Macbook Pro 17" screen questions

I just went to an Apple dealer in the neighbourhood and i saw the MBP with the old (non-LED) screen. I wasn't impressed to say the least. Brightness was very low and the brightness changed when i moved my head from side to side? The screen on my two year old Asus A7jc is much much better and has a consistent brightness even when looking from the side (and much higher viewing angle)! To be honest, i was very disappointed!

I'm now waiting for the new MBP's to come in so i can take a look at the new screen. I'm thinking of taking my Asus with me so i can compare. The Apple guys from the shop won't like this but i have to be sure.

What would be the best resolution for this 17" model, for both Photoshop and all-around work? 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 ? I realize the obvious advantage of a higher resolution screen, but i'm afraid the fonts will be too small to comfortably read them and also, isn't the overall quality higher of the 1680x1050 screen?

thanks,
Kris

 

While i cant speak as to the brightness of the new screens as far as the best photoshop resolution... I'd say go with what gives you the most real estate... If you stick to Vista either as your main OS or in bootcamp you can change the size of all fonts with a simple edit in display options. Im sure OSX has the same thing.

 

LED mac screen are amazing,wont regret,as for res,1920 for photoshop is the best way

 

17": 1650x1080 = CCFL, 1920x1200= LED backlight this was confirmed by Apple Sales, although he had to ask also @ the local apple dealer they didn't know this.
15": only LED backlight

 

So they were wrong in the shop: they told me that both 1650x1080 and 1920x1200 were LED backlit.

Ok, then my choice will be obvious: 1920x1200 LED backlit. The strange thing is that the Apple dealer ordered an amount of standard configured MBP's to sell and they were ALL equiped with the non-LED 1650x1080. Doesn't anyone else think this is weird? Who is going to choose for a non-LED display when all reviews agree on the LED one certainly being the best screen for the Macbooks?!

 

It sure is, that's why I bought the 1920x1200 otherwise it would surely be the 1650x1080.

edit: also the apple site is very vague about this but if you read it well they don't say the 1650x1080 is CCFL but they do say:
Option:1. 1680 x 1050 pixels Glossy or antiglare, 2. 1920 x 1200 pixels LED
That's the reason i called them.

 

I just talked to another Apple dealer and they say that 1920x1200 may be better for photography because of the larger space you have, but it will be difficult to read text on it. Of course, i will also want to browse the web and read text on it!

So.... i'm gonna test it out in their showroom, but.. if i agree that the text is too small for my eyes in 1920x1200, this means i will have to settle for a NON-LED backlit display with less even brightness, less color-accuracy and more energy consumption ? Hmm...

 

I guess you also could adjust font size as well as icon size.

 

Yeah you're right, but if you're going to increase all your icons and fonts in size, will the higher resolution still offer a larger work environment? I guess the only thing to do is test it out