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iPad 2 vs iPad 3...Screen Difference is Difficult to See...Read On

if you even partially believe that the ipad2 w/512MB RAM could/would even run effectively on iOS8, never mind that it would be a pretty big assume on your part that apple would even support a gen2 device by then, then you must believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, and a whole host of other 'imaginary' characters.

if someone is deciding on whether to buy the ipad2 or 3 and if retinapad is worth it, future software support is not a top3 or top5 reason. speculating on software support for the tablet market is a very hit or miss proposition.


jlnr said:
If Apple decides that it doesn't care about non-Retina screens in iOS8 anymore, those $200 may or may not be worth it in retrospect. Hard to say in advance.
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bufffilm said:
if you even partially believe that the ipad2 w/512MB RAM could/would even run effectively on iOS8.
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All the more reason to stick with a working OS rather than trying to update your device OS only to cripple it and turn it into a chug-a-lug device. What's the saying? If it ain't broke don't fix it".

I seriously doubt I will put iOS 6 on my iPad 2. It works great as it is.
 
Some people forget that the ipad2 screen is impressive on its own. I must say that while reading text online, im amazed that I dont even need to zoom in with my 3rd gen though:) The difference is noticeable for me, but some have more trouble seeing the difference, particularly those who are far-sighted.
 
QuarterSwede said:
I didn't notice a difference either but I'm used to the 4S screen so anything less still looks bad.

I don't care about the retina algorithm, if you have good/great eye sight you can tell.
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algorithm????? lolol


its nothing to do with algorithms. The lcd has so many pixels in it. Its something physical.

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-TYLER said:
Refurbished, come same condition as a new one.
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well almost $200 aren't the refurbs $320? or so.
same warranty as a new one, not always the same condition. The one i got for my wife had some scratches on the back. My dad got one that did too.
 
BFizzzle said:
algorithm????? lolol


its nothing to do with algorithms. The lcd has so many pixels in it. Its something physical.

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well almost $200 aren't the refurbs $320? or so.
same warranty as a new one, not always the same condition. The one i got for my wife had some scratches on the back. My dad got one that did too.
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Mine came perfect, and I got the 32gb, so it was $200 difference. Took the iPad 3 I had back to the apple store, once I got my refurb.
 
I have long been a proponent of high DPI screens, and have been complaining about a lack of resolution since before the iPhone 4 got its retina display. Monitors had been gradually increasing in resolution over time, and then suddenly everything ground to a halt when HDTV came along, and everything was 1080p.

While I could clearly tell a difference between the two, when I first got my iPad 3, it didn't blow me away.

After using it daily since its release now though, I just can't go back to the iPad 2 screen. It's like there's a grid over the screen and you need to keep zooming in to read smaller text. I can read my iPad 3 for hours but get eyestrain with the iPad 2.

Rodster said:
All the more reason to stick with a working OS rather than trying to update your device OS only to cripple it and turn it into a chug-a-lug device. What's the saying? If it ain't broke don't fix it".

I seriously doubt I will put iOS 6 on my iPad 2. It works great as it is.
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While it has less RAM, the iPad 2 uses the same CPU as the iPad 3. I seriously doubt that it will perform any slower than iOS 5, and if nothing else, there are some important security changes that have been made with iOS 6—Apps must now be granted permission to access your contacts, calendars, reminders and photos.
 
I found it VERY easy to see the difference with text. Not sure why they would look the same unless you had them much farther away than arms length.
 
The difference will be most apparent with text. Open an ebook or pdf on both iPads and shrink the text small. It will be clearer with the iPad 3. Don't worry about video/pictures. the difference there is much harder to see. Also, look for areas on the screen with diagonal lines. On the iPad 2, you see aliasing (jaggies or stair stepping) where on the iPad 3, the diagonal will be crisper.

The sole reason I bought the iPad 3 was for the display so the difference is obvious to me but for all of us in the thread, we need to cut the OP some slack. The display in previous versions was very good and if you don't know what to look for, it will be hard to spot at first. Kind of like Where's Waldo :)

My advice to people trying to decide which one to buy has been go to a store and look at both of them. If you notice the difference in screen, get the iPad 3. If not, save your money and get the iPad 2.
 
