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I couldn't tell the difference between the two screens. I didn't have them side by side, but I thought it would've jumped out at me immediately based on the rave reviews but no, I couldn't see any difference when I saw the 3.

I probably wouldn't get one over the 2.

At first I thought the same thing. It's not until you start using the 3 where you notice the sharpness in tiny print of a website. On the 2 small to tiny text is harder to read until you zom in. The text has a fuzzy look to it. But that may not be enough to sway someone to the new screen.
 
How can people not notice the difference between the 2 and 3 :confused: The display difference is HUGE especially if you plan to read something on it. And yes, it's worth 200 $ more.
 
How can people not notice the difference between the 2 and 3 :confused: The display difference is HUGE especially if you plan to read something on it. And yes, it's worth 200 $ more.

For me there was a difference when when I saw them side by side @ Best Buy but I never got the difference as major. To me I to did not think it was worth $200 more. It wasn't until I bought one that I began to appreciate the high res screen.

Some may not think it's that big a deal and will wait till the 4th Gen if Apple decides to seriously beef up the CPU and GPU.
 
At first I thought the same thing. It's not until you start using the 3 where you notice the sharpness in tiny print of a website. On the 2 small to tiny text is harder to read until you zom in. The text has a fuzzy look to it. But that may not be enough to sway someone to the new screen.

To be fair I only looked at the home screens briefly, but it didn't wow me. As you say I'm sure its better for text.

I've just gone from the galaxy s2 to the galaxy s3, which has a 720p resolution (300+ ppi) and it makes a world of difference.
 
To be fair I only looked at the home screens briefly, but it didn't wow me. As you say I'm sure its better for text.

I've just gone from the galaxy s2 to the galaxy s3, which has a 720p resolution (300+ ppi) and it makes a world of difference.

Yeah that was my mistake as well. I looked at both briefly and said, yeah it looks sharper but that's not worth $200 more. When I finally bought one I began to appreciate the screens quality and there is a big difference between the 2 screens.
 
Yeah that was my mistake as well. I looked at both briefly and said, yeah it looks sharper but that's not worth $200 more. When I finally bought one I began to appreciate the screens quality and there is a big difference between the 2 screens.

Exactly. That's what a lot of people do. They take a quick look at the desktop and then say that they look the same. Obviously it's perfectly fine to not care about the retina display, but to say that they look the same is simply not true. Reading magazines and ebooks on the new display is something that has been GREATLY improved. I read a lot of digital comics, especially those in high resolution format from comixology...they look better than print. No crooked lines, no fuzziness, nothing, just perfect. However if someone doesn't plan to use it as an e-reader, well, maybe an iPad 2 would be more than enough. I just care about the display. Camera, 4G, they could remove that and I wouldn't even care.
 
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Yeah, it really is worth the $200, the screen is the heart of the experience.
 
I couldn't tell the difference between the two screens. I didn't have them side by side, but I thought it would've jumped out at me immediately based on the rave reviews but no, I couldn't see any difference when I saw the 3.

I probably wouldn't get one over the 2.

The difference is night and day for me. When I look at an ipad2 its like looking at a screen window the lines between pixels is very noticeable.
 
The difference is night and day for me. When I look at an ipad2 its like looking at a screen window the lines between pixels is very noticeable.

Maybe I didn't spend long enough with it.

I think on some level I didn't want to, because I'm happy with my iPad 2...if I see how much better the 3 is I'll probably want it :p
 
Maybe I didn't spend long enough with it.

I think on some level I didn't want to, because I'm happy with my iPad 2...if I see how much better the 3 is I'll probably want it :p

You probably won't because the iPad 2 looks good enough. I use both and the iPad 2 screen still looks good.
 
Well I was just in the same dilemma. Micro Center is selling new not refurbished iPad 2's for $ 359.00 and I needed a replacement for my first generation which was getting kind of slow and has been given to my 11 year old son to play games on. The 3 with the high res display is pretty nice but really for everyday use I didn't see the need just don't look at a new one once you buy the old one right?? Anyhow when buying 2 at once the $ 300.00 difference was the deal maker for the iPad 2.
 
