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iPad 2 or The New iPad?

I'm in the same dilemma

I need to save cash and the new one is $100 more expensive. I am not someone who cares about the new retina display. I'm one who can barely tell the difference between HD and regular TV rez and don't value higher resolution as much as the mainstream seems to. Without a flash I will seldom use it as a camera. I am going to tether it to my iphone so no need for 4G LTE. Things that are important to me:

- Ability to run latest iOS, software, apps (Willing to jailbreak either version of the ipad if it meets this end)
- Battery life (same, right?)
- HD space

I have never owned any kind of tablet before so I am asking for those with more experience for advice. Any advice for an iPad noob based on how I have described myself? I appreciate it!
 
Last edited:
garvatron said:
I need to save cash and the new one is $100 more expensive. I am not someone who cares about the new retina display. I'm one who can barely tell the difference between HD and regular TV rez and don't value higher resolution as much as the mainstream seems to. Without a flash I will seldom use it as a camera. I am going to tether it to my iphone so no need for 4G LTE. Things that are important to me:

- Ability to run latest iOS, software, apps (Willing to jailbreak either version of the ipad if it meets this end)
- Battery life (same, right?)
- HD space

I have never owned any kind of tablet before so I am asking for those with more experience for advice. Any advice for an iPad noob based on how I have described myself? I appreciate it!
Click to expand...


I'd get a REFURBISHED iPad 2. 16GB Wifi
$349

(vs $499 for the iPad 3)
 
I say that the iPad 2 would be fine for your needs but if you are like me and do not always update to the latest, then I would get the iPad3. I know it is $100 more but that $100 also could very well protect you against having to upgrade for 2 or 3 generations to come.

Macrumors is an incredible source and has been a lifesaver for me on many occasions, but take the iPad 3 bashing with a grain of salt. I am not saying that the gripes are not real but nothing is perfect. The new iPad is by far the best tablet on the market. If you are in the market for an iPad and see yourself using it for years to come then get the 3. Put it this way, if $100 more is too expensive for you then wait for a refurb. They will be $50 less.

Hope this was helpful.
 
I was having the same debate myself until I saw the two against each other in real life. Wow, that retina display on the iPad is awesome! Not to mention the speed of the processor, there is a notable difference in how fast things load. Plus at some point, the latest iOS upgrade will not work on an older device. As I don't really want to have to get rid of something that I paid $499 for after 2 years, I'd rather get the latest and greatest now so it'll last longer, ask anyone who still had an iPhone 3g when iOS4 came out! It was supposed to work with the 3g, but you really had to have a 3gs for it to work correctly. Hopefully it won't happen too fast, but I'd rather it happen later rather than sooner. Now, if I could just get my refund so I can get my iPad! Never had one before and can't wait!
 
If buying primarily for reading,note taking w/ OneNote, and email. Which would you get.

Is the increased resolution going to make reading much easier.
 
rlu929s said:
If buying primarily for reading,note taking w/ OneNote, and email. Which would you get.

Is the increased resolution going to make reading much easier.
Click to expand...

Yes that's pretty much the most noticeable. The text is awesome!!
 
ladytonya said:
I was having the same debate myself until I saw the two against each other in real life. Wow, that retina display on the iPad is awesome! Not to mention the speed of the processor, there is a notable difference in how fast things load.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure this is true--
Aren't the real life speeds of the iPad2 and iPad3 almost exactly the same (i.e. safari page loading, etc).
 
Timoke6 said:
Hey guys,
i'm in a dilemma, i don't know whether to buy the iPad 2 or The New iPad.
I don't want spend more money than I need, because i'm a bit short of it...
Is The New iPad worth the 100 bucks more, and will i regret it if i buy the iPad 2?

Thanks in advance:)
Click to expand...

Don't be cheap, spend the extra $100. You'll be happy you did a few years from now when Apple stops supporting iPad 2.
 
Since you are trying to save, get a refurb $349 iPad 2 and save $150. However, the iPad 3 screen is amazing. Go to Best Buy, they have the 2 and 3 side by side...click on settings or safari and watch you notice a HUGE difference.
 
yes

zub3qin said:
I'm not sure this is true--
Aren't the real life speeds of the iPad2 and iPad3 almost exactly the same (i.e. safari page loading, etc).
Click to expand...

yes, the normal day to day speeds of the ipad 3 are the same (although there ARE a couple things that are SLOWER on the ipad 3 compared to the ipad 2) but in some game performance the ipad 3 wins out. FPS and amount of detail displayable on the screen are just a couple.
 
hey guys, i decided to buy the 3rd generation iPad because it's nice to know that you have the latest product. I helped my uncle yesterday to setup his 2nd generation iPad and I compared the screen, and I'm glad to say I got the 3rd one!:)

feel free to go on with this discussion, because I don't think I'm the only one having this question.
And for the people who are still thinking about whether to get a 2nd or a 3rd generation: spend the $100 more, it's well worth it!
 
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Timoke6 said:
I really like the have the newest, and the best available,
but €100 is a lot of money.
Click to expand...
Well, in Europe the iPad 2 currently costs €399 and the third generation iPad starts at €479 (depending on where you live in Europe).

So it's really only €80,00 more - I'd definitely take the newest model.
 
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