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Is there a reason why Apple won't fix the resolution?

RiCEADDiCTBOY

RiCEADDiCTBOY

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 26, 2007
699
1
I know this is a mix bag of nuts with the Apple crowd, but I never really heard why Apple refuses to change the 1440 x 900 resolution on the 15". Sure some may not like the 1920 x 1200 resolution, but you can always change the resolution. Does anyone have an answer? :confused:
 
I for one would not be buying MBPs if they changed the resolution and to say we can always change it back is not an answer. LCDs have a native resolution and by using something other then that produces poor images.

I'm happy with the current native resolutions and you really want something more, a 17" MBP or an external monitor might be better solution.
 
1900x1200 on a 15"? That would pretty much make it impossible to read whats on the screen
 
I have a 15" MBP, and also a 15" Dell D830 with 1920 screen... and when I am using the Mac I really miss the extra resolution of the 1920 screen. The MBP 15" feels cramped after using the 1920 screen....
 
There could be an option for 1680x1050, but I think I would choose the 1440x900 anyways.
 
The standard laptop passed out here at work is a Dell Latitude with 15" 1920x1200 screen. Just about everyone I see around me (I have a MBP) has reduced the resolution. It makes the UI look like crap, but it beats eyestrain headaches.

I guess the average age among us at work is in the thirties - and as you get older, your eye sight gets worse (yes, I know, someone is going to reply that he's in his forties and has good eyesight and why should he suffer because of the rest of us.)

With high resolution laptop screens, changing the resolution to non-native is the only option, but it's a crap option. Apple will start providing higher resolution screens when they can provider a true resolution independent OS.
 
plinden said:
With high resolution laptop screens, changing the resolution to non-native is the only option, but it's a crap option. Apple will start providing higher resolution screens when they can provider a true resolution independent OS.
Click to expand...

+1
I would love a higher resolution but only if everything stayed the same size. The newer versions of Safari and FireFox do this really well as it can scale all the text and images on the screen, not just increasing the font size like on older versions. Of course you lose some sharpness in images but it is a million times better then changing the computers resolution.
 
I had a 15" PowerBook years ago and the resolution is the same now as it was then. It's not enough and barely a megapixel more than the 13" MacBook. Apple should at least offer us the option to go to 1600x1050.
 
RiCEADDiCTBOY said:
I know this is a mix bag of nuts with the Apple crowd, but I never really heard why Apple refuses to change the 1440 x 900 resolution on the 15". Sure some may not like the 1920 x 1200 resolution, but you can always change the resolution. Does anyone have an answer? :confused:
Click to expand...
Non-native resolution is generally terrible with an LCD.

Personally, I like to use a LCD display in native resolution because, as a general rule, is much clearer.

CrackedButter said:
It's not enough and barely a megapixel more than the 13" MacBook.
Click to expand...
Huh?

13 inch MBP --> 1,280 x 800 --> 1,024,000

15 inch MBP --> 1,440 x 900 --> 1,296,000

The 15 inch (15.4") has 272,000 more pixels than the 13 inch (13.3").
 
Just to reiterate, the resolution isn't really a setting at the top. That's the best your display can physically do. The display has 1440 pixels horizontally and 900 pixels vertically. It physically can't do any better.

If you want more real estate, shrink your icons and text. My 20" monitor goes up to 1680x1050, and only recently have I seen affordable monitors in that range getting 1920x1200. So I don't get your complaint. I mean the 17" MBP has a 1920x1200 display, but you also pay another $1,000 for that model. Most people don't need that, just like we don't need HD resolutions on an iPhone.
 
plinden said:
Apple will start providing higher resolution screens when they can provider a true resolution independent OS.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I was hoping this would happen with Snow Leopard but I guess not. They really need to get this working because Windows Vista and 7 have done it really well for ages.

I saw the 17" MBP recently and I felt everything on it was way tiny and hard to read. It would be a great, really sharp display if everything could be scaled up, but since that feature is still broken the 17" is just a bag of eye-hurt unless you have your nose stuck to the screen.
 
entatlrg said:
wouldn't buy it either ... who wants small unreadable fonts....
Click to expand...
Because you can't increase font size can you?

The resolutions on the MBP's are pathetic really. I was hoping they would have improved them but sadly not. Hopefully next time, once they secure a cheap deal with Samsung or LG. 1280*800 is not Pro. 1440*900 is not Pro.

I believe they should keep an option like with the 17", so those with poor eyesight can still use them.

But for those of us with good vision, I'd like some real estate and sharper images.

It's funny how other manufacturers are able make high resolutions work. It's got to be down to margins and that's it. We all know Apple like's a good margin on its hardware...
 
I can see that 1920x1200 may be a bit to much for some people, but 1680x1050 should be a given option IMO. I would most likely sell my MBP and get a new one if it comes out with a screen with a decent, high, resolution like 1680x1050 minimum.

I don't see why there has to be a limit on the screen, just offer the larger resolution, may the price be a bit high if that's the problem.. just offer it for those who really want it.

Sure it will make the leap to 17" seem more unnecessary for some people, but if that's the case just make the high res. screen upgrade on the 15" cost so much that it won't affect the 17" sales.

Better to have a expensive option than no option at all.
 
Again I have to a be a dissenter, perhaps its because of my 40+ year old eyes but I'm able to manage with the current resolution, anything higher would be unusable for me.

If apple has this as an add on option, then that would satisfy both groups, people like me would get a stock model, with the 1440x900 and others can "upgrade" to 1680x1050
 
Better Quality?

I think the screen on my 15" MBP is much better quality than my Dell 15" 1650x1080 screen. Much better blacks, brightness, colours and viewing angles.

Maybe apple are waiting for manufacturers to release better quality high resolution screens before degrading image quality for higher resolution.

Just a thought.

As for people reducing resolution on high resolution 15" screens on windows laptops, please tell these people to return to native res and change the DPI settings. This way you get big icons and text but keep the clarity of the screen.
 
sushi said:
Huh?

13 inch MBP --> 1,280 x 800 --> 1,024,000

15 inch MBP --> 1,440 x 900 --> 1,296,000

The 15 inch (15.4") has 272,000 more pixels than the 13 inch (13.3").
Click to expand...

Sorry I used the wrong word. Thanks for doing the math though, I should have just done it to begin with.

TBi said:
Maybe apple are waiting for manufacturers to release better quality high resolution screens before degrading image quality for higher resolution.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I like this theory, but I also hate this as an idea now because it means we've been waiting a long time for manufacturers to do this.
 
You can use ResX, is an small application that offers you more native resolutions other than the ones offered by the control panel. You can even create your own resolutions. Try that.
 
the vj said:
You can use ResX, is an small application that offers you more native resolutions other than the ones offered by the control panel. You can even create your own resolutions. Try that.
Click to expand...

You can only have one native resolution. That's why it's called native.
 
I don't think the problem is Apple not wanting to upgrade the resolution on the panels, but the lack of 15" 1680x1050 LED panels might be the reason why they won't upgrade. The main providers LG and Samsung as of yet don't have 15" 1680x1050 LED panels.
 
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