Well I was just in the same dilemma. Micro Center is selling new not refurbished iPad 2's for $ 359.00 and I needed a replacement for my first generation which was getting kind of slow and has been given to my 11 year old son to play games on. The 3 with the high res display is pretty nice but really for everyday use I didn't see the need just don't look at a new one once you buy the old one right?? Anyhow when buying 2 at once the $ 300.00 difference was the deal maker for the iPad 2.

For your scenario the iPad 2 would be sufficient. :)
 
You probably won't because the iPad 2 looks good enough. I use both and the iPad 2 screen still looks good.

Oh yea no arguments there ipad2 is good enough for sure. My wife has one and it is great.

I bought my first ipad about a week ago specifically for the retina display. I wanted the remote desktop type apps to be able to show all the pixels and on ssh type programs (remote access to unix computers, all text) sometimes it is advantageous to make the fonts super, super small.

On the flip side the ipad 3 seems to take forever and a day to charge and isn't any faster than the 2 for most things. So there are some trade offs.
 
One situation where I prefer the iPad 2 over the 3 is how the lower res helps me see things a little better. When you zoom in with an iPad 2 the text is slightly bolder whereas the higher resolution on the 3 eliminates this when you zoom in. So for someone like me who has trouble seeing up close the 2 helps me read things easier when I zoom in.
 
Maybe I didn't spend long enough with it.

I think on some level I didn't want to, because I'm happy with my iPad 2...if I see how much better the 3 is I'll probably want it :p
I had the same reaction long time ago when I saw both on the stand, but then after you get the new iPad and try a non-retina app, you're gonna vomit, word!
So yeah, desktop wise it's not different so much, but retina apps.. hmm.. yum yum.
 
Interesting, helpful thread.

Chuckled a bit over this:

iPad 2 is still a great device. What I will say after using the 3rd gen for a while trying to look at an iPad 2 screen is like looking at it through a sieve, but if it's what you're used to it's still a great screen.

A "sieve"?:) Pray tell! Any side-by-side comparison I've done have shown lil dif... and I've even had sales people and customers gather round & they've have failed to see any screen difference! And that's true even with hi-res video and NY Times text blown up a fair amount. Blown up a crazy amount, then yes there's a difference, but that's hardly a test of normal use.

As we were doing the comparisons, people were flabbergasted at the lack of difference.

OTOH, I believe you. I used to be able to read the text in iPhone apps that displayed at 2x on the iPad, but now they are just miserably jagged and hard on the eyes!

I'm in the same boat as the OP... I had ruled out the iPad refurb because Apple was selling only 16gb ones... however, now they offer 32gb for only $400.

So, it really is a 50% premium to go iPad 3...

and there are negatives: longer charging time, poor display of older apps, running hotter, etc.

--------------------------------------------------

Does any one know if Apple Care Plus is available on a refurb? Or if a Square Trade warranty is?

That could be the deciding factor as I'd like protection from accidental drops!
 
Does any one know if Apple Care Plus is available on a refurb? Or if a Square Trade warranty is?

That could be the deciding factor as I'd like protection from accidental drops!

Apple Care is available on refurbs, not sure about AC+. You don't need or want Square Trade. They are a reputable company but stick with Apple IMO. If you use certain CC, you are eligible for an extra year of warranty for free. ;)

For accidental drops put it in a good Folio case.
 
Though not available all the time, Apple sells the 32 gig wifi iPad2 refurbished for $399, fully $200 cheaper than a new 3rd gen iPad of the same capacity. According to Apple, refubs have new screens and backs, the new battery, and full warrantee. The biggest advantage I can see with the newer iPad is the retina display. But is that worth enough to justify an amount equal to the price of a new iPhone 5 later this year? I find the difference in the screen to be fairly subtle for someone with mediocre eyesight, and the iPad 2 is no slouch as far as performance. I'd rather have the latest and greatest; but I can't get past the difference in price vs. the refurb. back a generation. What do you think?

