15" standard vs. 15" hi-res

[kolax]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I just returned a high-res 15" i7 for a standard res and ate the restocking fee. My previous laptop was a fall 2008 unibody, and I greatly preferred its screen.

I tried my best to get used to the 1680x1050 screen, but until we have a real resolution independent UI (and a resolution independent web, which is even farther off) the computing world is meant for 100-115 DPI. UI elements are smaller and harder to hit with a mouse cursor, and the web is a disaster. You can either view things pixel perfect and smaller than intended, or scale them up and see a blurry version.

There's also the problem of trying to use a multi-monitor setup - putting a 128 DPI screen next to a 100 DPI screen (any 24 or 30" monitor) is unusable. Even the 110 DPI of the standard res is a bit odd next to a 100 DPI monitor.

I look forward to the day when we have 300 DPI displays with good resolution independence, but until then, scaling current graphics up 15% just looks crappy. And to those of you who will say that reading glasses would fix the problem, maybe so, but I've never worn glasses and can stare at a 110 DPI screen for 18 hours straight with no eye strain.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Couldn't agree more.

I used my HR AG 15" for just over a week and had to exchange it for the standard resolution. I just found if I sat back a little bit it was really uncomfortable reading fonts. Of course I could read them, but it was a strain and uncomfortable.

I'm now on a mission to find an antiglare top half for my glossy MBP. All I can find is the glossy complete display sets, no antiglare complete display sets.

 

[entatlrg]

I'm probably in the minority here, but I just returned a high-res 15" i7 for a standard res and ate the restocking fee. My previous laptop was a fall 2008 unibody, and I greatly preferred its screen.

I tried my best to get used to the 1680x1050 screen, but until we have a real resolution independent UI (and a resolution independent web, which is even farther off) the computing world is meant for 100-115 DPI. UI elements are smaller and harder to hit with a mouse cursor, and the web is a disaster. You can either view things pixel perfect and smaller than intended, or scale them up and see a blurry version.

There's also the problem of trying to use a multi-monitor setup - putting a 128 DPI screen next to a 100 DPI screen (any 24 or 30" monitor) is unusable. Even the 110 DPI of the standard res is a bit odd next to a 100 DPI monitor.

I look forward to the day when we have 300 DPI displays with good resolution independence, but until then, scaling current graphics up 15% just looks crappy. And to those of you who will say that reading glasses would fix the problem, maybe so, but I've never worn glasses and can stare at a 110 DPI screen for 18 hours straight with no eye strain.

I returned the HR 15" i7 and got the standard res as well. Had it for a few days and tried my best. Yes, it looks great, the extra real estate feels fantastic but after few hours i got eye strain and you steadily zoom and adjust font sizes in apps or stick so close to the screen like a monkey. i just haven't felt comfortable with that screen, i always had to focus those really, really small micro fonts and buttons in CS4, office etc. which made me mad. even the 160ppi screen of a vaio z11 with 1920x1080@13" (!) is better due to windows 7's well-working GUI scaling with up to 150dpi.

but they are so many users who like that screen, so just give it a try and return it if you don't like it.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Couldn't agree more.

I used my HR AG 15" for just over a week and had to exchange it for the standard resolution. I just found if I sat back a little bit it was really uncomfortable reading fonts. Of course I could read them, but it was a strain and uncomfortable.

I'm now on a mission to find an antiglare top half for my glossy MBP. All I can find is the glossy complete display sets, no antiglare complete display sets.

Standard resolution here too. For long hours of reading text it's ideal, no eyestrain, no leaning forward, no second guessing.

Until resolution independence it's the way to go unless you're photo / video editing.

Optometrists advise 'against' doing things that cause eye strain such as reading small text/font for long periods of time. I'm not going to argue with that....

 

[picklesmand]

Standard resolution here too. For long hours of reading text it's ideal, no eyestrain, no leaning forward, no second guessing.

Until resolution independence it's the way to go unless you're photo / video editing.

