17" CD MBP Glossy Screen Eye Fatigue - Is it just me?

[roxysdad]

I've had a 17" CD MBP Glossy for the past 10 weeks or so. I've developed a problem in the past week with a sort of eye strain/fatigue when working on the computer after say 1/2 hour or so. I posted this in another discussion posting with the thought that I might sell the 17" and get a 15" matte screen instead (I am not sure that is the best idea).

I'd really not rather go through the hassle of selling it for fear that I am at fault here, not the computer. No fun spending more money to find out I had some setting wrong, or used the computer incorrectly.

Can eye strain come from a too high brightness setting? My old computers were a 17" rev A iMac, and a 12" G4 iBook that I used every day for two years with no complaint. Could it be that this MBP is just turned up too bright?

From a brightness standpoint, how high are you guys/girls running your computers? In what setting do you run bright or dim? Has anyone else had this problem?

I am discounting the glare problem, as I don't see any glare on the screen - it really is a nice screen! (could it be subliminal and give me a problem that way?)

I wonder if I am running it too bright; the seasons are changing (daylight savings and such) and I just wonder if I have had it cranked up too high this past week when I should have been running it at a lower setting.

This seems to be the only explanation (other than my eyesight going bad) for the problem since the older computers were, well, dim to say the least.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

cw

 

[Pressure]

What annoyed me the most with the MacBook (and the glossy screen) was that whenever I shifted in the chair I had to realign the computer, so I could see clearly on the screen. Otherwise I would strain my eyes and the colours were off.

I haven't tried a MacBook Pro with a glossy screen (have the matte version myself) so can't really tell if that screen is giving the same hassle as the MacBook's screen was.

But you have to look dead-center on the glossy screen.

I usually have my screen at 2/3 of full brightness at daytime and put it lower during the night at 1/3. It really depends on the ambient light surrounding you.

 

[YS2003]

At home, I usually set ACDs at the lowest brighness setting, MBC at 20% brightness, PBs (LCLs are turned off as they are using ACDs), iBook at 30%.
I rarely go over 50% with iBook even at the brightly lit office.
If you are getting eye strain from your glossy MBP, set the brighness to 20% to 30%. Your eyes will adjust to the lower brightness setting after a short while (even though you would feel it seems dark if you have been using your LCL at the highest setting). Also, using the lower brightness setting will prolong your LCD's backlight longevity. LCD's half life is about 1.5 years at the full brightness.

 

[topgun072003]

I've heard others complaining of eye strain after about an hour of use on the glossy screens.

 

[NewSc2]

Eye strain can develop if something's too bright. I have a Macbook too and it seems that the corners are slightly darker, but when I turn it down to about 50% or lower the screen evens out. Eyestrain can also develop if you're staring at a bright screen in a dark room -- some ambient light helps even things out.

You might want to buy one of those monitor calibration DVD's, or find a monitor calibrating website and turn down the contrast as low as you can until you can make out the different shades of black.

 

[roxysdad]

Super information. I am going to work with it for a week at lower brightness settings and see how things go. I have a good feeling about this adjustment.

Thanks again,

cw

 

[jellomizer]

Alergy Season.

I am not saying that the Glossy display isn't causing strain where it could be. But It is also allergy fall season. I know myself who doesn't get bad allergies, am getting some eye strain where I don't normally. And that is off of Matted Displays and high-frequency CRT (With anti-glare).

 

[roxysdad]

I kept the 17" glossy

I thought I would close out this thread for hundred or so people who took the time to read about my problems.

I decided to make some changes to my screen viewing habits and I think they paid off. My eyes are doing much better since I turned down the brightness of the screen and made a more conscious habit of looking elsehwere in the room for a few moments while working.

This is really a swell computer, a bit warm yes, but a great computer none the less.

cw