Why do you want a Retina Display?

[karsten]

I just did an experiment watching a 720P iTunes HD program simultaneously on my iPad and on my nice 52" Samsung LCD TV (via my ATV1). The viewing distances for both were very natural and resulted in similar image sizes. I was surprised at how much sharper the image was on my TV. I did verify that the HD version of the program was loaded on my iPad.

I think that, at a minimum, Apple should do a credible job supporting their 1280x720p HD content by bumping the iPad's resolution up to 1280x960 (assuming they stay with a 4x3 aspect ratio, which they will).

i've noticed that too between my tv and mbp. i think the further object is easier for the eyes to focus on, kind of like further objects are all in focus in a photo

 

[URFloorMatt]

Two reasons:

1) It's an e-reader. The resolution on the iPad sucks for an e-reader.

2) HD video. If I'm paying iTunes for HD, I want to get my money's worth.

 

[GnillGnoll]

For example, Infinity Blade has too many jaggies on an iPad for my liking, the iPhone 3GS is barely OK, and I'm sure the iPhone 4 would be brilliant. To get rid of (most) jaggies without AA we need a retina display.

Infinity Blade is a bad example because it's not rendering at the iPad's native resolution. Also, though high resolution is desirable, antialiasing is much more efficient at getting rid of aliasing.

I can see them but only if I go out of my way to do so. At normal usage distances I don't see pixels on either the iPad or old iPhone and I have better than 20/20 vision.

But I don't hold devices 12" from my face. More like 16"-20".

With 20/20 vision you should be able to see the screen door effect from 20" away.

 

[akdj]

What the heck are you talking about? What does TV/movies have to do with what I said? I was simply commenting on the smoothing of fonts/text in iOS on the iPad compared to a desktop OS. Video and text are two very different things when talking about resolution and font/text smoothing.



I've used many LCDs over the past 10 years. Of course none have had crazy 300 ppi measurement, so you're always able to see pixels, but the OS does a very good job of font smoothing.



No no no.. wrong wrong wong.. absolutely outstanding? lol. 1024x768 is great on 10" display (I honestly wouldn't expect more at this point), but far from absolutely outstanding. the iphone 4 with 960x640 on a 3.5" screen I would describe as absolutely outstanding.



I never said the iPad isn't awesome (I'm a big fan of it). Actually whether or not its awesome, better than other tablets, is irrelevant to my point.

LOL...Thanks for the replies, but I don't think it was all directed at you...more of a generalization to earlier replies of folks that have decided NOT to buy until the iPad sports "decent" resolution Seriously...it's just funny how far things need to progress for some folks to jump on board. The iPad is a revolutionary device. Period. You seem to agree...my point was simply that tech evolves. I'm all for it getting "better" whether that's equal to higher resolution, faster processing, more memory, et al...or any combination of. However, regardless of how we each "see" differently, my point was only in comparison to the rest of the display technology on the market...for it's point in time, it's awesome! I've got terrible eyes...I've owned all of the iPhones, and I currently own both the iPhone 4 and iPad. I use them differently as far as how far away from my eyes I hold them, what I view with them, etc. The Retina display is incredible. I don't deny that...however, I can NOT understand why ANYone would hold off buying an iPad simply because a higher resolution monitor could possibly be manufactured and implemented on a future product...makes no sense to me. Not with as good as the current display is. And again, I do use it as an eReader as well

Everyone seems very pleased with the display of the iPad. But it does not seem that you own an iPhone 4. Had you owned an iPhone 4 had you really not said that you are happy with the display of the iPad.

An iPad is a lot like an iPhone since you are using both very close to your eyes. But that you don`t do with your 50 " TV, MBP or iMac ..

iPad 2 will get updated hardware regardless. I think the update with iPad 2 will stop there ...
But the most important thing after the update of the hardware is a Retina screen! That's the whole point of the iPad - the screen.

Updated hardware and a Retina screen that will make no one will want to buy anything other than an iPad. But it will not happen with iPad 2 ..

But isn't that case already? No one IS buying anything OTHER than the iPad right now They own the market, Apple does...at almost 90% right now. However...again...I agree, they will have to continue to innovate as no less than 75 pad designs dropped at CES a couple weeks ago...Honeycomb is being demoed by Google...and the competition is coming.

I'm honestly to the point with both of my iOS devices...my iPhone 4 and iPad 1. I would be two weeks late on my mortgage payment if I dropped and broke them both today! I'd replace them immediately, without question! I absolutely rely on them for my business and personal life and I use them more than I ever have any other technological piece of gear in the last 20 years. They've quickly become an essential tool in my kit! Of course they can get better... but I'm with the other poster who mentioned there are other developments I'm more interested in than pushing the display barriers....and maybe that's the difference in 'generations'? I'm 40 this year...possibly those in their teens and twenties are used to excellent displays and this is their primary concern. As for me, I want to see more RAM, faster processing, and more software development (I'm a HUGE fan of the AppStore idea!....especially after years of trying to find software for Mac locally)

Again...anyone's mileage may vary...I'm just such a HUGE fan of the iPad, that to me...it's senseless to hold off buying one due to deficiencies in the display. There are none! Can it get better? Absolutely!!! The iPhone 4 almost looks fake it's so pristine...just not a fan of reading on it, nor watching movies, etc. It's just too small...and now, that's what my iPad is for!!!