Optometrists advise 'against' doing things that cause eye strain such as reading small text/font for long periods of time. I'm not going to argue with that....

I've noticed you posting this on a few threads. What I don't understand, is what text are you reading that can't be resized? Are you reading the menubar for hours at a time?

You know that you can set the minimum default text size in any browser, right? Same goes for PDFs, so what other reading is there?

Scaled up text on a high res screen looks MUCH nicer than the same size text on a low-res screen. It looks closer to print.

 

[Glideslope]

I've noticed you posting this on a few threads. What I don't understand, is what text are you reading that can't be resized? Are you reading the menubar for hours at a time?

You know that you can set the minimum default text size in any browser, right? Same goes for PDFs, so what other reading is there?

Scaled up text on a high res screen looks MUCH nicer than the same size text on a low-res screen. It looks closer to print.

Obviously does not. Had my AG HR for a month now. Could not even think of 1440 again. Just use the above mentioned adjustments.

 

[gbnz]

For Photoshop and Illustrator, the hi-res blows the standard screen away. These screenshots are from CS5 (just received my copy two days ago!).

Hey Kristine, thanks for the screen shots... everything looks neat and really good.

What's your Hi-Res experience with the web? Are you having to zoom in a lot?

There is some good opinions/advice here everyone cheers! And for sure in the end the decision is a personal preference.. I know if i'd have had my original order of a BTO HR screen i'd of probably adjusted and just gone with it... but since the BTO (8g ram/7200 500gig with a standard screen) is just sitting here unboxed calling out may name... I would just (kinda!) like to make an informed decision... do i say what the heck and now go with what I've got and already paid for... or patiently wait 2-3 weeks for a HR screen ... the red pill or the blue pill i guess... hmm hmm and hmm!

 

[Kristine]

Hey Kristine, thanks for the screen shots... everything looks neat and really good.

What's your Hi-Res experience with the web? Are you having to zoom in a lot?

There is some good opinions/advice here everyone cheers! And for sure in the end the decision is a personal preference.. I know if i'd have had my original order of a BTO HR screen i'd of probably adjusted and just gone with it... but since the BTO (8g ram/7200 500gig with a standard screen) is just sitting here unboxed calling out may name... I would just (kinda!) like to make an informed decision... do i say what the heck and now go with what I've got and already paid for... or patiently wait 2-3 weeks for a HR screen ... the red pill or the blue pill i guess... hmm hmm and hmm!

I have found very few sites where I have had to increase the text size. My partner is very happy with his standard resolution glossy screen - I prefer the anti-glare as I work in direct sunlight most days. Would you like screen shots of the standard resolution with Photoshop open to compare the two side by side?

 

[Apple Expert]

I have found very few sites where I have had to increase the text size. My partner is very happy with his standard resolution glossy screen - I prefer the anti-glare as I work in direct sunlight most days. Would you like screen shots of the standard resolution with Photoshop open to compare the two side by side?

yes, that would be very helpful.

 

[teerexx52]

Hey Kristine, thanks for the screen shots... everything looks neat and really good.

What's your Hi-Res experience with the web? Are you having to zoom in a lot?

There is some good opinions/advice here everyone cheers! And for sure in the end the decision is a personal preference.. I know if i'd have had my original order of a BTO HR screen i'd of probably adjusted and just gone with it... but since the BTO (8g ram/7200 500gig with a standard screen) is just sitting here unboxed calling out may name... I would just (kinda!) like to make an informed decision... do i say what the heck and now go with what I've got and already paid for... or patiently wait 2-3 weeks for a HR screen ... the red pill or the blue pill i guess... hmm hmm and hmm!

I agree. Absolutely personal preference. Good luck with your new machine

 

[entatlrg]

I've noticed you posting this on a few threads. What I don't understand, is what text are you reading that can't be resized? Are you reading the menubar for hours at a time?

You know that you can set the minimum default text size in any browser, right? Same goes for PDFs, so what other reading is there?

