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How to fix Macbook Screen Quality!

P

pyromaniaque

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 16, 2008
267
0
Well..Ask your mother.
For those of you that consistently read the Macbook Pro forum, you may have already heard of the Techrestore Matte Service.

For those of you that don't:
Techrestore essentially removes the glass from your Macbook, puts in a HQ matte screen. Then they make a matte black bezel to go around it.

The pictures look great. And it's like on youtube and MacWorld and stuff... It was even ZDNET's best in show.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/646510/
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2763
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icf3BCxeGbo

[sideline3's techrestored macbook pro]
S7300037.jpg


"I love mine, definitely worth the upgrade." - semitry
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Has anyone had this service done on a MacBook yet (as opposed to the MacBook Pro) and able to report on the LCD quality?
 
There have been mixed reviews in terms of craftsmanship with the final product.

You seem very obsessed with the MB screens lately though OP ;)
 
I just went into the apple store and asked for an anti-gloss filter for my alu macbook.
They work great at just 25$ Try em' out
 
It seems that the panel is still the crappy no-viewing angles thingy. To me this would be a good service if they replaced it with the Air panel for example.
 
kasakka said:
It seems that the panel is still the crappy no-viewing angles thingy. To me this would be a good service if they replaced it with the Air panel for example.
Click to expand...

You have no basis for that comment, as the picture above is clearly a Macbook Pro, not the Macbook with the "crappy no-viewing angles thingy".
 
I'm confused. The only way you could improve the quality of the screen is to replace the panel itself. Otherwise having this techrestore service would only add the matte option to your MB, and would be pretty much the same as getting an anti-glare film installed on it.

Yes, I know I have no basis for my assumption, but it's obvious that the MB's screen is inferior to the MBA's screen when compared side by side. I'm willing to bet that a techrestored MBA's screen will have better viewing angles, contrast, etc. than that of a techrestored MB's screen if the panels are kept the same. As another poster mentioned, if they offered the service to replace the MB's panel with the MBA's panel, then that would indeed be fixing the quality of the MB's screen.

I'd actually be willing to get this service if they offered a panel swap and kept the gloss on it. I don't have much use for the matte option. I just want better viewing angles.
 
pyromaniaque said:
You have no basis for that comment, as the picture above is clearly a Macbook Pro, not the Macbook with the "crappy no-viewing angles thingy".
Click to expand...

I didn't refer to the picture at all, went to the TechRestore website and they state that it's the exact same panel, just not glossy. So if you want to replace your Macbook screen you'll get a non-glossy crap panel back. There is of course the possibility that the non-glossy panel is not the same.

To me the gloss isn't the problem, it's the Macbook panels.
 
kasakka said:
I didn't refer to the picture at all, went to the TechRestore website and they state that it's the exact same panel, just not glossy. So if you want to replace your Macbook screen you'll get a non-glossy crap panel back. There is of course the possibility that the non-glossy panel is not the same.

To me the gloss isn't the problem, it's the Macbook panels.
Click to expand...

It says right here in the little faq section:
"Can I keep my old, glossy screen?
Now, why would you want that shiny screen if you're replacing it with a matte screen? :) Seriously though, the low price of the Matte Finish Upgrade requires a trade-in of your existing screen."
 
pyromaniaque said:
It says right here in the little faq section:
"Can I keep my old, glossy screen?
Now, why would you want that shiny screen if you're replacing it with a matte screen? :) Seriously though, the low price of the Matte Finish Upgrade requires a trade-in of your existing screen."
Click to expand...

I think you're getting confused. The service is to replace the glass covering the LCD panel, not the LCD panel itself. You'll still have the same LCD panel with the same viewing angle problems, but it'll just be matte instead.
 
skorpien said:
I think you're getting confused. The service is to replace the glass covering the LCD panel, not the LCD panel itself. You'll still have the same LCD panel with the same viewing angle problems, but it'll just be matte instead.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that TechRestore are replacing both the glass and glossy LCD display with a replacement matte LED LCD display with similar specs (brightness, color depth, etc) and a custom bezel which provides some of the structural integrity that you lose when the glass is gone. The reason the price is so low (for parts and labor) is because they get to use *your* glass and glossy LCD for their normal MacBook screen repairs for which they charge $599.

