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Which resolution 15" Macbook Pro screen did you go with? Are you happy with it?

Which 2010/2011 MBP screen did you buy?

  • 1440x900 and I'm happy with it

    Votes: 23 28.8%

  • 1440x900 and I wish I'd gotten the high-res screen

    Votes: 4 5.0%

  • 1680x1050 and I'm happy with it

    Votes: 51 63.8%

  • 1680x1050 and I wish I'd gotten the normal-res screen

    Votes: 2 2.5%
  • Total voters
    80
  • Poll closed .
R

rceee

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 21, 2007
35
1
New Orleans
I've currently got a 2009, C2D Macbook Pro 15", with what I believe was at that time the "high resolution" screen (1440x900).

I'm just about to pull the trigger on a pretty well-loaded new 15" MBP, but I have been seriously on the fence about whether to go 1440 or 1680 ("high res"). I've scoured the web reading opinions, and there are lots of good points both ways. I can't help but feel like the tradeoff (a little bit more real estate) isn't really sensible (considering screen elements are already on the small side at 1440). Seems like 1440 plus an external screen might make more sense to avoid eye strain. Yet, when spending SO much cash on laptop, with everything else maxed out, it also feels *wrong* to not get the "more" option in terms of the screen.

So, I'm wondering... Is there anyone who moved to a 2010/2011 Macbook Pro with a 1440x900 screen who is firmly convinced they made the right move? Or better yet, anyone with the 1680x1050 screen who has buyer's remorse?

And if possible, please limit this to a resolution discussion; glossy vs. antiglare is another topic.
 
Last edited:
By the look at where Lion is going, Mac OS X looks more and more likely follow the iOS route, which is resolution independant, meaning: if you have a higher resolution screen the text will appear sharp but the size remind the same, so I suggest you get as high res screen as you can.
 
maxsquared said:
By the look at where Lion is going, Mac OS X looks more and more likely follow the iOS route, which is resolution independant, meaning: if you have a higher resolution screen the text will appear sharp but the size remind the same, so I suggest you get as high res screen as you can.
Click to expand...

I know Apple has had resolution independence on the backburner for quite a long time... Have you heard anything specific about Lion finally having this implemented?

Yes, though, going the iOS route for use of resolution would be excellent. Too bad the laptops are nowhere near that yet.
 
i'm torn too, on the one hand i think 1440x900 is just right in terms of readability and screen space, but on the other hand if lion does decide to go resolution independent i'll wish i had the high res screen.

i've tried it out in an apple store and it was definitely not for me because of the eyestrain... but to have all that space *was* nice. i could see myself taking advantage of it.
 
go for the high res one.

the normal model actually has an even lower pixel density than the standard 13 macbook and macbook pro. The 13" macbook air has the same pixel density as the 15" high res. I like this higher density much better. Once you have used a mac with the higher density=higher resolution, you will find the other displays on the 13" and especially the 15" standard look like childrens toys.

check the pixel density yourself here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_displays_by_pixel_density#Apple_Inc.


for my work the hhigh res is a must, I have several windows and graphs showing data open, and would go mad without the bigger and high res screen.
 
jijitrash said:
go for the high res one.

the normal model actually has an even lower pixel density than the standard 13 macbook and macbook pro. The 13" macbook air has the same pixel density as the 15" high res. I like this higher density much better. Once you have used a mac with the higher density=higher resolution, you will find the other displays on the 13" and especially the 15" standard look like childrens toys.

check the pixel density yourself here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_displays_by_pixel_density#Apple_Inc.


for my work the hhigh res is a must, I have several windows and graphs showing data open, and would go mad without the bigger and high res screen.
Click to expand...

Yeah... I ended up ordering a fully maxed out 2.3ghz one, with high res screen. Mainly due to the point about future-proofness with Lion and resolution independence. If it weren't for that, I really might have just stayed with 1440... Sure it's not a super high resolution screen for serious professionals who need tons of screen real estate to look at graphs all day, but even for a semi-pro who uses Aperture/Photoshop and does some software development, 1440 is a pretty comfortable resolution, imo... Kind of a nice compromise. 1680 will do, though.