Scaled up text on a high res screen looks MUCH nicer than the same size text on a low-res screen. It looks closer to print.

For example Photoshop panels are really small. UI's like that can't be changed.

 

[gbnz]

Would you like screen shots of the standard resolution with Photoshop open to compare the two side by side?

I already have a MBP 15" 2009 release... otherwise thanks for the offer... though it looks like they could help somebody else.

 

[Kristine]

yes, that would be very helpful.

Photoshop Standard Resolution

 

[OnAirNow]

Quick iPhone Video - 15" Standard Glossy & Matte Hi-Res

Since I'm still undecided about going standard or hi-res, and since I was in my local store yesterday I thought I'd grab a couple of quick iPhone videos of the 15" standard res and 15" hi-res matte MBP to share with you...

Video 1 - Safari
Video 2 - iMovie

 

[Ctt713]

Since I'm still undecided about going standard or hi-res, and since I was in my local store yesterday I thought I'd grab a couple of quick iPhone videos of the 15" standard res and 15" hi-res matte MBP to share with you...

Video 1 - Safari
Video 2 - iMovie

Wow that makes me want the High res anti-glare 10x more. The reflections are awful on the glossy plus the anti-glare is just as sharp.

 

[dsprimal]

hi res ftw!

 

[gbnz]

Ok... so my local Apple resellers managed to get me a Hi-res 15MBP (Glossy) quicker than expected... I'm not sure if this is fate haha but I didn't open the standard one. So I dicided to go with the Hi-res.

Initial feedback.

It really does look brilliant!!! I'm coming from a graphic design background and the I'm very impressed with the clarity...plenty of space... Apps look real tidy. And next to my MBP (15" 2.66ghz 2009) It's actually not that hard for myself going from standard to Hi .. though it is personal preference.

Internet
Ill do some serious testing over the next day but so far so good with the font size... My eyes are adjusting and I've zoomed in on a few Sites (maybe 5% of the ones visted) but it seems OK and hopefully will get used to it.

Whites are a little yellow so hopefully i can sort that but I'm thinking that may actually help reading the fonts at small sizing...

Anyways... Theres nothing atm making me wish I'd opted for the standard res but we shall see.

PS. Cheers for the pics and videos people... your feedback , opinions and advice is worth its weight in Gold

 

[Chromus]

Wow that makes me want the High res anti-glare 10x more. The reflections are awful on the glossy plus the anti-glare is just as sharp.

To be fair, the overhead lighting in Apple stores are pretty strong. So, it's basically showing the AG at it's full potential, while it makes the glossy look absolutely terrible. Two of my friends have glossy screens and the reflections are never as bad as they are in the Apple store, although they don't use them in direct sunlight.

 

[zoomzoom3]

A few years ago I had an Asus & Dell laptop, both with 1680 x 1050 res screens, and there were definitely times when things seemed a bit small. My first Mac was a 2.2Ghz MBP, pre-unibody design, and the 1440 x 900 seemed perfect. Now I'm having the same problem, I've decided on a laptop over an iMac, but torn between the stock screen or the high res model .

Timely though, i have that old Dell back to do some dreaded windows maintenance on, and after a couple hours working on it my eyes already feel tired. The stock screen is looking pretty good in my books . . . and a nice little LED Cinema Display to go along with it

 

[Jdh2425]

I got the Hi Res gloss and returned it. While the screen looked amazing at home, at uni under fluro lights the glare was unbearable.

I now have the anti glare and am very happy with my decision. The anti glare screen looks pretty good as well, but minus the glare. Also, the AG model is noticeably lighter than the gloss model, obviously because it doesn't have a glass panel over the screen.

As for the res, I think 1600x1080 is perfect for a screen this size. I am short sighted so I can see things fine up close but need glasses for long distance. When browsing websites I do have to zoom in, but the browser remembers the setting so I don't need to zoom in each time I open the browser.

It's personal preference though, you need to see the two side by side to make the right decision for you.

