Apple has touted several new features in their latest iPad, most notably increased resolution in the Retina display. But does any of it really matter? Multiple sources have suggested that the average consumer can’t really tell the difference between the iPad 2 and the latest version, or doesn’t really care.

Gizmodo gave an iPad 2 to several of their less-techie co-workers at Gawker, and told them it was a new iPad. As the video shows, opinions were split: a few immediately said the display wasn’t that good, and that they preferred their Kindles; but several gushed over the “amazing” clarity and wondered how they could get one.

Similarly, Brooke Crothers at CNET staked out some Apple stores in Manhattan last week to gauge consumer interest in the new tablets. He found that whether or not people could see the difference in display (and Crothers does argue that the new iPad has a superior display), people bought the thing anyway.

…one numbingly consistent (as in “here we go again”) query to Apple staff by prospective buyers–and I’ll paraphrase–was: “Hey, I really don’t see any difference between this new iPad and my iPad 2. Can you show me what’s different?”

The Apple staff was quick to rattle off 4G, better camera, dictation, and, of course, the Retina display. But the improved camera and dictation was of little interest to the buyers I stood next to. 4G was important to a few but not material for others.

But, ah, that new display. Everybody was obsessing about that. That glorious, pixel-packing, eye-popping screen.

Too bad most of the people–again, this just an infinitesimally small sample of people standing at the same table during the couple of hours I was there–could not see the difference.

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