know.

My basic knowledge and ruler shows me, very clearly in fact, that 8.8 mm is indeed a shorter distance than 13.4 mm.
 
HOLD UP.

So you're saying that the 'visual trick' actually makes the iPad 2 seem THICKER compared to the iPad 1? And they need to remind you that it's actually crazy thinner than before?

OR

Is it the other way around?
 
HelveticaNeue said:
I don't believe you can call it a visual illusion when it is in fact 33% thinner. It also looks noticeably thinner to me. Not that the look really matters, what matters is how it feels in the hand and the people who have held it say it feels much thinner.
Click to expand...

cdallen said:
Wait... This has to be a wind up

I dont think they're 'out to get you' with visual mind tricks.
Click to expand...

Pressure said:
I don't know.

My basic knowledge and ruler shows me, very clearly in fact, that 8.8 mm is indeed a shorter distance than 13.4 mm.
Click to expand...

vincebio said:
lol..its thinner.

maybe you should stop buying your measuring tapes at bestbuy or walmart:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

These. It is very clearly thinner.
 
Ha Ha They fooled everyone....;)

It's not really faster either. They just use a different measuring tool.

The same tool they use to measure the thickness.

They will also, tell you your wallet isn't thinner after March 11th.

As, a matter of fact it only really look really thin next to Steve.....

No seriously, your argument is thin
 
vincenz said:
Why is everyone so excited about the iPad 2 being 8.8 mm? I mean, other than the surprising fact that it's just a little thinner than an iPhone 4, in real world use, it will LOOK thicker than the original iPad.

If you look at the picture, you can see that the entire width of the 2 is thicker than the sides of original iPad, which because of the heavily-tapered back is technically all that you see when someone is using it in the real world.

It's a visual illusion and a damn good one, that coupled with equally brilliant marketing, has everyone giddy over it. In reality it'll actually look thicker. :eek:

2v3opra.jpg
Click to expand...

Have you looked at the hands on videos? It definitely does not in any way look thicker.....hell even if it was the SAME thickness, but they ditched the sides and tapered (as they did here) it would indeed STILL look thinner.

That is the illusion tapering allows. You've got it backwards. The tapering exaggerates the reduced size, it doesn't counter-act it.
 
sammich said:
HOLD UP.

So you're saying that the 'visual trick' actually makes the iPad 2 seem THICKER compared to the iPad 1? And they need to remind you that it's actually crazy thinner than before?

OR

Is it the other way around?
Click to expand...

I've been trying to puzzle this out too.

But if it's the first one, I don't care if it LOOKS thicker, as long as when *I* hold it, it's easier to hold. Now, thinner doesn't necessarily mean something is easier to hold -- case in point, the iPod touch 4 is so thin, I had to put it in a case for it to feel comfortable in my hand. So the jury is out on whether the new design is better than the old until I get a chance to hold the new iPad.
 
You can't just ignore the rounded back of the original iPad when comparing the two devices.
 
Neither my bookbag nor my work computer bag are affected by optical illusions. Only actual physical dimensions matter. Does 4mm make a difference? Not enough for me to worry about right now, but it could for some people.

Thin is nice, but I think it's more important in a pocket-able device like a phone. Unless you're this guy I guess:

ipad-pocket-207x300.jpg
 
I wish I could fool my wife in bed with this trick. "I know it looks thinner honey, but actually it is thicker it just an optical illusion." :p
 
Yes, comparing the EDGE of the original iPad to the ENTIRE thickness of the iPad second generation is comparing Apples to Apples. :rolleyes:
 
Jcoz said:
Have you looked at the hands on videos? It definitely does not in any way look thicker.....hell even if it was the SAME thickness, but they ditched the sides and tapered (as they did here) it would indeed STILL look thinner.

That is the illusion tapering allows. You've got it backwards. The tapering exaggerates the reduced size, it doesn't counter-act it.
Click to expand...

But you're forgetting the part where the iPad 2 has a FLAT back. That destroys the illusion once your eye hits that part.

And to some others, I'm not saying that the iPad 2 isn't physically thinner, I'm saying it doesn't LOOK thinner.
 
HELP ME... Apple's jedi mind tricks are working. Now whenever I look at Ipad 2 I just want to go out and buy it.
 
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