Which notebook to buy for bad eyesight

Question

Hi
I am thinking of purchasing a notebook but I am really unsure as to which one. I hope that somebody can advise me.
Yesterday, I visited an Apple store and was advised by a sales rep, that what I required for my needs (internet browsing, storing photos, accessing and editing my website which is located on MS 365) was a Macbook Air not a Macbook Pro
The Macbook Air did look lovely but I have dreadful eyesight and I really struggled to see the address bar.  Apparently, you can't really adjust the size of the url in the address bar and I have a feeling that I would really struggle with this.  The sales person was insistent that was the best things for my requirements and I am sure that he is right but I am very hesitant in purchasing because of the screen size. My existing laptop has a screen size of 15.6-inch high definition LED panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio display and I find this to be perfect for my not so good eyesight.
Is it a question of getting used to the smaller size or should I go for a more powerful/expensive machine instead?
Many thanks

Answer 1

HopeCove wrote:
The sales person was insistent that was the best things for my requirements and I am sure that he is right but I am very hesitant in purchasing because of the screen size.
Apple Store people are told to push a particular line or model if sales for it are down, people don't want it, or Apple makes more profit on those machines or that's the future direction Apple want's to go with hardware and thus forcing their users into compliance.
Apple has long ago stopped listening to users needs for  hardware and fired all their professional salespeople who would advise the proper machines for their users.
Instead Apple hired a lot of young kids which they basically brainwash into cheerful clap happy folks who rely upon selling products via emotional means rather than on logical "this product will fit your needs best".
I know all this because I used computers before Apple even existed and watched the company for decades, I use their products for the security and reliability aspect that just so happen to also fit my needs.
In many cases Apple's limited product line does meet the needs of many users and they are prone to change their position and direction in hardware at a moments notice.
My existing laptop has a screen size of 15.6-inch high definition LED panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio display and I find this to be perfect for my not so good eyesight.
I also suffer from poor eyesight and got myself one of the last anti-glare screen 17" MacBook Pro's before Apple removed them from their product line.
We suspect they did so because there are no "Retina" panels at the 17" size, however it's 1920 x 1200 17" screen worked better for those with hard of seeing issues and for mobile video production uses.
Is it a question of getting used to the smaller size or should I go for a more powerful/expensive machine instead?
Don't buy or use a piece of hardware that is going to make you uncomfortable or do further injury to your eyes, causing eye strain, headaches and neck pain, its simply not worth using a Apple product if they refuse to produce something to fit your needs.
If you feel the 15" MacBook Pro is right for you, then get it. Don't let some young or brainwashed salesperson who has good eyesight tell you what you should or should not use.
Now I have some information for you to consider.
1: OS X does NOT have any ability to scale the operating system user interface elements to accommodate hard of seeing users. The resolution can be lowered, however this causes the type and screen elements to become blurry. One can "zoom" in and out, but it's not a permanent scale up and things go off the screen.
However Windows 7 does include a option to scale the operating system UI up to 150%, and one can greatly increase the icons and other factors.
2: Apple doesn't produce the 17" laptop any more and this screen size is more ideal for those with seeing issues, because to scale up the operating system UI you obviously need more screen real estate so everything fits on the screen and your not scrolling around all the time to see stuff that went off the edges.
3: Glossy screens. These are made by many computer makers who desire a fancy "oh shiny" look to their computers to sell hardware. This has been known to cause serious eyestrain
Apple does this as well, in fact diffuses the lights in their stores as to reduce the on screen glare, but it's a whole different story when one takes these machines home, at the office or on the bus or outside, where one can't control the lighting.
Apple still offers a anti-glare 15" MacBook Pro (non-Retina) at least on their online store.
Unfortunately it's also "high resolution" meaning the UI elements are going to be even smaller than on the glossy displays.
So what to do?
Ideally you should get either a Mac Mini or a Mac Pro and connect a third party large screen anti-glare high res-display and drop the resolution down so everything looks nice and big, but it's not portable.
If the 15" MacBook Pro seems like the right fit, then get that, but be aware there is a anti-glare option and if they have it in the stores, check it out to see if it's more easier on the eyes for you.
If you need to specifically use a laptop and the OS X UI elements are too small, you might try looking at getting a 17" high res (1980 x 1200+) anti-glare or "matte screen" Windows 7 or Windows 8 Pro computer instead.
PC hardware vendors make a huge range of hardware, also Windows 8 Pro can be downgraded to Windows 7, Windows 7 is supported until 2020. Apple changes OS X every year now.
For hard of seeing users I often recommend this solution now that Apple has pulled their 17" and almost depleted all their anti-glare models.
Apple likes to cater to the young and with good eyesight, Microsoft is a little more forgiving and PC vendors offer a much larger range of hardware choices than Apple can.
I hope you find relief, and if you do decide to get a Mac, this User Tip here will help you be able to surf easier.
Web browsing for hard of seeing users