How do you get used to the DPI scaling on rMBP

[WorldIRC]

Obviously on the rMBP, the actual resolution is 1440x900 (with 2 pixels / pixel essentially).

While the result is beautiful, everything is "big" and the usable workspace is "small" for a 15" screen.

I'm coming from two Windows devices:
1. Lenovo W520 w/ 15" 1080P - Perfect resolution IMHO (Windows 7)
2. Surface Pro 2 w/ 10" 1080P - Some apps do not scale properly due to HiDPI (Windows 8.1)

While everything will look nicer on an rMBP, everything will look bigger. I don't like "scaled" apps that look dull / unsharp.

What are you all doing to work around this?

 

[priitv8]

I use the resolution next up - 1680x1050 HiDPI

 

[WorldIRC]

I use the resolution next up - 1680x1050 HiDPI

Do all your apps look Ok? I thought using the non native resolution can make apps look funny, dull.

 

[Robyr]

Do all your apps look Ok? I thought using the non native resolution can make apps look funny, dull.

Not at all. I explained this to you months ago in another thread.

 

[maflynn]

Obviously on the rMBP, the actual resolution is 1440x900 (with 2 pixels / pixel essentially).

I use the default resolution (1440x900 ) as the full unadulterated 2880x1800 is just too small for my nearly 50 year old eyes to handle

 

[WorldIRC]

Not at all. I explained this to you months ago in another thread.

Definitely wasn't me (I even checked my post / thread history just to make sure I don't have amnesia).
I'd appreciate your insight

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I use the default resolution (1440x900 ) as the full unadulterated 2880x1800 is just too small for my nearly 50 year old eyes to handle

My "young" eyes are happy with 1080, but 2880x1800 (with the hack) would be way too small for anyone's eyes.

 

[Davidkoh]

I use 1680x1050 HiDPI or 1920x1200 normal mode. Both look great although the HiDPI mode looks better. Although Windows got a huge step up with Windows 8 in scaling to non default resolutions I still think they are behind OS X on that matter.

 

[Qaanol]

I mostly use 1680×1050, though sometimes 1920×1200 when I want more space. Occasionally I go to 2880×1800.

My "young" eyes are happy with 1080, but 2880x1800 (with the hack) would be way too small for anyone's eyes.

Actually, depending what programs you’re running, 2800×1800 might have the effect of shrinking the space wasted on UI elements while leaving the part you care about alone—especially if you can zoom the content.

So, if you’re in a web browser and dislike how much space is taken up by the browser itself (but don’t want to go full screen), you can set the default zoom to 150% or 175% and go full native resolution. Or if you’re in Photoshop and you know all the keyboard shortcuts for the different tools. Heck, at one point I even had Xcode set to use 18pt font so it looked normal at native res.

 

[WorldIRC]

I mostly use 1680×1050, though sometimes 1920×1200 when I want more space. Occasionally I go to 2880×1800.



Actually, depending what programs you’re running, 2800×1800 might have the effect of shrinking the space wasted on UI elements while leaving the part you care about alone—especially if you can zoom the content.

So, if you’re in a web browser and dislike how much space is taken up by the browser itself (but don’t want to go full screen), you can set the default zoom to 150% or 175% and go full native resolution. Or if you’re in Photoshop and you know all the keyboard shortcuts for the different tools. Heck, at one point I even had Xcode set to use 18pt font so it looked normal at native res.

Sounds intriguing; I spend most of my time in Chrome, Excel, and Outlook.
I will also be VMing into Windows so I can run our CRM.

My entire workflow is based off of a dual monitor set up when possible, so obviously need to optimize my space when working single monitor to not disrupt it too much.

 

[WorldIRC]

Found this online;
"Scaled resolutions do not offer the same visual quality as the Retina setting. Scaled resolutions may also impact graphics performance depending on which applications you are using."

That is basically my concern here...

To have the workflow I'd want, I'd need 3840x2160 Retina (1920x1080 display area) - I believe that's 4K?

 

[Vctr]

Found this online;
"Scaled resolutions do not offer the same visual quality as the Retina setting. Scaled resolutions may also impact graphics performance depending on which applications you are using."

That is basically my concern here...

To have the workflow I'd want, I'd need 3840x2160 Retina (1920x1080 display area) - I believe that's 4K?

Why don't you try out the higher resolutions? You have nothing to lose. From day 1, I use my rMBP 15" at 1920 x 1200. The extra screen real estate is great and its still the clearest screen I've ever used.

 

[WorldIRC]

Why don't you try out the higher resolutions? You have nothing to lose. From day 1, I use my rMBP 15" at 1920 x 1200. The extra screen real estate is great and its still the clearest screen I've ever used.

So even your non-Apple apps look crystal clear, like Chrome Browser (if you use it)? No signs of blurriness or "scaling"?

 

[theromz]

So even your non-Apple apps look crystal clear, like Chrome Browser (if you use it)? No signs of blurriness or "scaling"?

