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Is MacBook Pro 15" Resolution a shame?
- Thread starter MacGiver
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No I'm not doubting... I do think that the LED will stay brighter longer than a regular cathode lit LCD. Maybe it is because I'm not using my laptops 24/7 but I think for the average user the brightness of the LCDs will be not that much different in several years. Plus, apples LCDs are so bright I wouldn't care if mine is slightly less.
My Inspiron 6000 is significantly dimmer than the MacBook Pro LED. Then again, i couldn't tell you if it was always that way or if it got dimmer over time.
higher res would be welcome!
I really hoped for a 1680x1050 option for the 15" mbp, I hope Apple releases one soon-
The main reasons for high resolution, other than greater desktop real estate, are... Resolution! That is, sharpness of image, be it text, graphics (and not just for artists and photoshoppers), finer detail, smoother gradients, you know, the type of stuff that always set Apple apart from the Windows 640x480 4 bit color set in years past.
Apple helped lead the way to higher visual expectation. It's not that their present offering is bad- it's quite nice and all, LED backlight, beutiful ethtetics, etc. And yeah, it's fine for movies, and fine for everyday work. But use a higher resolution screen (adjust text size accordingly to say about 96 dpi if you like), and it all gets that much crisper, and, well... nicer!
The technology exists, right? Apple should use it.
I really hoped for a 1680x1050 option for the 15" mbp, I hope Apple releases one soon-
The main reasons for high resolution, other than greater desktop real estate, are... Resolution! That is, sharpness of image, be it text, graphics (and not just for artists and photoshoppers), finer detail, smoother gradients, you know, the type of stuff that always set Apple apart from the Windows 640x480 4 bit color set in years past.
Apple helped lead the way to higher visual expectation. It's not that their present offering is bad- it's quite nice and all, LED backlight, beutiful ethtetics, etc. And yeah, it's fine for movies, and fine for everyday work. But use a higher resolution screen (adjust text size accordingly to say about 96 dpi if you like), and it all gets that much crisper, and, well... nicer!
The technology exists, right? Apple should use it.
Where do you adjust text size other than in certain applications that allow it? I've looked and can't find a way. I understand this will change with Leopard which will allow resolution independent sizing.
My last notebook was a Sony Vaio GRX316G. After 3 years the display needed more than five minutes to get it's "full" brightness that was about 70% of a "new" model. All that went worse with the time. After 4.5 years the backlight (fluorescent tube) was defect. Black screen. Repair cost: 650 Euro!
When it was new, the Sony's high resolution display (UXGA 1600x1200) was fine. I could live very well with the small letters because I am a little bit nearsighted. But I do understand complains because of this. Hyperopic (farsighted) people will definitely need good spectacles.
The best of the LED backlight is the lifespan of light emitting diodes. That was the main reason why I've headed for one. And it's really bright and sharp and will fire up within 1.5 seconds after a wake up. The only disadvantage is that the color gradients are just 98% fine - the Sony's gradients were perfect .
High resolution is only one factor that determines a good display.
I remember reading one other article, saying that the current LED displays have the most "true" color display compared to other laptops, which is good for photographers. Also, the only gain is high resolution is a bigger workspace. Sometimes, higher resolution means lower quality on movies, since not all movies are high def encoded.
Also, i own one of the current LED MBP's, and it blows my 1 year old acer away when comparing the brightness of the displays.
I remember reading one other article, saying that the current LED displays have the most "true" color display compared to other laptops, which is good for photographers. Also, the only gain is high resolution is a bigger workspace. Sometimes, higher resolution means lower quality on movies, since not all movies are high def encoded.
Also, i own one of the current LED MBP's, and it blows my 1 year old acer away when comparing the brightness of the displays.
I think the resolution is great. There are pros and cons for higher resolution. Pros - editing larger photos and videos, working with two documents side by side, etc. Cons - Eyestrain for some people, most web-pages are not designed for huge resolutions so they end up having a lot of space, etc.
Remember the MBP 15" is a laptop, and laptops are all about compromise. As some of the other people said, for serious designers or people who need more screen real estate, there are external monitors (which we have an awesome dvi port for) or there is the option of buying the 17" mbp.
I think apple did a great job of getting the right compromise. You have to remember things are designed to fit 90-95% of the people, and for that group, the current resolution is great.
