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Does anyone find the new screens a bit hard to look at?

S

shawnmac

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 25, 2011
47
0
So ever since I got the new MBA, one thing I noticed is that when staring right at the screen, it almost becomes a bit blinding at times. Almost like you can see a glow around areas with massive white areas. I'm not sure how to describe it.

I thought it might be going back to the LG vs Samsung screen debate so I went and was able to find and compare an MBA 13" with an LG screen and an MBA 13" with a Samsung screen side by side and honestly they both seemed to look the same in this regard. I was not able to see a real difference in the two screens.

Anyone else see anything similar? Really kind of hard to describe.
 
I've got the new 2011 11.6 with i5 and 128 and the screen seems about the same as my previous 2010 11.6. I did the Terminal command and I've got the LG screen. I don't know what my 2010 model was, but again it doesn't seem all that different.

Also, I normally only use it about 50 percent brightness most the time so maybe that is the difference. I will say that at full brightness, it is too bright for me.
 
happyslayer said:
I've got the new 2011 11.6 with i5 and 128 and the screen seems about the same as my previous 2010 11.6. I did the Terminal command and I've got the LG screen. I don't know what my 2010 model was, but again it doesn't seem all that different.

Also, I normally only use it about 50 percent brightness most the time so maybe that is the difference. I will say that at full brightness, it is too bright for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Trying it with lower brightness to see if that helps.
 
not too bad...

I find my 2011 MBA 11.6 screen to be a little more yellow, and not as bright as my 2010 MBA 11.6 was.

Turning it down a little bit does seem to help a lot with eyestrain though.

Edit: messing with the calibration seems to have solved the tinge. Looks pretty good now. I have the LG display.
 
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Yes i think a poorly calibrated screen does put more strain on the eye.

Black text on a correctly calibrated white background provides the highest level of contrast and definition to each letter.

By default the LG colour profile has quite a strong yellow hue making the combination of the high resolution, smallish screen and yellow cast more difficult when reading text.

You may find that zooming in with a double tap may ease your eyes but i would certainly recommend you try to calibrate your screen to ensure you are reading black on white text.
 
bp1000 said:
Yes i think a poorly calibrated screen does put more strain on the eye.

Black text on a correctly calibrated white background provides the highest level of contrast and definition to each letter.

By default the LG colour profile has quite a strong yellow hue making the combination of the high resolution, smallish screen and yellow cast more difficult when reading text.

You may find that zooming in with a double tap may ease your eyes but i would certainly recommend you try to calibrate your screen to ensure you are reading black on white text.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I don't mean the eyestrain coming from looking at small text, etc. What I find is that when looking at the screen (especially it seems when there is a lot of white on the screen) it seems like it just gets almost a glow to it. Almost the kind of thing where when you look away from the screen after a while, you see spots like when you look into a bright light (or the sun, etc).

Does that make sense? Been trying to figure out if it's normal, something that has to do with calibration, etc. Thinking of stopping by the genius bar and bringing it with me to compare to others in store as well.
 
shawnmac said:
Almost the kind of thing where when you look away from the screen after a while, you see spots like when you look into a bright light (or the sun, etc).
Click to expand...

Is this your first new laptop in a while? I ask because, if you are moving up from a 3-4 year old laptop based on CCFL backlights, then, these new LED based screen will be A LOT brighter than maybe what you are used to?

Try turning the screen down 2-4 bars and see if that solves it.

I like it bright, but have been reluctantly turning it down a notch or two and I do find it a little less straining, especially in a dark room.
 
shawnmac said:
Thanks. I don't mean the eyestrain coming from looking at small text, etc. What I find is that when looking at the screen (especially it seems when there is a lot of white on the screen) it seems like it just gets almost a glow to it. Almost the kind of thing where when you look away from the screen after a while, you see spots like when you look into a bright light (or the sun, etc).

Does that make sense? Been trying to figure out if it's normal, something that has to do with calibration, etc. Thinking of stopping by the genius bar and bringing it with me to compare to others in store as well.
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you are talking about. I see the same glow effect when I am am trying to read text on a white screen. Turning down the brightness seems to help. I am going to bring my mba into the apple store tomorrow and compare the screen to a samsung model.

I never had eye strain while looking at the screen on my old mba 2010 model.
 