That being said, I would love to see how the matte LCD stacks up against stock Apple screens.
 
Kavik said:
My understanding is that TechRestore are replacing both the glass and glossy LCD display with a replacement matte LED LCD display with similar specs (brightness, color depth, etc) and a custom bezel which provides some of the structural integrity that you lose when the glass is gone. The reason the price is so low (for parts and labor) is because they get to use *your* glass and glossy LCD for their normal MacBook screen repairs for which they charge $599.

That being said, I would love to see how the matte LCD stacks up against stock Apple screens.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. It seems like it is an entirely new LCD panel.

I too would be interested to see how it stacks up. There's nothing more annoying than watching DVDs and having to keep your neck and the MacBook perfectly still...
 
Kavik said:
Has anyone had this service done on a MacBook yet (as opposed to the MacBook Pro) and able to report on the LCD quality?
Click to expand...

I had this done to my 13" Macbook and I am extremely satisfied with the final result. There are absolutely no cosmetic issues around the screen (like in the Macworld article) and the matte bezel looks wonderful. Plus the matte screen looks fantastic. I think it looks worlds better than the glass-covered factory version. Everything just seems much clearer and sharp. The colors seem more vibrant too. I highly recommend this service to anyone who is on the fence.

Edit: I can post pictures later if anyone is interested.
 
skorpien said:
I think you're getting confused. The service is to replace the glass covering the LCD panel, not the LCD panel itself. You'll still have the same LCD panel with the same viewing angle problems, but it'll just be matte instead.
Click to expand...

And yes, YOU <--- were corrected. The LCD IS glossy
:)
Maybe you should have read a bit more on that site.
 
Formativeyears said:
I had this done to my 13" Macbook and I am extremely satisfied with the final result. There are absolutely no cosmetic issues around the screen (like in the Macworld article) and the matte bezel looks wonderful. Plus the matte screen looks fantastic. I think it looks worlds better than the glass-covered factory version. Everything just seems much clearer and sharp. The colors seem more vibrant too. I highly recommend this service to anyone who is on the fence.

Edit: I can post pictures later if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...
My point is reaffirmed. The techrestore service works.
 
I think ill keep my glossy that matte finish looks way ugly i couldnt and wouldnt do that if someone even paid for it
 
Formativeyears said:
I had this done to my 13" Macbook and I am extremely satisfied with the final result. There are absolutely no cosmetic issues around the screen (like in the Macworld article) and the matte bezel looks wonderful. Plus the matte screen looks fantastic. I think it looks worlds better than the glass-covered factory version. Everything just seems much clearer and sharp. The colors seem more vibrant too. I highly recommend this service to anyone who is on the fence.

Edit: I can post pictures later if anyone is interested.
Click to expand...

Good to know...thanks for the info. I'd be interested to see pictures as well. :D
 
I put in an order for that service, but I wasn't ready to lose my computer for a week.
 
Do these cats offer any warranty on the new screen? Does anyone know how this service would effect the existing applecare or warranty?
 
Formativeyears said:
Here's a pic - I'll try to take more later.

Click to expand...
Thanks Formativeyears, that looks pretty good actually. If I may make a request, could you possibly show pictures of the screen at different angles?
petermcphee said:
Do these cats offer any warranty on the new screen? Does anyone know how this service would effect the existing applecare or warranty?
Click to expand...
On their website, they say that they offer 1 year warranty on the screen, and you can purchase up to an additional 2 years (making a total of 3, just like AppleCare). They also claim that no manufacturer has refused warranty service on machines that have had the techrestore service, and if for some reason they do, to contact them so they can take care of it.

I'm not sure if Apple would see it this way, but it should be just like a RAM or HDD upgrade. Other parts should be covered under AppleCare, but if it has something to do with the display itself, they just won't cover it. If you look at the AppleCare documentation, it states that any damage resultant from unauthorized service, repair, or modifications won't be covered. But the way I see it, if a logic board craps out, unless they can prove it was directly related to the display, they should still cover it. After all, it's not like water damage that would affect any component of the laptop, right?

By the way, this is just me trying to be optimistic so I can pursuade myself to go with this service :p
 
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