What's the big deal about a Retina Display?

[Numo]

Sounds awesome! If the new model also has a higher res camera, I don't think I would be able to resist upgrading. However, my wife may feel differently. :nono:

[Todd's keyboard]

Will a retina display allow one to see the the hidden "u" and "e" and block the extra "o" when people write about needing a "loupe" to magnify images?

Todd's pedantic keyboard

[michaelb]

I am not convinced the new ipad with have a retina display. I haven't ever noticed even the slightest issue with the display of my ipad 2 in actual use. My son just got a retina display ipod, and I should compare that to see the difference.

My worry about adding the retina display is that it will further splinter the app store, slow the ipad down, limit supply, and raise the price. But I think we can assume it is coming some day.

[guitarist]

M A V I C wrote:
Retina displays are higher res than most print materials. It's a huge deal, though I can't seem to find a way to explain it that wouldn't potentially violate a NDA...

[quote=guitarist]
Yes, and to clarify (and with respect to the name, Retina Display) the resolution is so fine that the pixels can't be seen by the human eye. You'd literally need a loop, or a magnifying glass, to detect pixels. That's the breakthrough that Apple is promoting.

I can see the pixels just fine. Of course, I can see 1200dpi stochastic dots without a loop too.
You can see the pixels "just fine". Really. With the naked eye, no corrective vision.

At the risk of calling BS on this comment (okay, calling it) you had an eye transplant? You don't have human eyes? Or you're claiming to be endowed with an abnormal gift, different from all other human beings, you have Superhuman vision?

Since we have only your subjective comment, no way to confirm it, we'll (cough) take your word for it!

[bazookaman]

Todd's keyboard wrote:
Todd's pedantic keyboard

[haikuman]

"I don't think I would be able to resist upgrading. However, my wife may feel differently. :nono:"

[deckeda]

It's a wildly better screen on the iPhone4/4S and latest iPod touch if you ever read text. For movies, no, you won't care.

For those that haven't compared the two screens, consider that with Retina, text looks sharp even without making it larger. The fact that it's displayed smaller than iPad text to begin with should highlight the difference even more.

I got an iPad. Then I got an iPhone 4. Then I didn't like the iPad as much. I immediately wanted something like that for the iPad. I haven't missed the greater speed, more RAM (well, that's not true ...) or other features of iPad 2. But if Retina comes to I'll pull that trigger fast.

What I've read is that the iPad's version of Retina won't match the insane 326ppi of the smaller screens but that it'll still be over 200 --- and therefore sharper than any Mac laptop, for example.

[decocritter]

iPhone 4s screen is small. i don't think I would be able to see it without reading glasses, if it were not so sharp.

I get a some fatigue when reading on my iPad. Magazine pictures look great, but extensive reading gets tiresome.

[OWC Jamie]

Definite points to Todd. You said what I was thinking

[Chakravartin]

1. It's prettier.

2. It's power hungry, so it advances battery technology and compels consumers to take a time-out every once in awhile and step away from the tech.