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Is the iPad's display a slam dunk?

By offering four times the pixel count of tablets on the market today, Apple is clearly pushing the display technology envelope.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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Brooke Crothers
Apple

Does the new iPad's pixel-packing display make it a must-buy?

I haven't seen the 2,048x1,536 display up close (yet), but this CNET hands-on video gives you an idea. Apple's Web page devoted to the display also gives you a pretty good tour of the technology.

By offering four times the pixel count of tablets on the market today, Apple is clearly pushing the display technology envelope. From the ongoing discussions I've had with NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim, it seems clear that LG Display and Sharp are struggling with production. Though main supplier Samsung has managed to ramp up enough volume, it hasn't been easy getting there.

That's not the only challenge. On the app front, some developers are skeptical, claiming that apps won't match up with the display's high resolution.

That said, millions of consumers are already opening their wallets, judging from pre-orders.

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And consumers obviously went for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in droves due, in no small part, to the Retina Display--the same branding Apple is using for the new iPad's display.

So, my question is, do you expect those extra pixels to make a noticeable difference in day-to-day usage?

Is it enough to entice you to sideline your iPad 1, iPad 2, or Android tablet?

Hands on Apple's new iPad (photos)

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