Desperately need a new computer, but my eyes are not cooperative

[uacd]

First of all let me say that I totally get and understand you. Similarly to you, it is a bumpy ride for me when it comes to choosing monitors.

I’ve done lots of studies on this one and most people tend to say these issues stem from overrated HDR that every manufacturer slaps on their displays, as well as flicker.

There are few ways to mitigate it such as energy saving mode on Macbooks, iPads and iPhones since it fully disables HDR capability. I don’t know if newer desktop Macs have it though.

I can use my iMac all day for 16 hours without any fatigue

Friendly tip: do not. Sixteen hours is too much screen time for anyone and can potentially damage vision.

Are there new coatings on apple monitors today that they didn't have before or something?

I believe this is not a coating but implementation of HDR, as well as overly contrast UI on newer macOS. Since you also have this problem with other displays, it means that this could be combination of factors.

The hard drive on my 2010 iMac is about to fail for the second time and I really would like to get a new computer rather than have to drag out using this old, Frankensteined, obsolete piece of machinery any further

If you can replace it again - put SSD inside. And a decent one, from Goodram, Sandisk or Samsung. You will feel instant speed increase.

I was considering trying the 24" M4

You probably won’t be disappointed since their iMac displays were always HQ. But better to try it in store before making final purchase decision

 

[Beefbowl]

I'm running on fumes with a 2010 iMac. It is long over-due for an upgrade, but I have had crazy issues with eye fatigue/straining/burning when I try to use other monitors. I thought at first it might be a transition thing that I need to get used to, but I've spent an entire month trying to get used to a new monitor (I've tried probably a dozen and even springing for the studio display) and my eyes just can't seem to accept a new display.

I know matte coated monitors are at least part of the problem and make things difficult. I don't have these issues when I use my iPhone 12, iPad, or even while watching TV. Yet every. single. monitor I use gives me grief. I've even tried out the Alogic Clarity with the same frustrations. I've tried reducing the resolution to be 1440p like what I have, I've tried changing color profiles, I have f.lux installed, reduce the backlight, I have had my eyes checked. I just don't get it. I can use my iMac all day for 16 hours without any fatigue, but everything else I've used just kills my eyes withinin 20 minutes.

Furthermore, I don't know if new monitors just have more vibrant colors or what, but that shouldn't matter because I tried changing the display to just black and white and it made no difference. Are there new coatings on apple monitors today that they didn't have before or something? The hard drive on my 2010 iMac is about to fail for the second time and I really would like to get a new computer rather than have to drag out using this old, Frankensteined, obsolete piece of machinery any further. I was considering trying the 24" M4, but I don't know if that would even be any different than the Studio Display that didn't work out. I am at a loss for why I can't find anything that is suitable for me.

This is probably a dumb question, but is the 2010 iMac one of the ones that accepted DisplayPort input so you could use it as a display? I had a 2011 and that was one of its features.

 

[warriors2017]

First of all let me say that I totally get and understand you. Similarly to you, it is a bumpy ride for me when it comes to choosing monitors.

I’ve done lots of studies on this one and most people tend to say these issues stem from overrated HDR that every manufacturer slaps on their displays, as well as flicker.

There are few ways to mitigate it such as energy saving mode on Macbooks, iPads and iPhones since it fully disables HDR capability. I don’t know if newer desktop Macs have it though.


Friendly tip: do not. Sixteen hours is too much screen time for anyone and can potentially damage vision.


I believe this is not a coating but implementation of HDR, as well as overly contrast UI on newer macOS. Since you also have this problem with other displays, it means that this could be combination of factors.


If you can replace it again - put SSD inside. And a decent one, from Goodram, Sandisk or Samsung. You will feel instant speed increase.


You probably won’t be disappointed since their iMac displays were always HQ. But better to try it in store before making final purchase decision

I boot up my 27" iMac from an external Samsung SSD getting good performance for daily tasks. 5K display is still hard to beat.

 

[adamlbiscuit]

My recommendation is a Mac mini and then you have the freedom to try out as many monitors as necessary before you find the right fit. Buy another iMac and if the screen causes issues, you're stuck with it (unless you return of course).

 

[Kupo12]

I appreciate all the suggestions everyone. So this is what I think I'm thinking:

I talked to my brother and he has a 2015 macbook pro 13" that he's let me borrow. From what I can gather online, it seems to have an 8bit display. I tried downloading "Better Display" and it didn't give me any options to adjust the bitrate, it just lists it as 8bpc next to the resolution.

