Going to return my iPad this week. I like the thing, and I think it has a place in my life. But, the screen resolution just feels too low for me. Not so much when playing games or looking at pictures, but when reading text which is 95% of my iPad experience. When laying in bed with dim lights, reading websites the text just looks very grainy to me. I can't help but think this may improve in future generations. So it's back to the apple store I go before my 14 days are up.
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Returning...here's why
- Thread starter btownguy
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The screen is one of the best on the market (when it works properly - some people have issues with light bleed etc).
Have you tried using multitouch zoom as you read? Or using portrait mode to cause the text to pop in bigger?
Really doubt you'll find anything in the next year or two with a better LCD. The only other thing I could suggest would be e-ink like the Kindle.
Have you tried using multitouch zoom as you read? Or using portrait mode to cause the text to pop in bigger?
Really doubt you'll find anything in the next year or two with a better LCD. The only other thing I could suggest would be e-ink like the Kindle.
What will you lie in bed reading with when you return your iPad? You can enlarge or read in landscape - things that I agree, you can do with a laptop, but is it easier with an iPad?
I am starting to wonder what the reaction should be to these "update" threads. The op has to know that the majority don't give a damn what he does with his iPad.
Putting myself in his shoes, maybe this is a cry for help of some sort.
Putting myself in his shoes, maybe this is a cry for help of some sort.
Not a cry for help...just curious if others feel that the text is grainy enough to warrant returning the device. It was supposed to be "magical" you know.
I'm on at least my fifth book and also read in bed at night. I think the resolution is great. I must be easily pleased. 
Did you ever think that it could possibly be more of a problem with your own vision than the iPad's screen?
I've read seven books on it now and I don't know how many articles in Instapaper. No problems with the text. Also, my favorite way to prepare chicken lately is to peel a butternut squash, cut it into chunks, put it in a cast iron skillet, salt and pepper it, drop a chicken on top, salt and pepper that, maybe add some thyme, and pop the whole thing in the oven and roast it. Best. Squash. Ever. ( The chicken doesn't turn out bad either.)
The text is slightly blurry when you enlarge it and I imagine at some point Apple will bump up the resolution. I personally don't think the iPad screen is suitable for reading a novel either--the kindle is better for that. However, it's great for surfing the web, playing games, using maps, and watching movies. I do all of those things.
That's why the iPad is not going to kill the Kindle any time soon. Its cheaper and is a much better choice over the iPad if the sole purpose is reading e-books.
That's why the iPad is not going to kill the Kindle any time soon. Its cheaper and is a much better choice over the iPad if the sole purpose is reading e-books.
I think the screen is fine. I like the way you can dim iBooks when reading at night and rarely use either the iMac or Macbook now.
I'm not sure if we get squash here. I'll check it sounds good with chicken.
I'm not sure if we get squash here. I'll check it sounds good with chicken.
The text in the iPad is absolutely razor sharp. If you are using iPhone iPod touch apps and using the 2x feature to fill the screen, then there will be, obviously, issues with resolution. Absent that, if you are seeing less than razor sharp text on any native iPad app, including Safari, then there is an issue with your machine.
You might want to have it looked at before hitting the panic button and having it returned.
I have read a third of one book that I started on the Kindle on the iPad during a daytime train ride (about the MC5). It was fine. The Kindle screen might have been a little nicer for that use, but not enough for it to be a big issue.
I have read a third of another book that I started reading on the iPad (Solar by Ian McEwan) at night sitting at a lowkey bar while having beer and dinner. No sunlight. In this case, I think the experience was a little better than with the Kindle, because I didn't have to worry about ambient light and because the screen is larger.
The words "grainy text" have never entered my mind in regards to the iPad, though I can think of ways to result in grainy text ... scrolling rapidly in Zinio without waiting for it to fill in ... leaving text too small without zooming (not technically grainy, but could be perceived that way) ... zooming in too much beyond what the actual pixel density of the letters is designed for ... using pixel-doubled iPhone apps for text.
The iPad's screen is about 132dpi, if I recall correctly.
I have read a third of another book that I started reading on the iPad (Solar by Ian McEwan) at night sitting at a lowkey bar while having beer and dinner. No sunlight. In this case, I think the experience was a little better than with the Kindle, because I didn't have to worry about ambient light and because the screen is larger.
The words "grainy text" have never entered my mind in regards to the iPad, though I can think of ways to result in grainy text ... scrolling rapidly in Zinio without waiting for it to fill in ... leaving text too small without zooming (not technically grainy, but could be perceived that way) ... zooming in too much beyond what the actual pixel density of the letters is designed for ... using pixel-doubled iPhone apps for text.
The iPad's screen is about 132dpi, if I recall correctly.
Yeah, I remember the day my wife noticed my new big V-Twin in the shop and asked, "Is THAT new?"
I find the screen very sharp, but I am 42 years old and my eyesight aint exactly 100%. I have a Dell 2560x1600 30" LCD at home which I consider very sharp. I do notice a difference, but not enough to warrant returning it.
I am pretty sure future verions of the ipad will be true HD. In the meantime I plan to enjoy this one and would encourage you to do the same.
I am pretty sure future verions of the ipad will be true HD. In the meantime I plan to enjoy this one and would encourage you to do the same.
A couple of people have mentioned the resolution not being to their standards but the majority of people seem to have no problems with it.
As to your resolution to go back to the MBP... again, the devices are for different things. It may very well be the case that your MBP is better suited for all of your casual needs as well as your more taxing needs.
Throwing in comments about the device meant to be 'magical' doesn't help make you appear un-trolllike.
As to your resolution to go back to the MBP... again, the devices are for different things. It may very well be the case that your MBP is better suited for all of your casual needs as well as your more taxing needs.
Throwing in comments about the device meant to be 'magical' doesn't help make you appear un-trolllike.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you are using reading glasses. If I put my reading glasses on which I use when I really need to see something close up, it does look a bit grainy. But that's from 6-8 inches away. I suppose if you were trying to read with it that close to your face, it could be a bit annoying. I personally read on it for a few hours every day and I think that it looks great. But you aren't the first person I've heard complain. I've seen a few other people comment on the resolution as well, but the vast majority seem to be quite happy with it.
My normal reading distance is around 16 inches. I would be willing to bet that those who complain are used to reading much closer than that.
I agree with the OP. For me, the screen resolution is not high enough to compete with print. I played with a demo at the store and loaded the WSJ iPad app and was underwhelmed. If the mythical 960*640 resolution materializes for the next gen iPhone, it is going to be sweet!
It's certainly not as good as print. B&W print is usually 1200dpi.
However, it compares very well with a MBP or any other LCD, which is what confuses me about the thread. If you're happy reading text on a MBP but not on an iPad, then I'd speculate you either have a defective iPad, or you're doing something atypical (like holding it super-close to your eyes). The iPad's screen has greater pixel density than a laptop screen.
However, it compares very well with a MBP or any other LCD, which is what confuses me about the thread. If you're happy reading text on a MBP but not on an iPad, then I'd speculate you either have a defective iPad, or you're doing something atypical (like holding it super-close to your eyes). The iPad's screen has greater pixel density than a laptop screen.