The standard for 15.4" PC laptops is usually 1280 x 800, and you have to select the additional option (and pay more) for the higher resolution.
Remember the MBP 15" is a laptop, and laptops are all about compromise. As some of the other people said, for serious designers or people who need more screen real estate, there are external monitors (which we have an awesome dvi port for) or there is the option of buying the 17" mbp.
I think apple did a great job of getting the right compromise. You have to remember things are designed to fit 90-95% of the people, and for that group, the current resolution is great.
The standard for 15.4" PC laptops is usually 1280 x 800, and you have to select the additional option (and pay more) for the higher resolution.
Possible fix, Change LCD screen
Hey everyone,
I recently got my hands on a 15" MackBook pro my brother was using for a while and I love it. However the screen resolution is unacceptable. I have to use windows for work and I plan to use this book for home and work, rebooting into windows XP when needed. (yes, I gave up on Vista... what a joke). I have another laptop that has a 15.4" screen that supports 1920x1200. I'd like to just swap that screen out with this one. I have found posts of people that say they have done it.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/08/higher_rez_screen_swap_on_a_po.html
And posts on how to take the LCD out of the MacBook.
http://www.screentekinc.com/lcd-removal-instructions_en,macbookpro.shtml
What I need to know is if the video chip in the MacBook will support LCD I have. If not then what LCDs will it support? I'll buy one if I have to.
And for all those asking no, I can't accept the size of a 17" PowerBook. I fly every week and that laptop is too big to both carry and use on a plane. I do not want the larger display, I just want the higher resolution.
Thanks,
Kyle
----
Mac OS user for 20+ years.
Hey everyone,
I recently got my hands on a 15" MackBook pro my brother was using for a while and I love it. However the screen resolution is unacceptable. I have to use windows for work and I plan to use this book for home and work, rebooting into windows XP when needed. (yes, I gave up on Vista... what a joke). I have another laptop that has a 15.4" screen that supports 1920x1200. I'd like to just swap that screen out with this one. I have found posts of people that say they have done it.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/08/higher_rez_screen_swap_on_a_po.html
And posts on how to take the LCD out of the MacBook.
http://www.screentekinc.com/lcd-removal-instructions_en,macbookpro.shtml
What I need to know is if the video chip in the MacBook will support LCD I have. If not then what LCDs will it support? I'll buy one if I have to.
And for all those asking no, I can't accept the size of a 17" PowerBook. I fly every week and that laptop is too big to both carry and use on a plane. I do not want the larger display, I just want the higher resolution.
Thanks,
Kyle
----
Mac OS user for 20+ years.
I have no clue on the screen swaps.
But Macworld is only 4 days away and there is the possibility of a hi-res display coming to the 15". I doubt it would be the 1900 that you are looking for - more likely it would be the 1680x1050. At least that is what I'm hoping for...
Wow, that's a lot to cram in a 15" panel.
But Macworld is only 4 days away and there is the possibility of a hi-res display coming to the 15". I doubt it would be the 1900 that you are looking for - more likely it would be the 1680x1050. At least that is what I'm hoping for...
Wow, that's a lot to cram in a 15" panel.
My 6 year old Dell laptop had a 1400 x 1050 display. At the time I was like wow this is great. I do wish the Macbook Pro had a higher res display but I wont complain
Similar to the OP, I went from a Dell D600 to the 2.2 MacBook Pro, with 15" screen.
One thing I would say, don't fixate on the resolution. If you've been running Windows on your Dell (as I was) you'll be surprised that there appears to be *more* usable room on the MBP screen.
Also, the Mac screen is uniformly bright, whereas the Dell had a tendency to be a little washed out.
I've had my MBP six weeks, and I love the screen. Couldn't be happier, and I use mine for digital photography, for which the size is just about perfect for me (combination of Lightroom and Photoshop CS3).
One thing I would say, don't fixate on the resolution. If you've been running Windows on your Dell (as I was) you'll be surprised that there appears to be *more* usable room on the MBP screen.
Also, the Mac screen is uniformly bright, whereas the Dell had a tendency to be a little washed out.
I've had my MBP six weeks, and I love the screen. Couldn't be happier, and I use mine for digital photography, for which the size is just about perfect for me (combination of Lightroom and Photoshop CS3).