The problem with eye strain/burning still persists when I try to use that laptop. Mind you, that's also a considerably smaller screen as well. When I use it I find myself squinting quite a bit as well. The way the colors display on the screen just really irritate my eyes. I swear it has something to do with the anti-reflective coatings they use.

I have considered using this iMac as a makeshift monitor, but the panel is starting to deteriorate and flicker now and then, which is quite irritating in itself. So I don't see this being a long-term solution. I may have to see if I can acquire an old Lightning display off ebay if I want to go that route. The only other option is to see if the new 24" imacs are any different... or wait and see what comes out in the future. Maybe I'll have to sit and wait to see what comes of the oled macbooks rumored to come out next year. Not sure what else I can do, really.

 

[123123123]

I appreciate all the suggestions everyone. So this is what I think I'm thinking:

I talked to my brother and he has a 2015 macbook pro 13" that he's let me borrow. From what I can gather online, it seems to have an 8bit display. I tried downloading "Better Display" and it didn't give me any options to adjust the bitrate, it just lists it as 8bpc next to the resolution.

The problem with eye strain/burning still persists when I try to use that laptop. Mind you, that's also a considerably smaller screen as well. When I use it I find myself squinting quite a bit as well. The way the colors display on the screen just really irritate my eyes. I swear it has something to do with the anti-reflective coatings they use.

I have considered using this iMac as a makeshift monitor, but the panel is starting to deteriorate and flicker now and then, which is quite irritating in itself. So I don't see this being a long-term solution. I may have to see if I can acquire an old Lightning display off ebay if I want to go that route. The only other option is to see if the new 24" imacs are any different... or wait and see what comes out in the future. Maybe I'll have to sit and wait to see what comes of the oled macbooks rumored to come out next year. Not sure what else I can do, really.

If you think it’s the anti-reflective coatings you might want to try something like this:

3M™ Anti-Glare Filter for 22in (558 mm) Monitor, 16:10, AG220W1B | 3M Canada

3M™ Anti-Glare Filters help diffuse glare and reduce mirror-like reflections so your screen is easier to see even in challenging and changing indoor lighting conditions, brightly lit indoor areas, or near windows. Compatible with most touchscreen displays, the matte surface cleans easily and...

www.3mcanada.ca

Or this:

3M™ Privacy Filter for 24in (609 mm) Full Screen Monitor with 3M™ COMPLY™ Magnetic Attach, 16:10, PF240W1EM | 3M Canada

Achieve world-class privacy with 3M™ Privacy Filters, the leading name in screen solutions. Offers exceptional clarity and security while protecting screens from hazards without affecting performance. Make 3M your first line of defense against visual hackers, damage, glare, and more—at home, in...

www.3mcanada.ca

No personal experience with these, but it might be a useful test.

 

[ignatius345]

I'm running on fumes with a 2010 iMac.

This is a crazy idea, but you could actually use that particular iMac as a display with a current Mac Mini or something. New computer + the screen you already know doesn't mess with your eyes.

Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

Target display mode is a feature available with certain older Mac models.

support.apple.com

edit: aha, I see someone beat me to this idea. Yes, it's possible according to the above 👆

This is probably a dumb question, but is the 2010 iMac one of the ones that accepted DisplayPort input so you could use it as a display? I had a 2011 and that was one of its features.

 

[uacd]

I boot up my 27" iMac from an external Samsung SSD getting good performance for daily tasks. 5K display is still hard to beat.

I would have recommended that to OP since I also boot off external but with 2012 iMac (internal HDD died 10 years ago🤣), also had Samsung previously but it died for no reason so I got Goodram and also one Kingston 512 for cheap. I literally did triple boot - one with Mountain Lion for some fun retro stuff, another is 10.12 Sierra and the third one is 10.15. I didn’t recommend that because his iMac has no USB 3 ports so he would probably not feel proper speed as with newer Macs

 

[shloimy95]

This is probably a dumb question, but is the 2010 iMac one of the ones that accepted DisplayPort input so you could use it as a display? I had a 2011 and that was one of its features.

2010 is better off because it accepts true mini DisplayPort input so can be used as a monitor for any device. 2011 uses a proprietary thunderbolt connection so could only be used with Intel Macs running older MacOS versions.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

I'm running on fumes with a 2010 iMac. It is long over-due for an upgrade, but I have had crazy issues with eye fatigue/straining/burning when I try to use other monitors. I thought at first it might be a transition thing that I need to get used to, but I've spent an entire month trying to get used to a new monitor (I've tried probably a dozen and even springing for the studio display) and my eyes just can't seem to accept a new display.

