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Resolved Updating from iPad 2 ... Air or 4?

Michael Goff

Michael Goff

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Original poster
Jul 5, 2012
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I'm looking at both, trying to figure out which one I should be getting when I eventually bite the bullet in the next week and replace my current iPad. I can get the 4 for cheaper, which is good because I'm low on cash.

Is the Air phenomenally better? I don't mind about a weight difference, I'm a big man that can hold that much weight IN ONE HAND.

:O

Anyway, it comes down to at least 130$ difference between the two.

Is the extra performance worth it? Does the screen look better? Are the speakers on the 4 bad/the 5 have so much better speakers?
 
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The display is not radically improved.

The speakers, while there is two of them, is still on the same side of the device only providing mono-sound.

The 4 is the economical smart buy.
The Air is the I gotta have the latest and greatest buy.
 
Menel said:
The display is not radically improved.

The speakers, while there is two of them, is still on the same side of the device only providing mono-sound.

The 4 is the economical smart buy.
The Air is the I gotta have the latest and greatest buy.
Click to expand...

Do you mean I'll be able to play my terribly graphically intensive apps like ... Infinity Blade 2, Final Fantasy Tactics, Clash of Clans, and so forth? :O

I was being sarcastic there.

Performance wise, though, just for the record ... what is the difference?
 
Air definitely. Especially if you are coming from a 2. The 4 will feel like it is loaded with lead weights. Unless you absolutely can't spend a few extra $$ on the Air, the smaller size, weight and better processor are fantastic.
 
AndrewS said:
Air definitely. Especially if you are coming from a 2. The 4 will feel like it is loaded with lead weights. Unless you absolutely can't spend a few extra $$ on the Air, the smaller size, weight and better processor are fantastic.
Click to expand...

Now I'm tipping toward ... still not knowing.

What is the difference, performance wise?

Edit: Weight also means nothing, btw. I carry around a Surface RT. It's about the same weight as a 4, I think.
 
Michael Goff said:
Do you mean I'll be able to play my terribly graphically intensive apps like ... Infinity Blade 2, Final Fantasy Tactics, Clash of Clans, and so forth? :O

I was being sarcastic there.

Performance wise, though, just for the record ... what is the difference?
Click to expand...

Not much difference in speed IMO, played with both just the other day.

Is like comparing iPhone 5 to 5s speed, not so much
 
Michael Goff said:
So I'd be paying an extra 130$ for it to be lighter, basically?
Click to expand...

Also for future proofing. The Air should get firmware updates for at least a year longer than iPad 4. Also, eventually there will be apps that will run only on the 64 bit chip of the iPad Air and later. (iPad 4 and earlier have 32 bit chip). How long it will be before that happens, hard to say.
 
AndrewS said:
Air definitely. Especially if you are coming from a 2. The 4 will feel like it is loaded with lead weights. Unless you absolutely can't spend a few extra $$ on the Air, the smaller size, weight and better processor are fantastic.
Click to expand...

I agree here - I was in the same boat: I had an iPad 2 and wanted to upgrade but was attracted to the lower cost of the 4. But then I started messing with the Air on display at Best Buy. I took one home with me that night. :D

For $130 bucks, the Air is worth it. If it was $250 bucks then the money starts to come into play more.
 
From the 2 to the 4 will feel the same with increased speed and retina. If you go from the 2 to the air you will notice that it is a great improvement. I apwen from the iPad 1 to the iPad air. Dramatic improvement.
 
Also in terms of future proofing, if you wait 2 years to upgrade like you did the 2, the 4 will be worth considerably less than the Air, resale wise.
 
Try one at a store...

I currently use a 4th gen and it has been great. Battery is on par with the new Air and the performance difference is not really noticeable as some others have said. The one thing I did notice about the Air that kept me from upgrading is the cheap feeling almost plastic quality to the glass on the screen.

As soon as I started messing with one at a store the tactile difference in typing is definitely noticeable. The iPad Air feels like it is filled with Air! It really does have a hollow feel and sound when typing and using the screen. I am a bit heavy handed but this is the first iPad that I have noticed the issue on. I was actually able to get the LCD to distort by just pressing on it with my index finger.

Just my 2 cents, but I would test drive one in a store before you decide.
 
lol at future proofing, give me a break guys. u really think apple will put 64 bits apps only anytime soon
 
CthrewU said:
I currently use a 4th gen and it has been great. Battery is on par with the new Air and the performance difference is not really noticeable as some others have said. The one thing I did notice about the Air that kept me from upgrading is the cheap feeling almost plastic quality to the glass on the screen.

