MacBook: How is your screen?

[mgthrall]

I received my MacBook a week ago, and the machine is a joy. It has been perfect in every way except one: the backlight seems a little uneven. There is a very slight gradient from dark to light as you look from the top to the bottom of the screen. The gradient is almost prefectly even, transitioning almost as if it was intentional. From reading posts on various forums, I've found out that the backlight should be even across the screen when viewed correctly.

My question is, is a little slight gradient in brightness across the screen normal or not? I've never owned a laptop, LCD, or plasma screen in my life, so this is my first time looking at one. If it is not normal, should I just take the MacBook to the Apple store down the street to get it fixed? Do they normally take the computer, leaving you without one? If they replace your computer will they at least swap the hard drives out? I don't have a backup of anything on this machine, and I've already ditched my old machine (it was on its last leg).

I really do like my MacBook a lot. It's my first Mac and my first laptop. It's totally quiet, and problem free sans this little issue.

 

[Unspeaked]

The backlight should be even, but without seeing it, it's hard to tell if something's wrong. Maybe go down to the Apple Store and see what the backlight on their MacBooks looks like?

Oh, if they do need to repair it, they'll have to take it, leaving you with nothing.

And they usually wipe the hard drives. Sometimes they don't, but I wouldn't risk it.

If they end up swapping it out for a new one, they most certainly WON'T swap the drive, but if you ask them (maybe pay for the service?) they might transfer your data.

 

[count chocula]

my backlight is even. there's no way that apple employees would wipe your hard drive while repairing a backlight, that doesnt make any sense at all.

also, if they need to replace yours, they will transfer your data for free, or just swap it into the new one.

just visit your apple store or give apple care a call.

 

[Unspeaked]

my backlight is even. there's no way that apple employees would wipe your hard drive while repairing a backlight, that doesnt make any sense at all.

If it ends up having to be sent into Apple repairs, it is not uncommon that they wipe the drive.

They make it a point in all the repair documentation to tell you this before you send it in, so you'll know to back up.

 

[mgthrall]

This picture should show what I'm referring to in my first post.

Hmmm.. I take it swapping out the screen isn't a 10 minute process that they can do on the spot? I have a reservation to see a genius at 12:20pm today. Hopefully, they can just tweak a setting (I'm dreaming, aren't I?).

 

[Unspeaked]

This picture should show what I'm referring to in my first post.

Hmmm.. I take it swapping out the screen isn't a 10 minute process that they can do on the spot? I have a reservation to see a genius at 12:20pm today. Hopefully, they can just tweak a setting (I'm dreaming, aren't I?).

Yeah, it looks way too dark at the top.

The turnaround time would probably be longer than 10 minutes. Even if they had the parts on hand (which I doubt), they'd probably need you to drop it off.

Though unlikely, it COULD be that it's just a loose connection somewhere - but even so, they'd probably have you leave it with them to crack the case open and look at it.

 

[drummerbooker14]

it's fine. a little tired from the move, but it's all unpacked. he looks as good as new. oh, and there is nothing wrong with it

 

[FullmetalZ26]

Are you sure that this gradient just isn't due to the angle you're looking at the screen from? Ideally, your eye should be equally distant from both the top and bottom edges of the display; in other words, you'd be looking at it straight on its centerline. This is because with LCD displays, it's more like you're looking at an image through the screen, since there's a grid of pixels between you and the backlight. Take, for example, a screen door; you'll get a clearer view of what's behind it if you stand right in front of it instead of at a 45 degree angle to it. The picture you supplied was taken from a very low angle, which leads me to believe this may be your problem.

 

[Josias]

My screen is: EXTREME! It's the coolest screen ever, and with brightness at 3 bars, it beats my brothers iBook (14", 1.07 GHz) at full brightness. My backlight is not uneven though...

 

[EricNau]

My backlight is uneven and I can see waves in it when at a lower brightness setting (similar to those in a dying fluorescent tube light). ...I'll be taking it into Apple soon.

I like the glossy screens but they are a ***** to clean.

 

[drake]

Like I said in another thread here, I have backlight bleeding from the bottom, even posted pics showing what I mean. Here's a link:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/215096/

 

[xfiftyfour]

mine is uneven. it's mostly unnoticeable until i put a black screen up (like a plain black background) - then you can really see the gradient and how much light bleeds from the bottom.

is this not normal? have people had this fixed? what does applecare say?

i haven't contacted anyone because i mostly assumed apple would deem it "within spec" and without an apple store anywhere in my area (2 hours away is the closest), it's not as easy as "running down the street" to have someone look at it.

Are you sure that this gradient just isn't due to the angle you're looking at the screen from? Ideally, your eye should be equally distant from both the top and bottom edges of the display; in other words, you'd be looking at it straight on its centerline. This is because with LCD displays, it's more like you're looking at an image through the screen, since there's a grid of pixels between you and the backlight. Take, for example, a screen door; you'll get a clearer view of what's behind it if you stand right in front of it instead of at a 45 degree angle to it. The picture you supplied was taken from a very low angle, which leads me to believe this may be your problem.

After paying more attention to the angle, I realized that the gradient was mostly my fault. My MB sits on a desk lower than eye level, so naturally, I tilt it upwards. I tried putting it straight and looking at it straight on and there's much more even backlighting.

 

[brbubba]

That looks like it could be the angle. My Macbook monitor looks great straight on but has extremely poor picture at any kind of an angle, particularly in the vertical direction.

 

[sunfast]

My backlight is fine

 

[netdog]

No problems here. Best screen I have ever had on a portable.

 

[Bern]

I find it rather interesting how many newbies are cropping up with these unique and unusual problems with MacBooks. Is it just inexperience ???

 

[brbubba]

I find it rather interesting how many newbies are cropping up with these unique and unusual problems with MacBooks. Is it just inexperience ???

Although I am a newbie, or rather newbie to OS X, I also never liked my roomates 12" Powerbook screen. Warranted my macbook doesn't have a brightness issue, the angles were equally bad. Then again this isn't a notebook to notebook comparison, I am comparing the viewing angle to my NEC monitor and my Dell LCD TV.

 

[mgthrall]

I find it rather interesting how many newbies are cropping up with these unique and unusual problems with MacBooks. Is it just inexperience ???

I'm not too proud to admit I'm a Mac newbie, but I've worked in IT for the past 10 years now as a network admin and as a programmer. I know my way around a computer, even if this is the first laptop I've personally owned.

I've asked for several opinions from coworkers, friends, and family to see if it's just me or if the screen is actually wonky. It's definitely the screen, but everyone, myself included, agrees the problem isn't huge. There is, however, a flaw in the backlight that is undeniable. I have learned to live with it. I'm fairly forgiving about minor flaws in mass produced goods.