I know matte coated monitors are at least part of the problem and make things difficult. I don't have these issues when I use my iPhone 12, iPad, or even while watching TV. Yet every. single. monitor I use gives me grief. I've even tried out the Alogic Clarity with the same frustrations. I've tried reducing the resolution to be 1440p like what I have, I've tried changing color profiles, I have f.lux installed, reduce the backlight, I have had my eyes checked. I just don't get it. I can use my iMac all day for 16 hours without any fatigue, but everything else I've used just kills my eyes withinin 20 minutes.

Furthermore, I don't know if new monitors just have more vibrant colors or what, but that shouldn't matter because I tried changing the display to just black and white and it made no difference. Are there new coatings on apple monitors today that they didn't have before or something? The hard drive on my 2010 iMac is about to fail for the second time and I really would like to get a new computer rather than have to drag out using this old, Frankensteined, obsolete piece of machinery any further. I was considering trying the 24" M4, but I don't know if that would even be any different than the Studio Display that didn't work out. I am at a loss for why I can't find anything that is suitable for me.

You can continue using your iMac 2010 as a display, in Target Display Mode.
It's simple as buying a cable with miniDisplayPort to plug-in the miniDisplayPort at the rear of your iMac...
The other end should be DisplayPort or USB-C, Thunderbolt depending on what new computer you are going to use.
You can retire the internal HDD and boot the iMac with an external SSD, big enough to hold High Sierra. 128GB is plenty.

 

[Nguyen Duc Hieu]

You can get the m4 mac mini and use your Imac 2010 in target mode as a monitor.
You just need a cheap hdmi to mini-dp cable

2nd option is to get a kit to convert this imac into a monitor.

HDMI to miniDisplayPort cable/adapter is quite rare.....

 

[hanske68]

Try blinking with your eyes more often. Dry eyes could be the root cause.

 

[uacd]

I appreciate all the suggestions everyone. So this is what I think I'm thinking:

I talked to my brother and he has a 2015 macbook pro 13" that he's let me borrow. From what I can gather online, it seems to have an 8bit display. I tried downloading "Better Display" and it didn't give me any options to adjust the bitrate, it just lists it as 8bpc next to the resolution.

The problem with eye strain/burning still persists when I try to use that laptop. Mind you, that's also a considerably smaller screen as well. When I use it I find myself squinting quite a bit as well. The way the colors display on the screen just really irritate my eyes. I swear it has something to do with the anti-reflective coatings they use.

I have considered using this iMac as a makeshift monitor, but the panel is starting to deteriorate and flicker now and then, which is quite irritating in itself. So I don't see this being a long-term solution. I may have to see if I can acquire an old Lightning display off ebay if I want to go that route. The only other option is to see if the new 24" imacs are any different... or wait and see what comes out in the future. Maybe I'll have to sit and wait to see what comes of the oled macbooks rumored to come out next year. Not sure what else I can do, really.

Have you tried the new 15’ MBA? It had more screen real estate and might be a much better choice.

I have MBA M1 and I use it in 1280x800 mode so that the icons and texts look larger, much less squinting than with default setting

 

[gilby101]

This is a crazy idea, but you could actually use that particular iMac as a display with a current Mac Mini or something. New computer + the screen you already know doesn't mess with your eyes.

You can get the m4 mac mini and use your Imac 2010 in target mode as a monitor.
You just need a cheap hdmi to mini-dp cable

You can continue using your iMac 2010 as a display, in Target Display Mode.

No, no you can't! Read the Apple Support article which one of you mentioned https://support.apple.com/en-us/105126
This says:

• The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
• The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.

It can only work when both Macs are "old".

 

[maflynn]

The problem with eye strain/burning still persists when I try to use that laptop.

Not sure if this was already suggested but why not get a base model Mac Mini and then spend your money on a large monitor that gives you the best chance of avoiding eye strain.

 

[ignatius345]

No, no you can't! Read the Apple Support article which one of you mentioned https://support.apple.com/en-us/105126
This says:

• The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
• The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.

It can only work when both Macs are "old".

Whoops. Too good to be true, I guess.

