jclardy
macrumors 601
A dent doesn't make sense as a comparison. It is more like buying a Mercedes without heated seats. Unfortunate in some situations, but you get used to it.
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iPad mini So if the mini looks pixelated ... Still Buying?
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A dent doesn't make sense as a comparison. It is more like buying a Mercedes without heated seats. Unfortunate in some situations, but you get used to it.
rockyroad55
macrumors 601
Techwriter
macrumors regular
Sure, I'm buying it regardless. I'll sell this year's model and upgrade when the iPad mini retina model is released. If a retina version is released next year (and who knows for sure), and I can sell it for half price, I'll have leased it for about $14 a month. If I give it to a family member instead, I'll have leased it for $28 a month. Works for me. I'd rather use it now then wait 365 days. I'll enjoy reading all about the iPad Mini 2 on my iPad Mini 1.
Not a big fan of BGR's editorial standard. They tend towards sensationalism rather than fair and unbiased reporting. It's telling that they quote John Gruber's wife, in fact use her quote as the title of the article, yet fail to quote John's final opinion of the display from the same article
"The actual iPad Mini display is not terrible. Its exactly what you think: it feels like an iPhone 3GS display cut to iPad size, including the fact that the pixels seem deeper from the surface of the glass. (It does seem brighter and more vibrant than a 3GS display, perhaps because it uses an IPS panel.) And after a week of using it as my main iPad, the individually discernible pixels are no longer jarring to my eyes. The non-retina resolution is the one and only significant complaint I have with the iPad Mini, and its an issue that is only apparent to those of us who already own a nearly-new iPad."
In the end John's take was similar to that of most of the other reviews I've read, 'we would all have preferred a retina display, but the non-retina is by no means a deal breaker'. I guess BGR felt that Mrs Gruber's initial reaction to the display is more relevant than Mr. Gruber's final opinion.
Sounds like Josh is parroting the Apple marketing department: For every other product, celebrate the advanced retina display. For this product, celebrate the App store.
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Best move that Apple made for the obsolete mini: lock in preorders before anyone has a chance to actually see the product. Gotta hand it to them, they're geniuses.
No Issues with my iPad 2's screen... I think the comments by someones wife are dumb. I pick up my iPad 2 and then a 3 and for most of my basic uses... I don't notice much of a difference. Its not a deal breaker but one would expect the mini to have a retina display since the iPhone 5, iPod touch 5th gen and even the two new iPads all have it. I can wait for the "New" iPad mini since I already have an iPad but am contemplating getting one just to have.
I will be honest and say I will be upset if Apple release the iPad mini HD in 7 months. But sitting out a year is not something I am willing to do to wait for a mini.
I will be honest and say I will be upset if Apple release the iPad mini HD in 7 months. But sitting out a year is not something I am willing to do to wait for a mini.
I agree that Apple possess genius in various areas, but not related to what you said. Maybe with some companies this would be an ulterior motive, but Apple has a generous return policy. If you get it home and don't like it, you can return it fairly easily. No one is trapped into keeping it.
Don't worry Apple left those of us who pre ordered an out, it's called a return policy.
I am afraid I do not follow. I don't remember saying anything about social relevance in my previous post.
I made the point that the iPad Mini has a processor that is one generation behind and a display that is also a generation behind, yet comes at what I consider to be a premium price. There is nothing especially "social" about this. Apple is offering us a great form factor in a newly designed body, but putting old parts into it.
I'm not interested in paying this much money for a pixelated experience. In my mind, Apple products ought to be about the best experience available, and I think the company has let us down. I consider this to be an economic argument, with Apple entering into a new competition (market share for the ecosystem + products sold at cost) with an old business model (relatively little profit from ecosystem + high-priced hardware), but if this is a "social" argument, then so be it.
53x12
macrumors 68000
I agree. I will not buy the iPad mini if the screen is too pixelated and doesn't have an enjoyable experience. I would rather keep my money or try outt the N7.
Nothing really innovative with the iPad mini. It is basically a "me to" product trying to enter a market that Android has been in since the summer. Now Apple feels the heat. Apple should have been the first into the 7in market and should be setting the standard for 7in tablets by including a RD rather than turning out a device that has compromises.
This.