I just compared the display on my 3 year old dell inspirion 8600 (WXUGA, I forget the resolution), to that of my 15" MBP glossy display. In terms of image sharpness and clarity, I could not tell the difference. In terms if which display showed nicer looking photo, MPB all the way.
1440x900 is no big deal at all, it might be a little low compared to the other features that the MacBook Pro has, but it does not present any sort of shortcoming; everything still looks good.
Screen resolution
First off I found the other thread that really talks about this. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/207751/.
Second thing is I love ho everyone like to say 1440x900 is enough so just be happy. I will be using this machine for work. Where I write software and have to have more viewable space on the screen at one time. 1440x900 is not enough for me. No amount of comments is going to convince me otherwise. I'm not saying this machine isn't awesome and that the display is not very crisp and bright. I'm just saying the screen size does not work for me.
Also I'm sure they will come out with new MacBooks with better resolution. But buying a new one is not an option. i'm stuck with what I have so I'm looking at options to makeit work for what I need.
Cheers,
Kyle
First off I found the other thread that really talks about this. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/207751/.
Second thing is I love ho everyone like to say 1440x900 is enough so just be happy. I will be using this machine for work. Where I write software and have to have more viewable space on the screen at one time. 1440x900 is not enough for me. No amount of comments is going to convince me otherwise. I'm not saying this machine isn't awesome and that the display is not very crisp and bright. I'm just saying the screen size does not work for me.
Also I'm sure they will come out with new MacBooks with better resolution. But buying a new one is not an option. i'm stuck with what I have so I'm looking at options to makeit work for what I need.
Cheers,
Kyle
OK - so if your problem is - in essence - a lack of screen "real estate" (as they say in America) do as I do when I take my MBP to work - grab an external LCD monitor, and your DVI/VGA cable, plug in to that, and bingo - instant additional desktop space!
If you're coding, or, like I do, editing digital photos, then having additional screen 'size' may be of benefit. Often, when I have an external LCD connected to m MBP, I'll have Bridge and Lightroom in one "screen" and Photoshop in the other?
This gives me more than enough space to run several apps, if I need it.
(Although, as mentioned in the earlier post above, I don't often do this!)
Of course, if you're running Leopard, you also have the "Spaces" facility, so if you are constantly switching between applications, you may also want to give Spaces a try?
If you're coding, or, like I do, editing digital photos, then having additional screen 'size' may be of benefit. Often, when I have an external LCD connected to m MBP, I'll have Bridge and Lightroom in one "screen" and Photoshop in the other?
This gives me more than enough space to run several apps, if I need it.
(Although, as mentioned in the earlier post above, I don't often do this!)
Of course, if you're running Leopard, you also have the "Spaces" facility, so if you are constantly switching between applications, you may also want to give Spaces a try?
Well, I have no problems working with CS3 on my 15" PowerBook, which has a resolution of 1280x854!
And actually I'm quite happy I bought the Powerbook revision before they released them with higher res displays. It's a laptop in the end, and a 15" screen will always be small, more or less no matter what resolution it has.
Sooner or later they'll make the 15" mbps screen 1680x1050 and I hope they do it sometime after I upgrade from my powerbook, or after they released true resolution independence.
I have to wear glasses anyway, no need to ruin my eyes more.
And actually I'm quite happy I bought the Powerbook revision before they released them with higher res displays. It's a laptop in the end, and a 15" screen will always be small, more or less no matter what resolution it has.
Sooner or later they'll make the 15" mbps screen 1680x1050 and I hope they do it sometime after I upgrade from my powerbook, or after they released true resolution independence.
I have to wear glasses anyway, no need to ruin my eyes more.
I tired putting in a WUXGA panel in my MPB, but eventually decided it was not worth the trouble.
I hook up to a 23" ACD when I am at home and sitting at the desk, but most of the time, it does not bother me anymore.
I would like the option of higher resolution panels, but I have personally gotten over it as a deal-breaker.
P.S. -- I am waiting for someone to make a LED backlight kit for the 15.4" WUXGA I have lying around so I can make it into a projector.
I hook up to a 23" ACD when I am at home and sitting at the desk, but most of the time, it does not bother me anymore.
I would like the option of higher resolution panels, but I have personally gotten over it as a deal-breaker.
P.S. -- I am waiting for someone to make a LED backlight kit for the 15.4" WUXGA I have lying around so I can make it into a projector.