Sucks that Apple hasn't kept target display mode current. I'd have probably plugged a new Mini into my M1 iMac I just replaced, if they had.... which is probably why they deprecated the feature :/

 

[Rychiar]

doesn't make sense to me. 5k displays are so much easier on the eyes

 

[ThomasJL]

@Kupo12
The problem might have nothing to do with matte screens. The problem might be pulse-width modulation (PWM) which exists in LED displays. If that's what's causing problems for you, then the only solution might be to get a new desktop computer (such as the Mac mini) and an external monitor that uses CCFL backlights instead of LED backlights. CCFL backlights don't use PWM. The good news is that old CCFL displays can be easily found on eBay. Might as well get a 30-inch CCFL display. Do some research beforehand about adapters that you'll defenitely be needing to connect such displays to a new Mac.

 

[HouseLannister]

Weird ask: but do you have these same issues when using Windows computers? I'm no expert, but I do find Windows text to generally be thinner and crisper. It doesn't look as pretty, but it is more legible. Never had clarity issues with text on Windows, but sometimes macOS just feels "soft." Different aesthetic choices. If you read a lot, it might just be text rendering giving you the eye strain. I have heard people say that macOS doesn't look right unless you have a 5K or 6K monitor because things don't scale correctly. Never had that issue with Windows.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Have you tried using a LOWER RESOLUTION?

For instance... the Studio Display normally runs at "looks like 1440p"
(if I'm not mistaken)
Have you tried "looks like 1080p" instead?
(others will start screaming that I even thought of such a thing)

The way to stop squinting when trying to discern small characters is simple:
Make everything larger.

It doesn't have to be "double the size".
Just larger until you don't need to squint any more.

I have older eyes.
I found that the 27" iMac (and Studio Display) were uncomfortable for me to use, because everything was too small.

These days, I use a Dell 27" 4k.
I was running it at "looks like 1080p" (1920x1080), but I found I could add just a bit more screen space by increasing the resolution a little to 2048x1152.

I realize it's "scaled", but BetterDisplay helps with that, things look fine and my m4 Mini doesn't seem to mind the extra processing involved.

Stop squinting -- use a lesser resolution.
And like someone suggested above... might be time to visit an eye doctor...

 

[weckart]

I was considering it, but I use my computer 16 hours a day. I am not sure how conducive something of that size will be to my overall health in the long-term.

This is your problem in a nutshell. Staring at a screen all day is going to knacker your eyes. Dry eyes from not blinking are the least of your worries.

This is something best discussed with an optometrist well versed in occupational eye strain. Anything else is skirting around the issue. The optometrist should also give you pointers in what sort of screen to pick as well.

 

[aespana]

This is your problem in a nutshell. Staring at a screen all day is going to knacker your eyes. Dry eyes from not blinking are the least of your worries.

This is something best discussed with an optometrist well versed in occupational eye strain. Anything else is skirting around the issue. The optometrist should also give you pointers in what sort of screen to pick as well.

Yes, I'm thinking the same.

With all the respect for OP and his job, watching 16 hours a screen per day is just insane. Can you change something about that habit? Do you really need to be 16 hours in front of a screen?

Again, I don't know what your job or task are but I think that you need to start reducing that amount of screen hours and then, go for a display that fits you.

 

[shloimy95]

No, no you can't! Read the Apple Support article which one of you mentioned https://support.apple.com/en-us/105126
This says:

• The iMac used as a display must have macOS High Sierra or earlier installed.
• The other Mac that you're connecting it to must have been introduced in 2019 or earlier and have macOS Catalina or earlier installed.

It can only work when both Macs are "old".

While you are correct this is what the the article claims, in reality the 2010 and 2009 iMacs which use mini displayport not thunderbolt 2 enter target display mode when receiving any display port signal. (I haven't for one of these to test myself but it has been mentioned multiple times in the forums, one user even poster he was able to trigger TDM using a Chromebook).

 

[joelfriedman]

Adding my 2 cents as I have been having issues with dry eye as well. I’m taking the tact of environment, not monitor/tech.
1. Drops. I use drops ALL the time throughout the day. Keep a bottle by your computer.
2. Ask about having plugs for your tear ducts inserted. They can help.
3. Make sure your general lighting is good in your room.
4. Humidity: can you get a good, safe humidifier for the room? That too helps.
5. Explore a serious air purifier. While expensive Rabbit makes awesome ones. Extremely quiet.
6. 16 hours? Don’t.
7. If you know Dr. Who, this is the opposite advice: BLINK!!! Blink often.

 

[Spock]

https://juicycrumb.com/product/docklite/?v=0b3b97fa6688#imac-model

This may be an option, I think they have been talking about expanding to other models but you would be able to keep the exact display that you can use. It seems to be fairly easy to install but it is a little pricey.