LED-lit Displays in Upcoming 15'' MacBook Pros?

[macsaregoodmkay]

new mbp upgrade

any idea when this will happen? and will it be touted as a new mbp or is it just a speed bump? are we looking at major speed increases or just a little faster than current speeds? if this is 4 months away we may as well buy now and be happy. will i have to wait for the kinks to iron out once this comes out?

 

[slffl]

Amen. I mean honestly, one button? I'm usually not that hurt over feature loss but you'd think a two-buttoned mouse in a laptop would be a basic. Im surprised they even included speakers in the Macbooks.

The day Apple puts 2 buttons on their laptops is the day I stop buying them. Just because you and other windows users like 2 buttons doesn't mean everyone does. For instance, ME, I hate 2 buttons on a laptop. I RARELY use the 2nd mouse button to begin with and I want to click in the middle of the button without having to look down or move my thumb slightly to the left. God I wish they would come up with a solution to this (well besides already being able to do it 2 different ways) so people could get on with their lives.

 

[Multimedia]

And I Thought Cold Cathode Florescent Lamps (CCFL) Were New

Well Sony & Samsung as well as HP and Dell are all bragging about Cold Cathode Florescent Lamps (CCFL) being the NEW superior way to backlight HDTVs and their latest 30" monitors providing a 92% Color Gamut. Sony even claims to have a superior CCFL backlight beyond what Samsung offers. And now we are told here that CCFL is old school and "LED backlights" are next? I'm confused.

Does anyone know why CCFL is being used by marketing in the above situations when it is in fact not new or what is really going on with regard to this technology? Is it really traditional or new? Perhaps this is a new version of older less mature CCFL technology?

As fas as the LED backlight for the next gen mobile Macs, that's enough for me to want to wait for it to reach the 17" model before I pull the trigger.

Add user replaceable HDDs to my 'want list' on new MBPs...

Me too. In fact this is the one missing feature that has kept me from getting one already most of all.

 

[mandoman]

Add user replaceable HDDs to my 'want list' on new MBPs...

 

[oldwatery]

Great news I think?

Now I really don't know what to do with my 3rd 17"MBP.
I've been offered a full refund but it means I have to wait probably 3-6 months for the new machines.
Another replacement seems like such a waste of time.
If only my trusty old TiBook could keep going till then.

Oh what to do

 

[ShnikeJSB]

I was planning on replacing my Dell XPS Gen 2 (yes, I went to the dark side for a couple years...) when I finally graduate around June. Man, if this rumor turns out to be true, I will be SO happy I waited! I was looking forward to Santa Rosa and Leopard, but LED screens will just be the icing on the cake!!! I can't wait!

 

[Analog Kid]

Well Sony & Samsung as well as HP and Dell are all bragging about Cold Cathode Florescent Lamps (CCFL) being the NEW superior way to backlight HDTVs and their latest 30" monitors providing a 92% Color Gamut. Sony even claims to have a superior CCFL backlight beyond what Samsung offers. And now we are told here that CCFL is old school and "LED backlights" are next? I'm confused.

Does anyone know why CCFL is being used by marketing in the above situations when it is in fact not new or what is really going on with regard to this technology? Is it really traditional or new? Perhaps this is a new version of older less mature CCFL technology?

Like you said, it's marketing... That accounts for a lot of it.

I think most HDTVs use some sort of incandescent bulb to get the brightness levels for that large a screen, so CCFL might be new for them. In the 30" monitors, they've probably introduced a new chemistry giving better color. Either way, marketing's job is to make the mundane sound new and exciting.

 

[sehix]

Two buttom mouse, Steve won't let that happen anytime soon, it's about ego.

It's a non-issue; you already have the functionality on all shipping MacBooks and MBPs, tapping two fingers on the trackpad.

Why do you think they have the mighty mouse?

For four buttons and scrolling? Is this a trick question?[/QUOTE]

 

[4np]

Exactly. The model called "type T" in Japan uses LED backlight. The model is called "TX Series" in USA. Longer battery, more vivid colors, and one more thing... the display assembly can be razor-thin.

