Some questions RE: Fonts and Screen resolution in MBP's

Thank you for taking my questions. I am interested in moving to OS X. I have been using Linux for a while now (2 years or so), and have enjoyed the fun-factor associated with it, but do not want to be tinkering system to get it to work. OS X, as I understand, is Darwin-based, so comes with a solid platform and of-course the fun-factor, and it just works. But I have an issue with the fonts that OS X uses (as in Linux systems)--I realize they are not MSTrueType---they use antialiasing (AA) by default. My eyes can't accommodate this type of font rendering, and so I used to switch-off AA in Linux, and install MSTT fonts and switch to arial or tahoma; with the default fonts in Linux with AA on, the fonts on my screen (WUXGA 1920x1200 15.4") are fuzzy and give me a headache after staring on screen for a while.

With MBP, I have seen on display in Mac Store, I noticed the same fuzzy fonts. Here are my questions:

1. Can we change the fonts (system-wide) in OS X to show up without AA so that fonts appear crisp and well-defined? Can we install MSTT fonts in OS X?

2. I have noticed the max res on MBP 17" is 1680x1200? Is this res adequate for graphics and video? I have HP nw8240 ATI V5000 firegl with 15" WUXGA 1920x1200, and images and fonts and windows are crisp and clearly defined. Video shows up impecably. Is is worth upgrading to the 1920x1200 option im MBP or the native res 1680x1200 more than adequate?

3. Why do the lower end machines in mac (such as MacBook series 13") have such "bad" resolutions--I am just curious.


Thanks for the help,

SL

 

Anyone, please??

 

1) You can only turn off the AA with a little "hack". You can google around for that if you'd like. I also posted how in some thread somewhere around here. IMO though it's best to just get used to it. Sure, it might give you a headache for a while; I think it gave me a headache for a couple weeks. But it's how the fonts are intended to be displayed by the OS and it's not like you're losing an arm or leg.

2) Another $100 on $2,799.00 doesn't sound like a big difference to me for true 1080p. Then again, who chooses when to have your meals? go to the bank? take how much out of the bank? Well, you get the point.

3) because they are 13" LCDs.

 

1. There is an option to turn off text smoothing for text smaller than 12. There are also some options to change it to light, medium, standard, strong, or automatic. I didn't really notice much difference between those five. But I'm sure there is a program somewhere that would let you do that. Maybe the guys here know. If no one replies I will look for one later and test it out for you (right now i have a vball game in half an hour!!!! lol)

2. The default max resolution on the 17" mbp is 1680x1050, but for $100 more you can upgrade to a 1920x1200 screen. You can do it through the online apple store. I'm sure they have them at retail apple stores too, you would just have to ask I guess.

3. Yes, the macbooks have a crappy native resolutions, but so do all 13" consumer notebooks. Don't think I've heard of any 13-incher with a resolution above 1280x800. Anyone?

Edit:
lol. When I clicked reply your post wasnt there and I went to eat!!

 

I googled a bit, and came across this site about font rendering in OS X: http://www.atpm.com/12.01/paradigm.shtml

There is a suggestion that one can use MSTrueType fonts like arial, Tahoma or verdana in OS X. Does OS X come with factory fitted Microsoft fonts or do we have to install then manually?

It is a pity that aa and smoothing poses such a problem to many, and yet Apple has not given an option to turn this off system wide?

EDIT: then I came across this site that tells it all: http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2001/07/24/osx_fonts1.html

S