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Getting a new alu MacBook, how can I be sure of good screen?

evilgreg

evilgreg

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 13, 2007
132
0
I searched and couldn't find a thread about this already.

Basically, I've heard that there is apparently an improved screen on the newer MacBooks but only certain ones have it. I'm planning on going to the Apple Store on Saturday morning to pick up a 2.4 unibody MacBook but I want to be sure I have the best screen. Are there any markings on the box, and if not, how can I tell when I boot up the 'book?

Love,
Greg
 
Somebody on here mentioned that at the Apple stores, the new screen models have a small green sticker on the box.

Also, all the Apple stores are stocked with only the new screened models, whereas other stores (Frys, BestBuy, etc) may have a mix, or old or new, it depends on their sales rate.
 
NewMacbookPlz said:
Somebody on here mentioned that at the Apple stores, the new screen models have a small green sticker on the box
Click to expand...

Green sticker means purchased. I had a green sticker when I got my original MacBook back in 06 and had them put the RAM in for me...never doing that again.
 
You are confirmed of the newer screens as long as the manufactured date is April 09 &/or later. Good luck. :) Furthermore, IMO, you'll want to hope for a 9CA8 & avoid a 9CA6 based on my own experience. There seems to be different grades of quality between screen manufacturers.
 
evilgreg said:
Green sticker means purchased. I had a green sticker when I got my original MacBook back in 06 and had them put the RAM in for me...never doing that again.
Click to expand...

Oh. Well thanks for clearing that up! I've never had a sticker on anything I've bought so I wasn't sure.
 
I've wondered the same thing. I was thinking of ordering from Amazon to avoid sales tax at Apple, but I am worried that they might have older ones. Has anybody ordered from them recently, and if so what screen did you get?
 
moderniste said:
I've wondered the same thing. I was thinking of ordering from Amazon to avoid sales tax at Apple, but I am worried that they might have older ones. Has anybody ordered from them recently, and if so what screen did you get?
Click to expand...

I'm going in Saturday morning to my local Apple Store and I'll report what screen I have once I get it set up and home later that day. Fingers crossed!
 
SPEEDwithJJ said:
You are confirmed of the newer screens as long as the manufactured date is April 09 &/or later. Good luck. :) Furthermore, IMO, you'll want to hope for a 9CA8 & avoid a 9CA6 based on my own experience. There seems to be different grades of quality between screen manufacturers.
Click to expand...
If this is the case, then the OP should be able to tell from the serial number before opening the box.

Make sure your serial number is xx915xxxxxx or above. The higher the number, the more likely you have an updated screen. So it should be 915, 916, 917 etc. Anything above 919 will probably guarantee you the updated screen. (919 or above = manufactured in May 2009)
 
evilgreg said:
I'm going in Saturday morning to my local Apple Store and I'll report what screen I have once I get it set up and home later that day. Fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

You should have no problem getting the new screen model however wouldn't you want to wait at least until WWDC which is on Monday in case of an update on the Macbooks?
 
What about ordering from Apple.com-- new manufactures or do they have a backlog of older stuff?
 
HLdan said:
You should have no problem getting the new screen model however wouldn't you want to wait at least until WWDC which is on Monday in case of an update on the Macbooks?
Click to expand...

It'll most likely be an incremental update so I'll be okay with sacrificing maybe a 0.2 ghz bump for getting it a week early. Now if I wake up Monday morning and hear that they added firewire or some other major feature, I'll be returning that MacBook quicker than white on rice.
 
Another way you can pretty much guarantee a new macbook is buy ordering it CTO though the Apple Online Store. Upgrade somethig small like hard drive, or RAM. You will probably end up spending about 75 to 100 bucks more, but you will be assured of getting one of the new revision screens.
 
Aboo said:
Another way you can pretty much guarantee a new macbook is buy ordering it CTO though the Apple Online Store. Upgrade somethig small like hard drive, or RAM. You will probably end up spending about 75 to 100 bucks more, but you will be assured of getting one of the new revision screens.
Click to expand...

Good point, I never even thought of that. I might order mine BTO, and have it shipped to my house. But I still don't know if I trust the UPS guy to handle with care. I just cringe when I think of him tossing the box at the door. :confused:
 
I'm sorry for this but what's the difference between BTO and CTO? What do they stand for?
 
glitch44 said:
I'm sorry for this but what's the difference between BTO and CTO? What do they stand for?
Click to expand...

BTO (Build to Order) CTO (Configure to Order). BTO is the old school acronym, most companies refer to it as CTO because most companies now don't let you build the computer through their stores anymore, you just choose configurations of ram, hard drives, processors and ram.
 
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