Yes - it's a combination of increased pixel density and screen brightness. You will get used to it pretty quickly. I felt the same way when I got my 2010 MBA, but now when I have to look at one of my coworkers Windows laptops, it looks dark and mushy.
 
shawnmac said:
Thanks. I don't mean the eyestrain coming from looking at small text, etc. What I find is that when looking at the screen (especially it seems when there is a lot of white on the screen) it seems like it just gets almost a glow to it. Almost the kind of thing where when you look away from the screen after a while, you see spots like when you look into a bright light (or the sun, etc).

Does that make sense? Been trying to figure out if it's normal, something that has to do with calibration, etc. Thinking of stopping by the genius bar and bringing it with me to compare to others in store as well.
Click to expand...

Screen brightness, as others mentioned, is key. I was in the electric sign business and there were times when we had to modulate the light output to stop the sign from looking hard to read by its over-glow.

Also, check to see how you might change the brightness depending upon where you happen to be situated. Different ambient light levels and direction from which it comes can affect your perception.
 
taeclee99 said:
I know exactly what you are talking about. I see the same glow effect when I am am trying to read text on a white screen. Turning down the brightness seems to help. I am going to bring my mba into the apple store tomorrow and compare the screen to a samsung model.
Click to expand...

Please post back when you compare them side by side.

Thanks everyone else for responses thus far as well.
 
I have the 11" and am trying to decide if it's the smaller text, more widescreen screen, or the lightning that's casuing my headaches. I'm coming from a three year old HP so the point that schemula made regarding backlights VS LED may be it.

I don't think a wider screen would cause enough viewing differences to give me a headache, and feel that the smaller text is affecting me only psychologically. That just leaves the brightness. Still trying to find a sweet spot between 50% and 100%. In the meantime, I've got these headaches from prolonged use (ie 2.5 hours).
 
Maybe You Need Reading Glasses?

cityathrt said:
I have the 11" and am trying to decide if it's the smaller text, more widescreen screen, or the lightning that's casuing my headaches. I'm coming from a three year old HP so the point that schemula made regarding backlights VS LED may be it.

I don't think a wider screen would cause enough viewing differences to give me a headache, and feel that the smaller text is affecting me only psychologically. That just leaves the brightness. Still trying to find a sweet spot between 50% and 100%. In the meantime, I've got these headaches from prolonged use (ie 2.5 hours).
Click to expand...

I haven't ordered an 11" MBA yet so I cannot comment regarding that specific model.

In my case I require reading glasses when using a computer (including my 24" iMac) even though I don't need them for reading text on paper. (I actually began using reading glasses in the mid 90s so I could clearly see film grain when using a film enlarger.)

My reading glasses make computer text sharp enough that it does not appear fuzzy. If your eyes have problems focusing on computer text it can cause eyestrain and headaches.

While I have prescription glasses (probably overkill considering the cost...), inexpensive reading glasses with basic magnification are available. You could try your MBA in the store or simply spend <$20 and see if it improves your display experience.

One advantage of prescription reading glasses over generic store brands (besides having more frame choices: I prefer "half-glasses") is that an optometrist can adjust the prescription to better match the typical distance from your eyes to the display(s) that you are using.

I attach Chums eyeglasses retainers so I can wear the glasses around my neck when I am not at my computer. When I turned 40 I figured "What the Hell!" One of the advantages of half-glasses is that you can see over the top for viewing distant objects, as well as giving someone who is bothering your the "look." LOL
 
shawnmac said:
Please post back when you compare them side by side.

Thanks everyone else for responses thus far as well.
Click to expand...

Took my mba into the apple store today. Compared my lg model with the samsung display model. Samsung panel was more vibrant with increased brightness. The two mac specialists who witnessed the side by side agreed that the samsung panel was better in this regard. Much easier on the eyes in my opinion.

So Apple swapped out the lg model for a replacement. Luckily the new one has a Samsung panel and ssd.
 
Haha, oi, oi guys. Lady here, and yes I do wear glasses when I use my 11". Like I said though, I think the smaller text is all in my head. I felt that everything appears smaller on the 11" because of the smaller screen, until I compared it to my 13" HP and realized, hey wait.. all the sizes are the same.

I'm guessing either I'm not used to a wider widescreen yet (that shouldn't cause a problem), or I've been straining my eyes at the wrong brightness.
 
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That screen is uncomfortable to me as well, especially when the room I'm in is a bit dark.
My 13" MBP's screen feels alright in every situation however.
 
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