 

[tombilske]

my friend has the standard res and i have the high res 15, and i have to say we both agree that the high res is well worth it, and its far better to do work on because of the extra screen real estate. i dont find myself scaling up webpages etc very often, and the things that you cant scale up like the menu bar are perfectly fine on 1680x1050

go with the high res, trust me you will love the extra room it gives you to work

 

[SonicBoom1981]

Benefits:
better looking screen, more detail, crisper image, less pixelated, more space to work, everything looks so much better, you'd not want to go back.

The only reason why you'd maybe not want HiRes is because you're used to everything how it is with your current lower res set up and don't want things to look smaller.

 

[Euroamerican]

A quick observation:

I finally got to see the 15.4 AG Hires the other day. It is extremely nice. I think the AG is done better than the previous model AG. The screen seems less "pebbly" than before. In contrast, they had a MBP 13 set up net to it with an applied AG film. THAT looked pebbly/fuzzy, like the previous AG on the unibodies.

If you are afraid of the glare from the glossy (glarebooks), you'll like the AG. The fonts did not seem too small either. That surprised me, as I didn't like the smallness of the fonts on the previous model 17 UMBP and the 17 pre-UMBP.

I still would like to see the 15.4 glossy Hires, before I make a final judgement as to what I want.

One other note, the 17 AG hires can run at 1650x1080 too, but obviously not at native resolution. I was surprised to see that it didn't look as bad as I thought it would, nor as bad as on the prior 17 running non-native.

The only thing that would throw me for a loop now is if they come out with a new MBA. I've pretty much decided that I can't decide what I really want.

I like the price of the 13 MBP, but the screen real estate of the 15 hires is tempting. So expensive though!

 

[dsprimal]

go with hi res, why not?? plain and simple. if you have good eye sight then get the hi res. cause i hear a lot of people complaining about how hi res makes website fonts really hard to read. but honestly i have NO problems at all with that "issue". anyways, go hi res.

 

[raxafarian]

Picked up the high res AG on tuesday and I'm loving it. I have 20/100 vision without glasses and 20/20 with but glasses are not yet bifocal and only for distance. No issues with the font size.

 

[xi mezmerize ix]

the hi-res is too small...

 

[adammjenkins]

I've read through most of the glossy vs. anti-glare and high resolution vs. standard resolution threads here on MacRumors and on a few other sites, and I've come to this conclusion: Even though it would be a strain on maintaining extra parts and supplies, it makes more sense for Apple to offer all configurable options for the MacBook Pro line. As it is, people are tossing and turning about what's in their budget and what their needs will require. Here are what I see as beneficial options:
13": 1280x800 (until a higher resolution is released), glossy or anti-glare.
15": 1440x900, glossy or anti-glare / 1680x1050, glossy or anti-glare
17": 1920x1200, glossy or anti-glare

It stands to reason that an anti-glare option should be available for a portable line of computers where lighting environments are constantly changing without the user's control. Some people are fine with glossy on the go, and some aren't. So, for a "professional" line of computers, it makes sense to me to have the ability for customers to be able to customize their machine to suit their desires and needs. As it is, I see that many people (including myself) are in the position of conforming their needs to the current available options. As I said, I realize that it would put strain on Apple to maintain so many different displays, but I think this would solve a lot of people's dilemmas and allow for more customer satisfaction because no one would be forced to compromise.

Until more configurable options are integrated, I'll continue to watch from the sidelines. I hate to make such a big deal about the display to the point that it is make or break for me buying the machine, but I refuse to pay this much money for a computer with a screen that doesn't suit me... after all, I'll be looking at it every time I use the computer. In this scenario, it doesn't matter whether you fall into the glossy or anti-glare camp, no need to argue, compromise, or spend more money than a budget will allow because everyone can just get what they want and move forward with enjoying their computers. Isn't that the point, anyway?

I just sent feedback to Apple requesting these configurable options with a list of similar reasons that I noted above. If you think it would help, you might want to do the same. http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html