As soon as I started messing with one at a store the tactile difference in typing is definitely noticeable. The iPad Air feels like it is filled with Air! It really does have a hollow feel and sound when typing and using the screen. I am a bit heavy handed but this is the first iPad that I have noticed the issue on. I was actually able to get the LCD to distort by just pressing on it with my index finger.

Just my 2 cents, but I would test drive one in a store before you decide.
Click to expand...

And if I live in the middle of nowhere and can't actually get to a store? I don't really have a ride to the city about twenty miles away to go to the WalMart there. And I never saw the need to get a drivers license or a car when I live in such a small town. I just walk anywhere I need to go.
 
Michael Goff said:
And if I live in the middle of nowhere and can't actually get to a store?
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Then Apple Online Store has a holiday return policy which extends returns up to January 7, 2014 apart from its standard 14-day return policy.

Apple is in a somewhat unique position since they're both manufacturer and seller. Unlike Best Buy, etc, Apple stands to gain more by keeping customers happy. I reckon customer service is also part of the reason why Apple products can maintain their premium pricing.

Apple Sales and Refund Policy

We fundamentally believe you will be thrilled with the products you purchase from the Apple Store. That’s because we go out of our way to ensure that they’re designed and built to be just what you need. We understand, however, that sometimes a product may not be what you expected it to be. In that unlikely event, we invite you to review the following terms related to returning a product.
Click to expand...
 
rui no onna said:
Then Apple Online Store has a holiday return policy which extends returns up to January 7, 2014 apart from its standard 14-day return policy.

Apple is in a somewhat unique position since they're both manufacturer and seller. Unlike Best Buy, etc, Apple stands to gain more by keeping customers happy. I reckon customer service is also part of the reason why Apple products can maintain their premium pricing.

Apple Sales and Refund Policy
Click to expand...

Yes, but that hardly helps me test them unless I'm going to try, send back, try, send back, choose one. >_>

----------
Ryox said:
+1 for Air
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Could somebody do the math (or maths if you're british) and tell me what the numbers are? :p

Also, I keep reading about Safari crashes on the Air. I keep reading about them here, mind you, but being unable to browser the web would really stink.

And does it really have to do with 64-bit taking more RAM while Apple didn't provide any more?
 
Michael Goff said:
Yes, but that hardly helps me test them unless I'm going to try, send back, try, send back, choose one. >_>
Click to expand...
What I'm trying to say is get both now so you can try both until January 7 and then return the one you don't like. I think a month should be a long enough time to gauge which one you like better.
 
rui no onna said:
What I'm trying to say is get both now so you can try both until January 7 and then return the one you don't like. I think a month should be a long enough time to gauge which one you like better.
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I have 750$ extra money to last until I find a new job.

I can't AFFORD both, I'm going to have to lie like it is to not get jumped on for buying ONE of those two. :|
 
Michael Goff said:
I have 750$ extra money to last until I find a new job.

I can't AFFORD both, I'm going to have to lie like it is to not get jumped on for buying ONE of those two. :|
Click to expand...
If you charge it to a credit card (assuming you don't carry a balance), you have a 50-60 day grace period for payment if you time the purchase right (just after statement closing).

Given that money is that tight though, I wouldn't be buying an iPad if I were you.
 
rui no onna said:
If you charge it to a credit card (assuming you don't carry a balance), you have a 50-60 day grace period for payment if you time the purchase right (just after statement closing).

Given that money is that tight though, I wouldn't be buying an iPad if I were you.
Click to expand...

I don't use a credit card, I use cash.

You're probably right about now buying an iPad. I could always just get a new cord for the 2 and deal with it.
 
Michael Goff said:
Also, I keep reading about Safari crashes on the Air. I keep reading about them here, mind you, but being unable to browser the web would really stink.

And does it really have to do with 64-bit taking more RAM while Apple didn't provide any more?
Click to expand...

Safari does crash more often than it did on the earlier iPads, but not so often as to make it impossible to use. It's just that every so often, you get dumped out of Safari to the home screen, but you can start it up again, all the pages you had open before it crashed would reload, and you go right on browsing like you were before the crash.

Also, I'm sure Apple is working on fixing the problem. In fact I haven't had a Safari crash since I updated to 7.0.4. (Hope I haven't jinxed it now! :p)
 
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