Brightness on MBA

[C64]

What setting do you use on your new MacBook Air?

I'm currently at an older non-LED MacBook, and when working with the LED-screens on the newer MBPs I kept noticing that I couldn't really find a proper backlight settings. The top 3 where OK but everything was almost too bright, while lower settings made everything look very dark and greyish.

I played around with the Airs a bit in the store, and I think they were very similar in that regard. But it's hard to say because of the store lighting and not being able to use it in various situations with different lighting.

But I'm just wondering how others experience this and whether it might just be something for me to get used to.

 

[neteng101]

Option-Shift-<brightness> for finer control helps. I only need about 1/2 brightness most times on the MBA - the screen is SUPER bright!!!

 

[Bluemeanie1976]

I have it on pretty low, to be honest. Never goes above halfway. It's on 1 at the moment in a half lit room, and can see the screen fine.

 

[C64]

And it doesn't seem like everything is covered by a grey haze (or something like that) on just a few bars?

 

[Over Achiever]

Option-Shift-<brightness> for finer control helps. I only need about 1/2 brightness most times on the MBA - the screen is SUPER bright!!!

That's a very cool tip!

I personally use 2 bars in a dark room (sometimes 1), 6-8 bars in a moderately lit room, and 3/4 to full brightness with direct sun or with a 3M privacy filter on. I don't notice much of a gray haze. Have you tried calibrating the screen at a lower brightness?

 

[C64]

Good to hear, thanks!

I tried recalibrating the MBP I worked with, but it didn't change much. Haven't tried it with the MBA in the store, but the viewing angle was kind of bad anyways due to the height of the tables.

 

[macbook123]

I have it on pretty low, to be honest. Never goes above halfway. It's on 1 at the moment in a half lit room, and can see the screen fine.

It's really amazing how different people's tastes/perceptions are. I looked at it with two friends today in a half lit room as well as outdoors, and we all agreed that 50% was acceptable indoors, but less was too low (1 or 2 being unusable), and outdoor usage required at least 75%. We all agreed that we generally have our laptops (2 Airs, one MBP) in the 50%-100% range. In most cases we find 100% optimal. There was some discussion in a battery life thread where everybody agreed with your perception that they don't go above 50% and typically use 2-4. Might also depend on where you live. Greetings from sunny California, where it is typically bright even indoors...

 

[AppleGoddess]

Its super bright.and crisp.

 

[jeffg819]

Always on full for me. I just like a very bright screen. Below that and it looks dingy.

 

[Adidas Addict]

I was using at 1/2 brightness but now have it 3 notches from the bottom. It's so damn bright it hurts my eyes.

 

[AAPLaday]

Option-Shift-<brightness> for finer control helps. I only need about 1/2 brightness most times on the MBA - the screen is SUPER bright!!!

Hey i wasn't aware of this. Thanks

 

[mabaker]

I find the latest Apple notebooks’ brightness is BEYOND retina burning.

I remember I kept the iBook brightness setting below 50% to be able to work comfortably.