I have both. They are equally as capable in email, browsing and games. The ipad3's screen is significantly more sharp especially when reading news/books. Is it worth $200? For me since image clarity is important, yes. But if pure functionality is what you need, then the iPad 2 is enough. If I had the chance to return my iPad 3 and purchase an iPad 2 With the same features for $200 less, I will stick with my iPad 3.
 
i have the ipad2 and borrowed a friends ipad3 for a weekend just to check it out and see if I wanted an upgrade.

I can honestly say.. its nice in some instances but certainly not a WOW factor.
When zooming on pictures and in some cases magazines and ebooks is nicer but if I was not looking for it I would not say that the ipad2 is horrible or really lacking.
If you intend to use it as ebook or magazine reader intensively then maybe go for the ipad3.
However for general usage, like I do, using email, surfing, some news and stock apps, some games, and on occasion reading some magazines or ebooks I would save the $200 and get the ipad2.

if you buy the ipad2 refurb now for $399 and wait for ipad4 which will likely be $600 but faster and better specs then ipad2/3. Then you just saved $200 towards that and you get 2 ipads for $1000 and can give the ipad2 to your wife or kids.
 
if you buy the ipad2 refurb now for $399 and wait for ipad4 which will likely be $600 but faster and better specs then ipad2/3. Then you just saved $200 towards that and you get 2 ipads for $1000 and can give the ipad2 to your wife or kids.

Absolutely agree with this. The changes between the iPad 2 and 3 are small. It's biggest draw is the new screen. The iPad 4 will probably get a CPU and GPU speed bump.
 
I would also like to add the Camara is day and night different from the iPad 2 to The New iPad.

And for me i went with The New iPad because i wanted a better camera for my Dog Training Company. i use it with a filemaker database and i take photo of my clients dog on the first week of class and then put in to my database.

so another thing to think about is there a use you would use with your iPad that would require a better camera on it or not.

Aaron
 
It's biggest draw is the new screen. The iPad 4 will probably get a CPU and GPU speed bump.
But then somebody asking about "is it worth 200 more", is the kind of person (not trying to be mean to the OP, just being objective) who would NOT care about a spec bump because the kind of apps that person uses are not "that big of a deal".

I don't lose sleep over technology because I know there is a new kid on the block each week so it's hard to keep up unless you are rich.
So if I can wait, I do, if I feel like not waiting, I get whatever is the newest thing, I see no point on using old tech now being discarded, having the chance to get a new one.
Obviously 200 bucks is 200 bucks but then if you have to ask if the new something is worth it over the previous something (with a thousand reviews and videos all over the intrawebs) you probably just don't need the new something.

Just my opinion of course, not going on a rant or anything.
 
I just got an ipad 2 a few days ago and sat at Best Buy for a good hour trying to decide. I didn't need the camera, I don't use it with a carrier (wifi only), and I honestly couldn't tell the difference in the screens if I didn't see them side by side. I went with the ipad 2 and pocketed the extra $100. After 2 days I couldn't be happier with my ipad 2 and am really happy I didn't get the new one.
 
Though not available all the time, Apple sells the 32 gig wifi iPad2 refurbished for $399, fully $200 cheaper than a new 3rd gen iPad of the same capacity. According to Apple, refubs have new screens and backs, the new battery, and full warrantee. The biggest advantage I can see with the newer iPad is the retina display. But is that worth enough to justify an amount equal to the price of a new iPhone 5 later this year? I find the difference in the screen to be fairly subtle for someone with mediocre eyesight, and the iPad 2 is no slouch as far as performance. I'd rather have the latest and greatest; but I can't get past the difference in price vs. the refurb. back a generation. What do you think?
If the screen doesn't catch your fancy then go for the iPad 2, it's a great device and is still great value.
 
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