I was expect a lot of weirdness with scaling, I had a SP2 before briefly at work. I have to say everything just works, I have download loads of apps, even things I would not expect to be supported and it is all super sharp and clear.

Best bet is to go in store first and try them out, I have used both a 15" at 1200p and now my daily driver is a 13" at 1050p. Both are beautiful. But off course vision is different, my gf finds 900p on the 13" to be ideal for her. We both however agreed the default 1280*800 is not enough space, and everything is just too big. But I could see that being great for my father.

 

[WorldIRC]

I was expect a lot of weirdness with scaling, I had a SP2 before briefly at work. I have to say everything just works, I have download loads of apps, even things I would not expect to be supported and it is all super sharp and clear.

Best bet is to go in store first and try them out, I have used both a 15" at 1200p and now my daily driver is a 13" at 1050p. Both are beautiful. But off course vision is different, my gf finds 900p on the 13" to be ideal for her. We both however agreed the default 1280*800 is not enough space, and everything is just too big. But I could see that being great for my father.

Guess I'll take a look. Like I said, I'm happy with 1080p, no scaling, 15", Windows 7.

 

[john123]

So even your non-Apple apps look crystal clear, like Chrome Browser (if you use it)? No signs of blurriness or "scaling"?

The vast majority of apps have been updated with Retina support. As such, the "blurriness" problem that existed with 3rd party apps when the rMBP came out over a year and a half ago is rarely an issue now. If you have an old app that hasn't been updated, then it may be a nuisance...but all the big boys work just fine. And yes, that includes things like Chrome.

 

[christarp]

I use 1680x1050 in my 13" and yeah it's quite small, but it looks great and isn't fuzzy at all actually. My young eyes can still handle it

 

[ohbrilliance]

Why don't you just try the scaled resolutions? If you find apps blurry then change it back. Simple.

 

[Robisan]

I use the default resolution (1440x900 ) as the full unadulterated 2880x1800 is just too small for my nearly 50 year old eyes to handle

Same here for my 50+ year old eyes. The single thing that drove me from Windows is the inability to scale high dpi displays to a readable resolution without sacrificing visual quality. The retina default is the perfect balance of quality and readability. Maybe one of these days Microsoft will implement a similar default 2/1 scaling for QHD screens.

 

[WorldIRC]

So essentially if the app supports retina, then any of the scaled resolutions should look good, not just 1440x900 on the 15"

 

[leman]

So essentially if the app supports retina, then any of the scaled resolutions should look good, not just 1440x900 on the 15"

I'd put it like this: if ann app looks good at 'best for retina', it will also look good at any scaled resolution. In principle, all Cocoa apps support retina - unless they use custom image data (which is easily fixable) or do custom drawing (which might be more complicated to fix). One of the best things about Apple's approach to retina machines is that they make it trivial for a developer to 'fix' the app for the retina screen; and in most cases, you don't actually need any fix at all.

 

[WorldIRC]

How about photoshop. That's a prime example that fails on Windows when scaled?

 

[theromz]

How about photoshop. That's a prime example that fails on Windows when scaled?

Got CS6 for work recently looks pretty good, I have a 13" now so my max resolution is 1680*1050 but it should be the same at 1200p on the 15".

http://imgur.com/cVKnfmc

I came from windows at 15" 1080p and that was ideal for me so I didn't switch too a macbook till they had retina and I love it.

Really if you have a shop near you just check out a apple store, turn it up to 1200p and try browsing the net and see how things go, it should give you a good indication of how things are. Apple offers a lot of resources for developers e.g. font rendering so most things should scale well.

 

[WorldIRC]

Tested in store today. Looked great on max scaling. Picked up the 15" unit and will test at home in real world use!

 

[elchorizo]

Obviously on the rMBP, the actual resolution is 1440x900 (with 2 pixels / pixel essentially).

While the result is beautiful, everything is "big" and the usable workspace is "small" for a 15" screen.

I'm coming from two Windows devices:
1. Lenovo W520 w/ 15" 1080P - Perfect resolution IMHO (Windows 7)
2. Surface Pro 2 w/ 10" 1080P - Some apps do not scale properly due to HiDPI (Windows 8.1)

While everything will look nicer on an rMBP, everything will look bigger. I don't like "scaled" apps that look dull / unsharp.

What are you all doing to work around this?

My 15" rMBP is on the maxed scaled equivalent res of 1920x1200 and has been since I got it. The default "native" res is too big for me for a 15" monitor. The computer looks excellent on 1920x1200 and I don't notice any difference at all in performance (but its a work machine, so I don't game on it at all).

My 13" rMBP is on the max scaled resolution of 1680x1050 too, same awesomeness.

I've been thinking of getting an app to allow me to check out full native rez, but to be honest, I think that would just be too small, so I haven't bothered to find an app to do that yet (especially one I'd have to pay for).