-TYLER said:
Mine came perfect, and I got the 32gb, so it was $200 difference. Took the iPad 3 I had back to the apple store, once I got my refurb.
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awesome i didnt know they 32 was only only $399

i really like my lte so idk if i could switch to a 2.
 
the retina screen is beautiful, but i decided go with the iPad 2 16GB wifi refurb for $319. i couldn't give up that price
 
-TYLER said:
I have perfect vision, no contacts or glasses. I still don't see that big of a difference in the screen where it would make me pay $200 more. I can read any text on my iPad 2 perfectly fine without my eyes being bothered or needing zoom in.t
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thank you! totally agree. the idea that the 133 dpi screen is "lo-res" and badly pixalated is such crap. Yes, I can see the difference. No, I really don't care--i'd much rather have a lighter, thinner, cooler device And I use the ipad as my main ereader
 
Enormous difference here. I often read at very small text sizes, and the difference between my wife's iPad 2 and my Retina model is huge.
 
The OP is exactly as follows:

A person who requires spectacles to see clearly; never really complains how bad his/her vision is until he/she walks into an optometry clinic and walks out with a pair of glasses. Then he/she suddenly realizes everything was just not clear before the glasses.

iPad 2 = appearance with no glasses on who require them.
ipad 3 = appearance after wearing a pair of glasses.

Go get your eyes checked if this is the case!
 
Difference is subtle in certain areas and very noticeable in others, mainly in texts. Images may be harder to tell, especially when web graphics still use low Res bitmaps. Overall the iPad 2 looks grainy from the same reading distance. After a couple of months the iPad 3 no longer excites me but rather has become the norm and expected when I look at it. No longer can I hold the iPad 2 and use it for any length of time, its that noticeable going back down.
 
We have the iPad 1 (Kids), iPad 2 (Wifes) and now the 3 (Mine), and the difference between the 2 and 3 is chalk and cheese for me. The 3's screen is so much nicer, clearer, but a little less bright overall at the same light setting.

I would much prefer the 3 over the 2, but at the time I thought the iPad 1 was great, as was the iPhone 3G, but looking at them now I think "Yecch that screen is NASTY".
 
I think people tend to look for the wrong things when searching for the differences. They expect the OS to look entirely different, or that the difference will be like comparing an old blurry photograph taken with a Poloroid camera with a brand new one taken with a high quality digital camera. The colors may be more vibrant, though I'm not sure (I've never compared them side by side), but the 3 is much sharper, and I noticed it most on text. Smaller text was thinner and clearer than on my 1 (and I assume the difference would be comparable between the two and the three). But the differences are there, and I think that people who don't see the difference just don't easily perceive the more subtle things. A lot of people are like that, and there's no fault in that.

The other thing is that there are apps that have been optimized for the iPad 3, and those that haven't. The difference might not be as noticeable in non-optimized apps.
 
I notice a massive difference after using the new iPad for a while then going back to iPad 2. Especially with text and web pages.
 
BFizzzle said:
algorithm????? lolol


its nothing to do with algorithms. The lcd has so many pixels in it. Its something physical.
Click to expand...
You physically can't see the pixels from a certain distance but you certainly can if you're close enough.

All I'm saying is that because I'm used to such a higher PPI on the 4S the iPad 3 still doesn't look that great. If I did a side by side comparison with an iPad 2 it would be obvious, but I haven't.
 
QuarterSwede said:
You physically can't see it from a certain distance but you certainly can closer.

All I'm saying is that because I'm used to such a higher PPI on the 4S the iPad 3 still doesn't look that great. If I did a side by side comparison with an iPad 2 it would be obvious, but I haven't.
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lol
The retina display is not due to an algorithm as you claim, is all i am saying. Its due to the LCD screen, Not because a set of rules to be followed in different variables. (an algorithm)
 
Huge difference between the screens IMHO. Put them side by side and it's like putting on glasses when you go from iPad 2 to iPad 3.
 
To me the difference is like day and night. I purchased an iPad 2 before the new iPad was launched and returned it because of the screen alone. Google maps looked like shyte.
 
iPad 3 screen is a bit better for me but not enough to change from my 2.

Rumours talk about a lighter and slimmer version of the 3 coming soon with less heat because of a reduction in backlight leds. I'll definitely look at that.

I didn't like the extra weight of the 3 that many folks reckoned they didn't notice. I did! And the wondrous new retina screen reminded me of the Kings New Clothes! Great for them that can see them!
 
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