Apple is late to join the fray and it isn't bringing its A-game. The designers did a spectacular job of far exceeding the competition (as far as I can tell), but somewhere along the line someone decided they'd dump old stuff into that beautiful body, and what you get is overpriced and under-spec'd.
Of course, everyone is different, and some people swear by the iPad 2 screen. That's cool. I'm sure they will enjoy the iPad Mini. I liked the iPad 2 screen well-enough, but even when I first purchased it, I remember being frustrated by its fuzziness. The iPad 3 is the first display that I have truly been satisfied viewing, and going back to the iPad Mini level would be like asking me to work on one of those old CRT monitors. Sure, I COULD, but I wouldn't enjoy it, and that is what I think Apple ought to be about.
I'm happy to pay more for a better product, but not for an afterthought like the iPad Mini.
I'm not going to dispute the economic argument, there's no denying that Apple loves high margins. But I believe the real motivation for sticking with the non retina display was one of form factor. The iPad 3rd gen was both thicker and heavier than the iPad 2, primarily due to the retina display. There is no reason to think that including a retina display wouldn't have resulted in a thicker heavier mini. If being thin and light was the primary design goal of the mini, and I believe it was, then the concessions required to implement the retina was not a compromise Apple was willing to make. Then again the higher margins don't hurt.
"I'm going to insult you, but since I'm saying I don't mean to come off as rude it's okay!"
wat.
^ This!! A million times this!
Before preorders went live I was trying to decide to get a Nexus 7 or an iPad mini- I decided to go with the Mini. But then I couldn't decide if I should get the mini, or spend just a tad less on a refurbished ipad 3 and get the "whole package". Retina is a huge deal for me so I nearly pulled my hair out trying to pick between the form factor I knew I wanted (mini) or the screen (3rd gen ipad).
I decided to go to my local best buy and compare the screens of the display models. I was able to hold them side by side and go through the system settings, notes, a few different websites- and while there was a noticeable difference between the iPad 2 and 3rd gen, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. Actually, not bad at all.
The iPad 2 was just, ever so slightly "fuzzy". I can't explain it. I told myself, "The iPad mini has a slightly higher PPI so it will look just slightly better than this, which already isn't bad at all."
I walked out of that Best Buy with my mind made up. iPad Mini Pre Ordered that night and now I can't wait to get it tomorrow.
They say seeing is believing, so why don't you go to Best Buy if you don't have a iPad 2 or 3rd gen sitting about and compare it yourself.
kas23
macrumors 603
What do you mean "if" it's pixelated? Compared to other iDevices it will appear to be pixelated. This is a fact. It has lower dpi and Apple doesn't have any special sauce to make low dpi appear to be high dpi. A more accurate question would be: will the pixelated screen of the iPad Mini prevent you from buying it?
I got hold of a 3GS and did a test - hold it around 16-17" away from my eyes like you would with an iPad and had a play around.
For starters the 3GS display isn't as bad as I thought it would be anyway after using retina for so long. Secondly at 16-17" away instead of 12" like you would with a phone it really helps with perceived sharpness - even small text looked really good to me.
Then when you add in IPS - better viewing angles, colors, blacks... I think you have a pretty nice display. We'll have to see but I'm definitely willing to give it a go.
For starters the 3GS display isn't as bad as I thought it would be anyway after using retina for so long. Secondly at 16-17" away instead of 12" like you would with a phone it really helps with perceived sharpness - even small text looked really good to me.
Then when you add in IPS - better viewing angles, colors, blacks... I think you have a pretty nice display. We'll have to see but I'm definitely willing to give it a go.
I didn't insult him and we handled it like adults. Grow up and stop being so sensitive.
kas23
macrumors 603
Point taken. The term Retina Display is a perceptual term given by Apple to screens where people, who are holding the screen an arbitrary distance away from their eyes, cannot distinguish or resolve two adjacent pixels. Simply put, if you see pixels on a 3GS, you're holding it wrong. It should be held at a greater distance from your face. That said, I must be holding it wrong because when I'm reading on my iPad or iPhone, I hold it much closer to my face. 6-8 inches for iPhone and 8-12 inches for iPad. For watching a video or playing a game, I hold it further.
self proclaimed retina whore here and using the mini for a brief 30 minutes, it's totally a non-issue. it still looks gorgeous. not retina good but still good. lovin it!