Is there any proof that Samsung panels > LG panels?

[shawnmac]

Personally I think it's beautiful and with the Toshiba hard-drive it seems to perform great. That said, I really don't have another one loaded with Samsung to compare it with. But paying all the money I did for this thing and reading all the FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) on this forum is no fun.

I feel the same way, you spend the money and don't want to feel like your getting a lesser machine. Until seeing this forum I wouldn't have thought much of it. I do notice when using the computer though that I do end up with a minor headache when using it and staring at the screen that seems to happen a lot. I noticed that even before the Macrumors posts about the displays. It makes me wonder if both panels would do this, if it's the panel, a defect, etc. I notice when I go back to my desktop I don't have that problem.

I do recall getting a similar feeling with a high-res Dell laptop I had in the past and eventually I guess I got used to it and it stopped.

 

[timewarrior]

I feel the same way, you spend the money and don't want to feel like your getting a lesser machine. Until seeing this forum I wouldn't have thought much of it. I do notice when using the computer though that I do end up with a minor headache when using it and staring at the screen that seems to happen a lot. I noticed that even before the Macrumors posts about the displays. It makes me wonder if both panels would do this, if it's the panel, a defect, etc. I notice when I go back to my desktop I don't have that problem.

I do recall getting a similar feeling with a high-res Dell laptop I had in the past and eventually I guess I got used to it and it stopped.

I am also getting a headache with this display. I have an LG. I noticed that as soon as I opened up the machine at the Apple Store. However I face no such issues with iPhone 4 which has much higher ppi. Is there any one else who is facing the same issue.

 

[HiRez]

I've calibrated my 13" Air Samsung display using a Spyder3 calibrator.

Good:

-- brightness
-- sharpness
-- glare not bad for a glossy(ish) screen
-- contrast

Bad:

-- colors never get very deep and vibrant, especially reds. Greens are only so-so. My photos in Lightroom look noticeably worse than with Cinema display, iMac display, and MacBook Pro display, all set up using the same calibrator.
-- looks a bit "flat" overall (see above). Doesn't look bad, but doesn't "pop" either.
-- slight shadow area around the entire rim of the screen, mostly visible with white or very light background.

Meh:

-- viewing angles, gets mediocre quickly when off-axis (though not absolutely terrible).
-- linearity, brightness is not uniform edge to edge.

Conclusion:

Very good display for such a small portable, but not accurate if you require professional color management. Not very good for photo work.

 

[clyde2801]

I am also getting a headache with this display. I have an LG. I noticed that as soon as I opened up the machine at the Apple Store. However I face no such issues with iPhone 4 which has much higher ppi. Is there any one else who is facing the same issue.

Coming up....thread asking if your LG screen is causing blindness and sterility!




I've got the samsung screen-scuhwing!

 

[Gemütlichkeit]

to me, both look identical

i just want to know which one will develop dead pixels and die

 

[OSMac]

Question is if the screen is important would you be better off with a MacBook Pro?

 

[HiRez]

Question is if the screen is important would you be better off with a MacBook Pro?

I think what I'm going to do is pick up a 27" Thunderbolt Display when they become available in a couple months, plug the Air into it, and sell my older iMac. That'll leave me with good portability and great image display (and size) at home when I need to get serious about image editing or coding.

 

[Kafka]

Question is if the screen is important would you be better off with a MacBook Pro?

Lower res so that's not so easy I guess.

 

[Bokes]

I have the LG and checked it against my Gen1 verC macAir.

I have both desktops set up with a black photo in the center of the screen and the rest of the desktop is set to black.

When I crank the brightness to 100% on the New 2011 MacAir the black background washes out.

When I crank the brightness to 100% on the older Gen1 macAir the black background remains nice and black.

Both are on factory settings.

Question- if I return to Mac Store - can I request a Samsung display?
Will they be able to tell on the box?

 

[jenzjen]

Question- if I return to Mac Store - can I request a Samsung display?

Will they be able to tell on the box?

Sure, but they will look at you like you're crazy, since both components are within Apple spec and only way to tell is after you boot up the machine and go into About this Mac.

It would be like returning the machine and saying I want one with a Western Digital HD vs the Seagate HD in it currently.

Since you're probably still within your return window, you can try and see what you get in the replacement, but I wouldn't be surprised if they deny you a 2nd exchange unless something is really wrong.

 

[macau]

I spent sometime calibrating the 13" Samsung panel with my Spyder3 Elite yesterday.

Profiled at 6500k @ 2.2 Gamma. Can't decide if I prefer the original which feels more accurate. Anyhows here's a share, if you have one I'd love to grab it too.

macbook_air_9CF0

Your 6500k profile looks ok on my Samsung LCD - more neutral and it's taken the harshness off the whites. The default profile gives my display a bluish tint, and the whites are a bit too bright if you're looking at stuff on a white background for an extended period, which is what I do.

Starting to really like the MBA display. It's been a huge adjustment for me, because this is an upgrade from an old 2007 white MB with a non-LED, low res display. Initially I struggled with the small fonts, and different colour/brightness, but now my eyes are adjusting. I'm beginning to appreciate the extra sharpness the higher resolution display give you.

It seems the trend now is for higher and higher resolution LCD's. I suspect we'll soon see OSX with resolution independent scaling of fonts.

