Microsoft says iPad resolution is too high, suggests the Surface instead

The Apple iPad 3 is definitely a force to be reckoned with, commanding a fair share of the tablet market. Google and Samsung are rumored to be working on a Nexus 10 to take on the iPad head on, but Microsoft feels the Surface RT which is now available for pre-order is better than Apple’s new iPad.

According to Stevie Bathich, Microsoft’s applied sciences department manager, t he 2048x1536 Retina display of the iPad 3 actually hinders readability, while the 1366x768 HD resolution of the Surface display is much better. He explains that users need to pay attention to the Modular Transfer Function (MTF) instead of the display resolution.

The MTF is a combination of the contrast and the resolution and Bathich explains that as resolution increases, the eye’s sensitivity actually decreases. A good contrast helps the eye distinguish different pixels from each other, making it easer to read.

With the Surface, Microsoft aims to take a three tier approach, where they have focused on:

1. Pixel rendering (ClearType technology),
2. High contrast, wide-angle display, and
3. Optically bonding the screen with the thinnest optical stack anywhere in the market.

At the end of the day, it will all come down to real world use, and how the Microsoft Surface customer’s will respond to Microsoft’s approach to consumer electronics.



source – Microsoft