[GraemeJ]

Agreed, the standard display is way too bright, even with the display brightness reduced. However, that's a function of the display itself, rather than MS.

For 95% of the time, I find it better to use the reverse colour display - gives you white on a black background - which you can select in the menu Options | Display Settings | Night Mode. I have a request in to Mike to make this display change to be directly accessible, so that it can be switched immediately from the main display, if required.

Here's a thought. Use standard mode and try a piece of lighting gel over the screen to give you the required background colour.