How good is the standard 17'' display?

[DDar]

I would personally purchase the baseline Macbook Pro and a 20" Cinema display. You wont find a better screen for less.

Really? But how fast is the baseline MBP? The only differences between the baseline MBP and the 17'' seem to be processor speed and GPU memory. I'd be doing alot of Photoshop intensive things, and for that isn't GPU and processor power important? (Also, if I got the baseline MBP I'd get the 23'' Cinema display since it'd be the same resolution as a hi-res 17'' screen )

 

[DDar]

LED screens will never lose brightness over time. When the LED's go out, they will just go out without much of a sign. Where CCFL's will get dimmer overtime.

Yes, but how much dimmer in how much time?

 

[stainlessliquid]

If you want to see for yourself how bad thousands of colors look compared to millions then just switch the color mode to thousands in the display settings of your computer. Look at things like gradients and black and white stuff to see how bad it is.

The screens in the laptops are all really bad compared to high end PC laptops. Wait until the new macbooks come out and pray that Apple doesnt drop the ball by offering another "macbook amateur"

The 15" with an external S-IPS monitor is the best suggestion, forget the 17". And if you are strapped for cash dont even consider the cinema displays, you can get nice monitors for much less.

 

[DDar]

If you want to see for yourself how bad thousands of colors look compared to millions then just switch the color mode to thousands in the display settings of your computer. Look at things like gradients and black and white stuff to see how bad it is.

The screens in the laptops are all really bad compared to high end PC laptops. Wait until the new macbooks come out and pray that Apple doesnt drop the ball by offering another "macbook amateur"

The 15" with an external S-IPS monitor is the best suggestion, forget the 17". And if you are strapped for cash dont even consider the cinema displays, you can get nice monitors for much less.

Would you care to suggest a screen that has equally as nice colors, has a display of at least 1920x1200 and is about $300 or so? (Or less...Keep in mind that everything is MUCH more expensive here) Because as nice as the external display idea sounds, I'm afraid I'll still have to rely on the laptop screen unless I can find a decent one here.

 

[ibejohn818]

get the modbook !

 

[DDar]

get the modbook !

Lol, that's awsome. Shame it's not available here though...

 

[DDar]

Hey, guys, speed-wise and power-wise what are the big differences between the baseline 15'' and the default specs of the 17''? Do you think I'll notice a big speed difference when runnin Photoshop or iMovie or Word or a game like SPORE?
Because getting the baseline MBP along with a 23'' cinema display right now, as opposed to maybe getting a regular res or a high-res 17'' MBP sometime at the end of the month sounds pretty nice... Even IF the cinema displays are gonna be updated soon... However, if the 17''s performance is THAT much greater perhaps I should wait a little while and hope the high-res model comes soon... (I'm sick and tired of using the PS3 browser! Dx)

 

[alphaod]

get the modbook !

Overrated, considering it still have a crappy TN panel and a lowly WXGA resolution.

 

[DDar]

Hey, guys, speed-wise and power-wise what are the big differences between the baseline 15'' and the default specs of the 17''? Do you think I'll notice a big speed difference when runnin Photoshop or iMovie or Word or a game like SPORE?
Because getting the baseline MBP along with a 23'' cinema display right now, as opposed to maybe getting a regular res or a high-res 17'' MBP sometime at the end of the month sounds pretty nice... Even IF the cinema displays are gonna be updated soon... However, if the 17''s performance is THAT much greater perhaps I should wait a little while and hope the high-res model comes soon... (I'm sick and tired of using the PS3 browser! Dx)

BUMP! Can ayone answer this?

 

[stainlessliquid]

I dont understand how you can go from getting a ridiculously expensive 23" cinema display to being limited to a $300 monitor of another brand. Good 24" monitors cost around $600.

 

[DDar]

I dont understand how you can go from getting a ridiculously expensive 23" cinema display to being limited to a $300 monitor of another brand. Good 24" monitors cost around $600.

It really all depends on what MBP I get. If I get the baseline MBP with the difference between it and the 17'' MBP that I WAS going to get I can afford a 23'' Cinema Display. However, if I were to get the Mid-Range MBP I would only be able afford a monitor that, down here, cost at the most 5,000 pesos (And to be honest, I have no idea where I'd buy another type of display here, since Apple Cinema's are all I can find...) . This would be nice since I would not have to sacrifice any of the laptop's performance. However, if I get a 17'' MBP I'd getting just that... Well, maybe with a hi-res screen, if I'm lucky...