Could this led backlight rumor be related to that previous 'thin' MacBook Pro rumour that surfaced recently?

 

[4np]

If the ship with the x1600 again, I'll cry.

I agree; there should be a GPU apgrade. X1600 is not a Pro GPU (anymore)...

 

[Butthead]

Well Sony & Samsung as well as HP and Dell are all bragging about Cold Cathode Florescent Lamps (CCFL) being the NEW superior way to backlight HDTVs and their latest 30" monitors providing a 92% Color Gamut. Sony even claims to have a superior CCFL backlight beyond what Samsung offers. And now we are told here that CCFL is old school and "LED backlights" are next? I'm confused.

Does anyone know why CCFL is being used by marketing in the above situations when it is in fact not new or what is really going on with regard to this technology? Is it really traditional or new? Perhaps this is a new version of older less mature CCFL technology?

As fas as the LED backlight for the next gen mobile Macs, that's enough for me to want to wait for it to reach the 17" model before I pull the trigger. Me too. In fact this is the one missing feature that has kept me from getting one already most of all.

Not to pick on MM, but have any of the posters here asking redundant questions on this redudant rumor, actually read the initial rumor thread? So now we know where AppleInsider really gets their scoops, Digitimes

The Samsung (read the other thread) 20in monitor that was just annouced that uses
http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20061104_0000298342

LED backlighting, is designed for professionals and as such those LED's are purpose specific, 114% of NTSC gamut. But that hardly means you'll get super accurate color on a commodity laptop from Apple. Meaning they don't necessarily require significanly greater costs to produce such a screen, mass produced led's are coming down in price all the time, especially the tiny size that would be needed for a backlight (also read my links on the other thread, re: OLED, not ready for prime time/economy of scale, but the fading blue issue has recently been worked out...unless you use your laptop everyday of they year and spend more than 8hrs each and everyday, otherwise don't sweat the 'limited' blue spectrum of the OLED when they finally go into production).

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=3269416&samsung+oled#post3269416

 

[Zadillo]

I agree; there should be a GPU apgrade. X1600 is not a Pro GPU (anymore)...

But what GPU would you fit in there? To date, there still aren't any significantly better video cards that could fit into a 1" thick 15" notebook. Frankly even on thicker 15", the most powerful cards now are the X1700 and GeForce 7700, which are only slightly more powerful than the X1600 and GeForce 7600.

it's fine to say there should be a GPU upgrade, but I think someone would have to propose what GPU upgrade that would be that would make a significant performance difference.

 

[4np]

Ever tried the 2 finger tapping? I absolutely love how I can scroll in every direction and right-click using to fingern on the touch pad.

Erh? 2 finger tapping? right clicking with your finger on the touch pad?

 

[4np]

But what GPU would you fit in there? To date, there still aren't any significantly better video cards that could fit into a 1" thick 15" notebook. Frankly even on thicker 15", the most powerful cards now are the X1700 and GeForce 7700, which are only slightly more powerful than the X1600 and GeForce 7600.

it's fine to say there should be a GPU upgrade, but I think someone would have to propose what GPU upgrade that would be that would make a significant performance difference.

a Radeon x1800 or GeForce GO 7900 or something?

Compare, for example, the 3DMarks between this asus a7g notebook with x1600 GPU and this dell xps m1710 notebook with GO 7900 gpu. Of course the difference in hardware should also be taken into account but the difference below is too huge to be difference in (other) hardware only.

Asus A7G (X1600)

Dell XPS M1710 (Go 7900)

And here a comparisson between different GPU's:

Looking at all these number the X1800 seems the best option now and as you can see: it is a huge difference compared to the x1600...

 

[Zadillo]

a Radeon x1800 or GeForce GO 7900 or something?

Compare, for example, the 3DMarks between this asus a7g notebook with x1600 GPU and this dell xps m1710 notebook with GO 7900 gpu.

