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Just got 13" Air, one disappointment
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What can I say? We disagree. I have been involved in home theater for many years and learned long ago that nothing is more subjective than "picture quality," or "PQ," as it is often called. Looking at the 11 inch and 13 inch MBA displays side by side in the Apple Store, I could see no significant differences in their color saturation or otherwise. You did, though. No surprises there because of the subjectivity of the issue. That's why debates such as this are sound and fury, signifying nothing but differing perceptions. Come to think of it, that's what I said in my first post.
Agree..we disagree and there is no sound or fury.
Just observations which can be stated and discussed if so desired.
I'm just going to do a quick run-through:
Yes, the display is "crisp." This has nothing to do with the issue at hand, the intensity of the actual colors.
Graphics cards have nothing to do with this.
Color profiles will do nothing for a bad display.
That being said, the display on the 2010 MacBook Air (both kinds) is of lower quality than those found on the 2009-2010 MacBook Pros, in terms of color gamut. This is implied on Apple's site. Is the screen more than enough for most users? Yes. Unless you compare the screen to an iPad/MacBook Pro/external monitor, you won't really notice the 25%-or-whatever drop in color gamut.
Yes, the display is "crisp." This has nothing to do with the issue at hand, the intensity of the actual colors.
Graphics cards have nothing to do with this.
Color profiles will do nothing for a bad display.
That being said, the display on the 2010 MacBook Air (both kinds) is of lower quality than those found on the 2009-2010 MacBook Pros, in terms of color gamut. This is implied on Apple's site. Is the screen more than enough for most users? Yes. Unless you compare the screen to an iPad/MacBook Pro/external monitor, you won't really notice the 25%-or-whatever drop in color gamut.
What can I say? We disagree. I have been involved in home theater for many years and learned long ago that nothing is more subjective than "picture quality," or "PQ," as it is often called. Looking at the 11 inch and 13 inch MBA displays side by side in the Apple Store, I could see no significant differences in their color saturation or otherwise. You did, though. No surprises there because of the subjectivity of the issue. That's why debates such as this are sound and fury, signifying nothing but differing perceptions. Come to think of it, that's what I said in my first post.
Well I kind of agree and disagree. One's judgement in isolation of quality of the picture is arguably, as you say, very much subjective.
But if you're making a comparison between 2 different things, he observes a clear difference between the two, and another doesn't see the difference, thats not subjectivity, thats a lack of understanding or poor eyesight on somebody's behalf (and i'm not suggesting it's either of you).
There is no perfect computer.
I'm very happy with the display on both my 11" and 13" MBA's. And I'm particular. I spend a lot of time in front of the computer working, I would not buy one if the display was not up to par.
I'm sure if you give it some time, you may find it's better than your first impression. Often times expectations are very high for Apple products due to the fact that they are seriously over hyped.
When it comes to Apple marketing, exaggerations abound. Look at the advertising campaign for the iPad "It's Magical & Revolutionary"... What a load of crap. The iPad has it's place, but Magical & Revolutionary it's not... not even close...
Ok...I'll take the plunge here and sound like an @ss...if anyone gets tired of their POS display and you just want to get rid of it just cause. I'm going to trade anyone my 7yr. old HP Pavilion 14in. for your POS 11in. or 13in. Macbook Air so you can become a mor complete person.
Just return the DAMN thing and get your money back!!!
Someone said here already... "There is no perfect computer"
Cya
Just return the DAMN thing and get your money back!!!
Someone said here already... "There is no perfect computer"
Cya
I've got a new 13 inch MBA and in my opinion the screen is not as good as my MacBook Pro. I had read about people's thoughts on this so it wasn't a surprise.
I think the problem is, while the resolution and in general colour accuracy is fine, the viewing angle or whatever the term is for the screen tilt angle, is not as good.
For instance if I tilt the screen to a position where the top and middle of the screen looks perfect, the dock icons (especially with a blank Safari window background) look washed out. If I tilt it so the dock icons look great, then the top of the screen then looks washed out. I also found I had to tilt the screen back more than I had become accustomed to with my MBP.
It did really bother me at first but I've now become used to it. This and the lack of keyboard backlight are my only gripes but no deal breakers. The MBA more than makes up for it in other ways.
For anyone that hasn't tried it, try cmd, option, ctrl then the <, >. keys to play with the contrast, I found that helped a little.
I think the problem is, while the resolution and in general colour accuracy is fine, the viewing angle or whatever the term is for the screen tilt angle, is not as good.
For instance if I tilt the screen to a position where the top and middle of the screen looks perfect, the dock icons (especially with a blank Safari window background) look washed out. If I tilt it so the dock icons look great, then the top of the screen then looks washed out. I also found I had to tilt the screen back more than I had become accustomed to with my MBP.
It did really bother me at first but I've now become used to it. This and the lack of keyboard backlight are my only gripes but no deal breakers. The MBA more than makes up for it in other ways.
For anyone that hasn't tried it, try cmd, option, ctrl then the <, >. keys to play with the contrast, I found that helped a little.
what I'm finding so far about my 11" screen is that I want to lessen the contrast. I find it's hard on my eyes compared to my late 2007 white macbook, and it's a cooler (tried some of the profiles that folk have uploaded, thanks, that's a bit of an improvement). the black / white (ie - text on white background) contrast is just too strong. It's not to do with text size, I've set the size the same as on my macbook. The Macbook is just a lot easier on my eyes.
Too much looking at the Air so far has given me a sense of eyestrain that's actually a bit on the intense side. I will try your suggestion above using the modifiers and arrow keys once I'm all reinstalled an migrated. (in process of that now).
(using the brightness key to dim the screen merely makes everything darker so that doesn't solve it for me).
Too much looking at the Air so far has given me a sense of eyestrain that's actually a bit on the intense side. I will try your suggestion above using the modifiers and arrow keys once I'm all reinstalled an migrated. (in process of that now).
(using the brightness key to dim the screen merely makes everything darker so that doesn't solve it for me).
The screen is using LED backlighting with quite a cold color temperature. This makes the colors look a bit dull and not as vibrant I noticed.
But, after calibrating the screen with a Huey Pro, the colors have improved enormously. They are now very close to reality. They are still not as vibrant but then the MBP screens are over saturated anyway with the default color profile. I reckon that after calibration they are now better than a MBP as they are closer to reality.
I am a photographer and i am very critical on color. The color gamut of the MBA is not as wide as the ones of the MBPs but the MBA seems to give me results which are much closer to the final prints i make on a calibrated printer.