 

[stainlessliquid]

http://www1.la.dell.com/content/pro...spx/monitor_2408wfp?c=mx&cs=mxdhs1&l=es&s=dhs that would be one of the cheaper but still good 24" ones

 

[DDar]

http://www1.la.dell.com/content/pro...spx/monitor_2408wfp?c=mx&cs=mxdhs1&l=es&s=dhs that would be one of the cheaper but still good 24" ones

$1,000 is cheap?! ''
It's about the same price as the 23'' cinema display! D=

 

[stainlessliquid]

I dont know what the conversion is but its only 600 in america compared to 900 for the cinema display

You dont need to use someones credit card either, you can get a prepaid Visa/Mastercard at any major bank and many stores with cash and use it at any place that accepts credit cards.

 

[KingYaba]

Does DDar plan to earn a living with this Macbook Pro purchase? If not, purchase the 15" model (low or mid) and a Dell 20" wide screen display.

 

[ishopukisfake]

Hey, guys, speed-wise and power-wise what are the big differences between the baseline 15'' and the default specs of the 17''? Do you think I'll notice a big speed difference when runnin Photoshop or iMovie or Word or a game like SPORE?
Because getting the baseline MBP along with a 23'' cinema display right now, as opposed to maybe getting a regular res or a high-res 17'' MBP sometime at the end of the month sounds pretty nice... Even IF the cinema displays are gonna be updated soon... However, if the 17''s performance is THAT much greater perhaps I should wait a little while and hope the high-res model comes soon... (I'm sick and tired of using the PS3 browser! Dx)

The speed difference between 15 and 17 inch would probably be negligible, not that noticeable - the main reason I went for a 17 inch was the higher screen resolution, which means you have more screen area to work with and can fit more windows on screen. If you work with photoshop and design things thats a big benefit, it's easier to work on a screen with more room.
I find matte is also easier on the eyes for long term work. also you can check out the refurbished models on apples site, can save a few hundred.

 

[alphaod]

$1,000 is cheap?! ''
It's about the same price as the 23'' cinema display! D=

Just go and find a used Dell 2005WFP, 2405WFP, 2007WFP, 2407WFP. They are 2 generation and last generation models, respectively. The 2005 and 2007 with former having S-IPS panels and the latter probably having an S-IPS panel. They will both be quite cheap and worth it despite it's age. The 2407 will be more expensive, but it doesn't get as expensive as a new 2408; the 2405 will be a lot cheaper if even half the price of new.

When it comes to monitors don't be afraid to buy a used one and/or last generation models.

Good luck.

 

[HALTAH]

Just wondering, I bought my MBP 17" high res just after christmas 07' and am pretty sure the backlighting isn't LED. Was the very next MBP update offering the LED backlighting for 17"s or what? Thanks...

 

[alphaod]

Just wondering, I bought my MBP 17" high res just after christmas 07' and am pretty sure the backlighting isn't LED. Was the very next MBP update offering the LED backlighting for 17"s or what? Thanks...

Yes the next update in February offered the LED.

 

[Coldwater]

Just go and find a used Dell 2005WFP, 2405WFP, 2007WFP, 2407WFP. They are 2 generation and last generation models, respectively. The 2005 and 2007 with former having S-IPS panels and the latter probably having an S-IPS panel. They will both be quite cheap and worth it despite it's age. The 2407 will be more expensive, but it doesn't get as expensive as a new 2408; the 2405 will be a lot cheaper if even half the price of new.

When it comes to monitors don't be afraid to buy a used one and/or last generation models.

Good luck.

I can vouch for the 2408's; once calibrated they are a decent mainstream alternative to higher end LCDs or reference level CRTs. Slightly uneven backlight from the top right corner but I believe this defect is specific to my panel and the color gamut is acceptable for the price range. Avoid ACDs, they are over priced (I paid $600 for my 2408WFP, the same as a 20in ACD with arguably a better quality picture over the ACD), and with the money I saved I can get a 15in MBP for the road and plug it into the external at home.

If you can take the (minor) hit then you will wind up with two products that suit your needs for the price of one that cannot completely fill its role.