On an unrelated note, Apple should be giving away Lion vouchers with Macbooks purchased at this time, eh?
 
I went with the normal res screen and I'm fine with it. My computer is used all day long for work, but I'm not a "creative professional". I was worried that if I got a high-res screen I'd be squinting to see text that was too small for my eyes. That, and my budget was pretty well maxed out already.
 
I got the hi res and am very pleased with it.

I think it gives a very desktop-like experience without the extra size of the 17".
The text is a little small, but can can be compensated for in most instances and my imperfect eyes have adjusted to it already.

I was also playing some Black Ops yesterday in my Win7 Bootcamp and the res looked quite nice.
 
I own both, an older model with standard resolution and hi-res 2011 model. I always felt the standard resolution made things too big. The hi-res, although can be a little on the small side at times, is a big improvement over the standard resolution. Switching between the two reminds just how much better having a higher resolution is...
 
In all honesty, if price was not a factor, I most likely would have gotten the high-res. People on this forum say things like "You've already spent $1800, what's a hundred more (actually ~$200 for me, since I ordered from macmall)?" Well, my budget was pretty much completely maxed out already, so that extra money would've been more than I can afford. They say to get the best computer you can afford, and that's what I did. I did not buy a computer that I couldn't afford, and I'm happy with that decision.

So, while it would be hard for someone argue that high-res isn't better than standard, I am focusing on the things I love about my new computer and I don't worry about the things that could be better. Because this is the very best I could afford and it is a very good computer.
 
I actually returned my 13" MBA because the higher resolution display made the text too small for me. I read all day long, so it is important that text is comfortable to read. It was a pain constantly increasing the size of things.

I opted for a standard resolution 15" and I love it. Despite others saying that it looks like a children's toy (an absurd statement), it is a great display for my needs.
 
JayDH said:
I opted for a standard resolution 15" and I love it. Despite others saying that it looks like a children's toy (an absurd statement), it is a great display for my needs.
Click to expand...

+1 bought the hi res anti glare and regular glossy and decided to keep the regular glossy. Font was too tiny on the hi res and gave me headaches and eye strain. I know this is subjective but I preferred the black bezel over the silver as well.
 
I like my hires AG a lot. the screen is beautiful. I do often do a CMD+ to zoom text up a notch while web browsing though. I prefer this as titlebars, menus, dock, finder windows, icons, etc all stay small, but i get the text size i want. Safari zooms very nicely.

When using apps like Logic, Ableton, Lightroom, and games like Starcraft, the extra real estate is much appreciated.
 
I have the high res anti glare screen as well. I wish they would just get rid of the silver bezel though. I don't know why they need to do differentiate the bezel based on anti glare or glossy. I think the black bezel would look much better on both but it was still worth the upgrade.
 
I had a 15 all spec'd out and configured with a high res, anti glare screen. Then I looked at the cost of the 17 with the anti glare and decided that I could no longer justify the 15. I've never had a 17 before and I'm very happy with it. My old 15 looks terrible next to it, which is where it sits.
 
I bought the antiglare screen and I am happy. I watched a few movies and the movies look good. However, the glossy screen maybe a better bet for watching movies. I compared my old Windows box with a glossy screen to the MBP, so that is the basis of my comparison.

I was outside this week surfing the internet and checking mail etc.. and the antiglare screen truly shined, not literally though. :D
 
I was very happy with my previous Penryn 15" MBP's resolution. I would have preferred to stay with that resolution when ordering my new unibody 15", but if you want matte there isn't a choice, so... I live with it. I seem to do a great deal of enlarging things that wouldn't have needed enlarging on my old machine.
 
Standard res on a 15. Otherwise I would be squinting. My eyes aren't what they used to be.
 
Hi-res 100% 1440x900 is still low for a 15" It looks perfect on the Airs though. 1680x1050 is terrifc, can't imagine my MBP without.

Let's just say I didn't need the 2.3 but I paid the premium just so I could get the hi-res AG in the store.
 
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