For Aged Eyes -- Considering Screen Size

Voix wrote:

I use reading glasses for my Kindle and iPad, but at laptop distances I don't. Still, the size and clarity of the display makes a big difference in terms of eye strain. I'm wondering if I'd be better off with a lower-resolution 13'' MacBook Pro at 1280x800 or with the higher-resolution MacBook Air at 1440x900?

The problem with needing reading glasses is that one's eyes gets gradually worse over time, yes one can get more powerful reading glasses, but there is a limit before your seeing the eye doctor to get even more powerful versions.

Since one tends to hang onto their Mac's for quite some time, I'd advise a larger (than 13"), high resolution display instead of a smaller one.

The larger screen size will allow you to drop the resolution a tiny bit and get bigger everything on the screen. Drop it too much and everything gets blurry.

Since people spend most of their time online, I'd advise using the Firefox web browser and learning how to customize it (it's easy really) and using the two add-ons NoSquint and Theme Font & Size Changer

With NoSquint it has a global minimun page increase as well remmembers each site's zoom levels.

Theme Font & Size Changer changes the type size of the web browser itself, so your not straining.

As you can see in my screen shot (click to view larger) Firefox is considerably larger and easier to read, however the limits of that are constrained by the screen size. So a larger screen is better, either a 15" or 17" that way you have room to grow everything and still keep it all on the screen.

Also you can play around with Firefox's different persona's to get a better contrast between type and image, so the type sticks out easier.

The smaller the screen size the more one pulls the screen (or hunches closer) to themselves, causing additional problems.

People tend to move themselves to keep the screen within a viewing field, for instance a 10" screen is on one's upper chest, a 13" is on one's belly, a 15" on one's lap, a 17" at arm's length, 20-30" might be 2, 3 or 5 feet away or more.

Another factor is glossy screens, the reflections cause additional eye strain and headaches as the eye is constantly focusing between the computer image and the slightly out of focus reflections, so a anti-glare screen is better and these are only available on the 15" and 17" models.

If your dead set on the 13" still, then the lower resolution is better as everything will be bigger, the higher resolution will make everyhting appear smaller, but give more screen real estate.

I would propose to go to an Apple Store and have a look for yourself, especially for a prolonged time.

Nothing beats the personal impression.

I have a 27" iMac at full resolution (2560x1440) and absolutely no problem.

Others can't read a thing on it...

Agreed, I find nothing hard to read. But the odd thing is, when I take any screen that is high resolution down to lower resolution, the font smoothing looks more blurred and less sharp. Compared to Cleartype I can see why some Windows users come back complaining it isn't sharp enough. Alternatively Apple does offer Universal Access System Preferences (under the Apple menu), and there is even a screen magnifier that is cross platform:

http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/

If you change the font smoothing minimum font size you can improve the sharpness of fonts in Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Appearance. Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Displays lets you change the resolution, and color temperature of your screen through the Color section, which can affect visibility of certain fonts. Color blindness can often be an issue with how fonts are smoothed, since sometimes green and red are mixed. So your mileage may vary.

Yeah like Fortuny said go visit an Apple Store or a BestBuy (If they have an Apple section) and try all the Macs out and pick 1 Desktop and 1 Laptop that you like than make the call between the two (unless your looking for a laptop than pick 2 laptops).

Good Luck; Hope this Helps - 🙂