iBook Display seems dim

[e²Studios]

I have noticed this since i bought it and never really paid much mind to it.. The display seems a bit on the Dim side even when the brightness is pushed all the way up. I took notice to this when i was working on one of my work laptops (craptacular PC laptop) and compared it to my iBook. It is a 12" G3 900 640mb ram airport, the display is fine so i doubt highly its a logic board thing, but the backlight just seems dimmer than other laptops ive seen. I notice if im outside in daylight at times its hard to see my screen even at full brightness (no the sun isnt directly aimed at the screen).

So i ask, does this sound like maybe the backlight isnt funtioning properly, or does the iBook just have a weak backlight by nature? The display is fine, its just the brightness level.

I am debating taking it to the local apple store but before i endure the hell that is my local apple store i thought id see if this was a normal thing? Or maybe my backlight may be defective? I hate my local apple store, the genius's are far from genuis and it bugs the crap out of me when they mess with my settings thinking that i have no clue how to use my own laptop/ipod/pm, and take 2-4 hours of my time deciding what to do... I have applecare on it until march of next year, but i have to get past the idiots at the "genuis" bar first since im sure applecare phone support would divert me there anyhow.

Thanks in advance
Ed

 

[sreedy]

I have to say that mine is pretty dull, I think it might be a general problem.

It's especially bad if in a bright room during the day, I think I've got used to it now but when I see some nice top of the range Windoze laptops the screens are very clear and crisp in all light scenarios.

 

[lexfuzo]

So i ask, does this sound like maybe the backlight isnt funtioning properly, or does the iBook just have a weak backlight by nature? The display is fine, its just the brightness level.

Apple notebook computers do NOT have very bright displays. That's no defect, just poor design.

 

[londonweb]

Apple notebook computers do NOT have very bright displays. That's no defect, just poor design.

I wouldn't say it's poor design, just that ibooks in particular are designed with ergonomics as a high priority and having a bright screen isn't great for your eyes.

I was surprised to find that the display was dim when I got my ibook, but after running the screen calibration thing in OS X and setting the gamma to 2.2 instead of 1.8, everything looks much nicer.

My thinking is that, provided the contrast is ok (which I find it is, once you've calibrated) there's no reason why your whites should be any brighter than looking at a white piece of paper on your desk.

 

[Ashapalan]

if you decide to stick with it, you may find you adjust...

otherwise, just close the curtains and turn off all your other lights!