Shortly after yesterday’s iPad event was over, Apple invited many members of the press present at the event to spend some time with the new device. Here are some of the first hands-on impressions of the new iPad.
The Loop’s Jim Dalrymple
After the iPad event ended, I had the opportunity to test out the new device and see if it really was as good as it seemed in the demos.
It really is.
It’s impossible to put into words just how good the Retina display is on the iPad. It’s not just images that look sharper, it’s text too. Reading a Web site or an iBook on the iPad’s display is incredible. Even the home screen on the iPad is crisper and sharper than I expected.
Slashgear
“Should you opt for the new iPad rather than the discounted $399 iPad 2? From our brief experience with the new Retina Display, it’s hard to imagine going back to less pixel-dense panels. When third-party developers jump on board and begin crafting Retina Display-compatible titles, the iPad 2 may start looking like a poor choice for anyone but those on the strictest of budgets. Make no mistake, the new iPad has reset the bar for the tablet segment, leaving Android and Windows 8 OEMs playing catch-up once again.”
The Verge
“We’ve just had our first in-person experience with Apple’s latest and greatest slate… and it feels good. It goes without saying that the screen on the device is absolutely stunning — while we haven’t had a chance to look through every possible app on the new iPad, the retooled stock applications and icons really do pop on the Retina Display. Just as when we first saw the iPhone 4 display, the New iPad’s 2048 x 1536 screen is stunning to behold. Simply put, there’s no other product like it on the market.”
CNet
“The iPad’s new screen is a stunner. That’s really all you need to know about the new iPad (yes, that’s the name). That, and a reminder that pricing still starts at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model, with 4G starting at $629.
For its third act, Apple has pushed tablet screen expectations to a ludicrous new height.”
PCMag
“At the same price as the previous iPad, the new iPad is an obvious buy. Get this one, not the cheaper iPad 2, because the Retina screen improves every aspect of the iPad experience. Most iPad users surf the Web heavily, for instance: the new screen makes Web pages sharper and easier to read. And with no battery penalty, the new iPad’s faster modems will give a much smoother Internet experience.”
MacFormat UK
It looks like responses from the media have been overwhelmingly positive towards the new iPad – lets hope those that buy the new iPad agree when the first devices arrive in customers’ hands on March 16th!