Asus A7G

Dell XPS M1710

Note that the XPS M1710 is a behomoth 17" notebook. The thinnest notebook I've seen with a card like that is Toshiba's P105-S9722, which has a GeForce 7900GS, but is over 1.5 inches thick (and gets closer to 2 inches thick in the portion where the video card is).

The X1800, 7900 mobile GPU's can't reasonably be housed in anything less than those big 17" notebooks........... even if you managed to fit them into a 15" form factor, the heat would probably be a major problem. There's no conceivable way I could see for a card like those to fit into a 1" thick MBP chassis.

That's really the sticking point. There are more powerful mobile GPUs out there, but they require thicker and larger cases.

-Zadillo

 

[Bern]

Well whatever Apple might be updating the MBP to I hope it happens before May because that's when I'm getting one

 

[MrCrowbar]

Not to pick on MM, but have any of the posters here asking redundant questions on this redudant rumor, actually read the initial rumor thread? So now we know where AppleInsider really gets their scoops, Digitimes

The Samsung (read the other thread) 20in monitor that was just annouced that uses
http://www.samsung.com/PressCenter/PressRelease/PressRelease.asp?seq=20061104_0000298342

LED backlighting, is designed for professionals and as such those LED's are purpose specific, 114% of NTSC gamut. But that hardly means you'll get super accurate color on a commodity laptop from Apple. Meaning they don't necessarily require significanly greater costs to produce such a screen, mass produced led's are coming down in price all the time, especially the tiny size that would be needed for a backlight (also read my links on the other thread, re: OLED, not ready for prime time/economy of scale, but the fading blue issue has recently been worked out...unless you use your laptop everyday of they year and spend more than 8hrs each and everyday, otherwise don't sweat the 'limited' blue spectrum of the OLED when they finally go into production).

https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=3269416&samsung+oled#post3269416

Believe it or not, I use my Macbook everyday for 8 hours or more. I use it for work, watching DVDs, watching TV, surfing etc... come to hink of it, I probably stare at a screen 12 hours of the day. Even when driving i got the GPS, who knows, I might go crazy I I don't see a screen for one whole day. I'm really anxious for OLEDs in big displays. The picture quality of those things is stellar, real black even in the dark, less ghosting even than CRT, ultra high framerates, no false colors if viewed at an angle. The fading blue can be adjusted by an automatically adjusting color profile I guess. You probably lose some gamut over time, but it won't really b noticeable I guess.

Don't traditional LCDs fade from white to beige overtime?

 

[4np]

Well whatever Apple might be updating the MBP to I hope it happens before May because that's when I'm getting one

I certainly hope it will be sooner that that... preferably march/april.

 

[4np]

Believe it or not, I use my Macbook everyday for 8 hours or more. I use it for work, watching DVDs, watching TV, surfing etc...

Me too, dvd, vlc, work, surfing, mailing, video editing and -like some overpriced stereo- for playing music to my airport express.

 

[direzz]

great, but an update that is late and also another reason for apple to raise their prices, or keep them at the same ridiculous price they are at now

 

[Martin C]

A video camera instead of just an isight

You can record video in iMovie using the iSight camera...

 

[72930]

You can record video in iMovie using the iSight camera...

Even simpler is QT pro..

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

Exciting.

 

[skeep5]

This is what i've been waiting for, a better screen.

 

[powermac_daddy]

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2426

They seem to be moving from cold cathode fluorescent backlights (CCFLs) towards LED backlights.

"While pricer than CCFLs, LED technology is more efficient at distributing lighting evenly across the entire display surface and offers an increase in color saturation. According to a white paper from Cree, a backlight solutions provider expected to provide its LED technology to Apple, LED-based backlights also consume less power, run cooler, and last longer than CCFLs."

Sounds good to me. Just sold my Macbook so I even might wait for 2nd quarter of this year before buying a new one.

I did two years of lighting research in california. I played with many different types of LED, and made prototypes etc.... You say "less power, run cooler, and last longer than CCFLs."

I would say yes to "less power and last longer than CFLs". Indeed, LED is amazing. But run cooler? I'm not quite sure about that.