Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Hi Res Screen, Worth It?

S

Starbuckpga

macrumors regular
Original poster
Looking for a little advice on the screen for my new MacBook Pro. Decided to go with the 15" with upgraded processor to 2.3 and 4Gb memory. Will upgrade the memory myself to 8Gb after getting the laptop.

Just trying to decide is it worth it to go with the Hi Res screen? I do the like the idea of a higher resolution. Not a big video editor, but will play a few games from time to time. Or do I just stick with the standard 1440x900 resolution and screen?

Thanks to any advice and comments.
 
I would upgrade the screen to future proof. I remember when I got my iPod touch and the higher resolution screen was so could I could not stand the other screens.
 
Its only worth it, if you need the higher res. For me, I prefer not going down that path, as its more difficult to read.

I'm not sure how a higher res display would make it more future proof - that doesn't seem to make sense to me 😕

Also consider usage, will you have the laptop hooked up to an external monitor, if so that decreases the advantage of a high res display.
 
The antiglare hi res option is great !!!

8GB ram is also nice to have as you already know 😱
 
From my perspective, the best decision I made was to go Hi-Resolution. To be perfectly honest, if i could, I'd want to go higher for even more screen real estate.

My partner has a non-Hi-Res screen and it just doesn't compare.

Go Hi-Res, you won't be sorry. IMO antiglare just doesn't cut the mustard in terms of quality and depth you get with a glass screen, it's missing that certain something if you know what I mean.

Everyone complains about reflections, but I don't notice them, and as for hard to read, what nonsense, sure things appear smaller, but if you can't read them get glasses. Go to the apple store and check out both options, if your eyes can handles hi-res then do it.

The hi-res is sharp and bright, with great colour and tone. The same can be said of the low-res of course.
 
Last edited:
I didn't like the anti glare at all and sent mine back after one day. My plasma TV has glassy screen and the reflections don't bother me. It's mounted on an articulating bracket so I could adjust it but I don't even notice the reflections.
I'm convinced the defused light through the screen on anti glare causes eye strain, but that's just my experience with it. My Apple Store didn't have a glossy hi res but I would consider that. Maybe wait until Lion comes out to see about the font size.
 
Go to the Apple store. Check it out for yourself and decide what is right for you.

If you need screen real estate, it can certainly help. If you have trouble reading smaller fonts, an external 27" monitor may help solve both problems.
 
save the money on the 2.3GHz CPU upgrade and spend it on the high res screen instead. You won't notice the speed difference but you will notice the extra pixels when you're using it.
 
islanders said:
I didn't like the anti glare at all and sent mine back after one day. My plasma TV has glassy screen and the reflections don't bother me. It's mounted on an articulating bracket so I could adjust it but I don't even notice the reflections.
I'm convinced the defused light through the screen on anti glare causes eye strain, but that's just my experience with it. My Apple Store didn't have a glossy hi res but I would consider that. Maybe wait until Lion comes out to see about the font size.
Click to expand...

so u didnt get a macbook at all?
 
The best way to decide is to use a hi-res model for a few hours and then go back to standard res. You'll notice the difference quite quickly. I just got a hi-res antiglare on Wednesday, and I love it! The antiglare is perfect for me. Videos look just fine, and I can use it anywhere in the house without having to fight against reflections. If you are in a room with windows and it's remotely sunny outside, you will get reflections if using glossy display. Sometimes it's not that bad, but sometimes it's downright awful. So while antiglare vs. glossy might be partially a personal preference, if you have good eyesight it is completely worth it to get the hi-res.
 
For me the screen is one of the most important features on a laptop. I would take the 2010 version with a high res then the 2011 with a low res. Its a matter of personal opinion and what you use the laptop for.
 
lindstedt56 said:
For me the screen is one of the most important features on a laptop. I would take the 2010 version with a high res then the 2011 with a low res. Its a matter of personal opinion and what you use the laptop for.
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat here...I don't know if I should get a Sandy Bridge Macbook Pro with standard res OR go with the 2010 Macbook Pro Hi Res without thunderbolt (does thunderbolt even matter at this point?).

Can anyone steer me in the right direction?

I also tend to sell my machines every year and upgrade. Keep that in mind. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
fat jez said:
Thunderbolt was a new feature with the 2011 models
Click to expand...

I know what thunderbolt is. My point was no one is sure if it will be adopted or used much.

I just want to know if I'm better off buying a 2010 MBP with hi res display, or the current base model. I have good eyes...but I'd also like to future proof. Just not 100% sure...
 
JasonR said:
I know what thunderbolt is. My point was no one is sure if it will be adopted or used much.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm being overly pedantic or maybe it was a typo on your part, but you said you were thinking of going with the 2010 model with Thunderbolt. I was merely pointing out that Thunderbolt was new in the 2011 models.
 
fat jez said:
Maybe I'm being overly pedantic or maybe it was a typo on your part, but you said you were thinking of going with the 2010 model with Thunderbolt. I was merely pointing out that Thunderbolt was new in the 2011 models.
Click to expand...

Ah you're right...I didn't see my typo. Fixed it. Thanks!
 
I had the standard glossy and replaced it with the hi-res anti-glare and definitely prefer the hi-res anti-glare.
 
I agree with everyone else about scrapping the 2.3 GHz. You wouldn't notice the speed increase, and for $250 it's not worth it. To me at least. That money is better spent on an SSD or RAM upgrade.

As for the Hi-Res screen, it's really just preference. I prefer the Hi-Res because the extra screen space and I think everything looks better.
 
As everyone else has stated, go with the hi-res, you'll without doubt love it! Although I sprung for the glossy because I wanted the better colors, and it was an excellent decision, I see no problems with reflections. Unless you are someone who needs accurate colors, I'd spring for glossy!
 
harrisondavies said:
From my perspective, the best decision I made was to go Hi-Resolution. To be perfectly honest, if i could, I'd want to go higher for even more screen real estate.

My partner has a non-Hi-Res screen and it just doesn't compare.

Go Hi-Res, you won't be sorry. IMO antiglare just doesn't cut the mustard in terms of quality and depth you get with a glass screen, it's missing that certain something if you know what I mean.

Everyone complains about reflections, but I don't notice them, and as for hard to read, what nonsense, sure things appear smaller, but if you can't read them get glasses. Go to the apple store and check out both options, if your eyes can handles hi-res then do it.

The hi-res is sharp and bright, with great colour and tone. The same can be said of the low-res of course.
Click to expand...

maflynn,
this is what I am referring too. I assume that over the next few years the current "High res" screens will be standard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back