 

[Bokes]

Sure, but they will look at you like you're crazy, since both components are within Apple spec and only way to tell is after you boot up the machine and go into About this Mac.

Yeah- ya know what? It is pretty foolish- I never crank to 100%
The screen is fine.
I'm going to go back to enjoying this new machine.

GL to all.

 

[Abazigal]

I wonder just how much of this perceived "difference in performance" is really because of the hardware, and how much is simply because you believe you have a supposedly superior or inferior screen...

Pygmalion effect strong here...

 

[h00ligan]

Your 6500k profile looks ok on my Samsung LCD - more neutral and it's taken the harshness off the whites. The default profile gives my display a bluish tint, and the whites are a bit too bright if you're looking at stuff on a white background for an extended period, which is what I do.

Starting to really like the MBA display. It's been a huge adjustment for me, because this is an upgrade from an old 2007 white MB with a non-LED, low res display. Initially I struggled with the small fonts, and different colour/brightness, but now my eyes are adjusting. I'm beginning to appreciate the extra sharpness the higher resolution display give you.

It seems the trend now is for higher and higher resolution LCD's. I suspect we'll soon see OSX with resolution independent scaling of fonts.

If you don't already, turn on the two finger double click to zoom. Helps if you are used to smaller fonts. I actually wonder if I could get by with the 11" now, but if the trackpad is smaller, don't think so.

 

[HiRez]

I spent sometime calibrating the 13" Samsung panel with my Spyder3 Elite yesterday.

Profiled at 6500k @ 2.2 Gamma. Can't decide if I prefer the original which feels more accurate. Anyhows here's a share, if you have one I'd love to grab it too.

macbook_air_9CF0

Hmm, that looks very greenish on my Samsung 13". There may just be such a big variation between the same panel type that a calibration can't be trusted across machines (very possible). Here's my Spyder3 calibration for 13" Samsung, 6500K, 2.2 gamma, see what it looks like on yours (put into ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles):

View attachment MacBook Air 2011 Samsung Spyder3 Calibration.zip

 

[unagimiyagi]

duffyanneal - If you get minute, could you open this test image and let us know how it looks on a Samsung 13" display?

Scroll to the right and see if you see all the shades or some start blending on the high end...

Reds and Greens blend on the LG.

http://www.pbase.com/jackcnd/image/75285374/original

Reds and Green blend on the Samsung too. I just tested.

 

[HiRez]

Reds and Green blend on the Samsung too. I just tested.

There's another thread about this. That appears to be a ColorSync issue, not related to the display hardware. View the same image in Chrome or Firefox (which don't use color management) and you should see the full range.

 

[RobNor]

Hirez,you mention non linearity is this top to bottom or left to right

My LG 2011 13" is a little less bright towards the bottom

 

[HiRez]

Hirez,you mention non linearity is this top to bottom or left to right

My LG 2011 13" is a little less bright towards the bottom

Both actually, it's slightly dimmer on the sides, a little less even top to bottom. Which might just be because it's a small screen with somewhat narrow viewing angles (in other words, sitting close to the screen your eyes are seeing the edges and a significant off-axis viewing angle). It's not horrible though, I can live with it.

 

[h00ligan]

While the effort is noble, sharing a hardware calibrated profile doesn't work.

 

[shiny-blanket]

Hmm, that looks very greenish on my Samsung 13". There may just be such a big variation between the same panel type that a calibration can't be trusted across machines (very possible). Here's my Spyder3 calibration for 13" Samsung, 6500K, 2.2 gamma, see what it looks like on yours (put into ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles):

View attachment 296179

Interestingly, your profile has a red hue for me, although I agree that my calibration is slightly green. I've just read the Anandtech review and they claim the panels are factory calibrated @6800k. It may be worth trying another calibration at that level.

 

[squaremon]

funny. i found that my iphone 4 and ipad Ace all these tests compare my my LG mba

 

[Azathoth]

I have the LG and checked it against my Gen1 verC macAir.

I have both desktops set up with a black photo in the center of the screen and the rest of the desktop is set to black.

When I crank the brightness to 100% on the New 2011 MacAir the black background washes out.

When I crank the brightness to 100% on the older Gen1 macAir the black background remains nice and black.

Both are on factory settings.

Question- if I return to Mac Store - can I request a Samsung display?
Will they be able to tell on the box?

FFS - You realise that this "test" doesn't mean anything right?

Perhaps the brightness of a 2011 macbook is greater than the brightness of a Gen 1 macbook

 

[macd123]

Hmm, that looks very greenish on my Samsung 13". There may just be such a big variation between the same panel type that a calibration can't be trusted across machines (very possible). Here's my Spyder3 calibration for 13" Samsung, 6500K, 2.2 gamma, see what it looks like on yours (put into ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles):

View attachment 296179

you are amazing!!!! this calibration deserves an award. i love it, i love it, i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! makes the screen look like its double the price!!!!

 

[shawnmac]

you are amazing!!!! this calibration deserves an award. i love it, i love it, i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! makes the screen look like its double the price!!!!

Okay, I tried that file on the LG screen and it actually brings out detail I didn't even realize was missing when using the previously best posted profile for the LG. Didn't even realize it was so dark in some areas (although that did make certain colors pop more) that certain detail was missing. Using this profile for now even though it was made for a Samsung.

Anyone have a spyder3 calibrated file for the LG screens?