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16:9 display on 11-inch

P

PDFierro

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Sep 8, 2009
3,932
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This has been discussed before, but the main reason I got the 11-inch was because of the 16:9 screen. I know most people are against it. Anyone else do the same thing?

Also, I tested out the 11-inch in the Apple store twice this past big week and it was plenty big enough for me. So also that, and the smaller footprint.
 
That is interesting, because I actually prefer 16:10 aspect-ratio displays. The only advantage I would see to 16:9 is being able to play HD video at full native resolution. The 1366x768 resolution of the 11" is slightly higher than 720p (not native, though), and significantly less than the 1920x1080 resolution of 1080p.
 
I also like 16:10 better because i feel like we are running short on vertical space. I spend maybe 10% of the time watching movies on a 11in screen, the rest is web browsing and that means a lot more scrolling on a 16:9 screen
 
The less vertical space didn't seem to bother me, although we'll see how it holds up in everyday use but I don't see it being a problem.

And I'm a writer, but I will also be doing a bunch of video watching on the machine.
 
I don't follow. The main reason you got the 11" is because of the 16:9 screen? But a 16:10 is exactly the same except you get 10% more vertical height.

I am just the opposite. What is stopping me from getting the 11" model is due to the 16:9 screen. I wouldn't mind if larger laptops have 16:9 screens because they have the extra space, but for a compact notebook like the MacBook Air, every bit helps.
 
I'll take heat for it, but I really don't care.

The 11" IS the Air. The 13" is an air version of a MBP.
 
Kendo said:
I don't follow. The main reason you got the 11" is because of the 16:9 screen? But a 16:10 is exactly the same except you get 10% more vertical height.

I am just the opposite. What is stopping me from getting the 11" model is due to the 16:9 screen. I wouldn't mind if larger laptops have 16:9 screens because they have the extra space, but for a compact notebook like the MacBook Air, every bit helps.
Click to expand...

Because the 16:9 display is better for watching videos. And to james, yeah the smaller footprint also helps. I heard it's perfect for plane trips.
 
jamesryanbell said:
I'll take heat for it, but I really don't care.

The 11" IS the Air. The 13" is an air version of a MBP.
Click to expand...

I am not going to give you heat over your OPINION, but I definitely do not agree.

The 13" is as sleek as they come and feels like an actual notebook/laptop. While the 11, to me at least, feels closer to a netbook.

Not an insult in any way, it is awesome in its own right of course.
 
just being a bit geeky here but if the 11.6" air were 16:10, it'd end up being a 11.9" screen or pretty much 12". I guess resolution would be 1366x854.
 
PDFierro said:
Because the 16:9 display is better for watching videos. And to james, yeah the smaller footprint also helps. I heard it's perfect for plane trips.
Click to expand...
In what way? The 13" will display a 16:9 movie in higher resolution (1440x810) than the 11" and the picture will be larger despite not using the whole screen. The only downside of the 13" would be that a 16:9 movie is displayed with small black borders at the top and bottom (each 45 pixels tall), but is that really what you're referring to when you say that the 16:9 screen is "better for watching videos"?
 
Is no one else a little bit pissed that apple didn't put some decent high res screens in these?

i feel like its pixelated 1999 all over again.

sick of all the jaggies
 
Mikael said:
In what way? The 13" will display a 16:9 movie in higher resolution (1440x810) than the 11" and the picture will be larger despite not using the whole screen. The only downside of the 13" would be that a 16:9 movie is displayed with small black borders at the top and bottom (each 45 pixels tall), but is that really what you're referring to when you say that the 16:9 screen is "better for watching videos"?
Click to expand...

Yes, that is what I am referring to.
 
That's true, but the difference was big enough for me. And I was also impressed with the other aspects of the 11-inch Air, as well as the screen size.
 
xkmxkmxlmx said:
I am not going to give you heat over your OPINION, but I definitely do not agree.

The 13" is as sleek as they come and feels like an actual notebook/laptop. While the 11, to me at least, feels closer to a netbook.

Not an insult in any way, it is awesome in its own right of course.
Click to expand...

I see where the OP is coming from but I have to agree with you.

If I didn't already have a 13" MBP, I'd buy the 13" Air as my "laptop." But since I DO have a 13" laptop already, I opted for the 11-inch "netbook" for my mobile needs. But it's not right to classify it as a netbook since it's so powerful. I guess after all, the only appropriate word for the 11-inch is "ultralight laptop."
 
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