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Macbook Air Screen is Terrible!
- Thread starter TurboJobo
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I try to temper my enthusiasm with the fact that I bought my (presumably last) 11" Ultimate for $850 from B&H several months ago. If I were ready to spend double that amount for a 'travel' MacBook, I'd probably go for an 'Ultimate' MacBook. The fact that the Air can still be had for less than $1000 makes it a viable alternative, in my opinion.
I have my Retina 15" MacBook Pro, and a 13" MacBook Air, i prefer the screen on my MacBook Air.
Its easier on my eyes, if i use my MacBook Pro all day my eyes often go bloodshot, with the Air this does not happen.
Also when using some apps i get lag on the retina because of the high res, on the air its silky smooth.
My son is still using his over 5 y.o. MacBook Air. The machine was purchased when he entered the 6th grade. He carried it in a backpack for 3 years of middle school as part of the school's Laptop Program....talk about torture tested. Then, 2 more years of High School classes and still going strong.
My daughter got 4 trouble free years from her MBA in College. That machine is almost 5 y.o. and still operates flawlessly.
My MBA is only 3.5 years old, and it works like a champ. Easily, the best computer I have ever owned.
Screen might not be perfect, but damn, these are great machines.
My daughter got 4 trouble free years from her MBA in College. That machine is almost 5 y.o. and still operates flawlessly.
My MBA is only 3.5 years old, and it works like a champ. Easily, the best computer I have ever owned.
Screen might not be perfect, but damn, these are great machines.
And it would effect the battery life that the Air is known for.
You gotta love the bashers that post the same thing over and over about the non retina screen.
Retina is a red herring, this thread was about IPS vs TN panels. OP said "I'm fine with the resolution".
So don't buy it. Problem solved. You can go about your day using whatever computer you find worth using.
Some of us are willing to take the hit on the screen quality for a machine that has actual USB ports, solid battery life, Magsafe, and a good keyboard.
Turns out you can have the computer you want AND somehow at the same time I can have the computer I want. That's the magic of the marketplace.
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I agree. I have a cheap AOC IPS monitor with a much better screen. I love my air, but it's silly that it has the worst screen on apple's whole lineup by a wide margin. I even wonder if Apple saves much money by keeping it with a TN panel, and if it's kept as is for purely market segmentation reason.
It’s not tin foil, it’s marketing.
The Air was a great machine in its early days. Apple then released the retina MacBook. How to upsell the new model? By keeping the old lineup with the old spec so new buyers will be attracted to the new model.
I do agree with you here. It seems like Apple could replace the TN with a decent IPS display at almost no cost. They might also replace one USB port with USB-C, and of course, make periodic processor updates per usual. A simple refresh would breath years more life into this classic entry level workhorse computer.
I suspect this is not to be. So, Apple might continue to lower the price of the MBP non-touch bar or rMB so they will eventually approach the price of the MBA. Frankly, I am a little surprised they don't offer the rMB with 128GB storage rather than 256GB. When Apple reduced the storage on the MBP nTB, they dropped the price $200, so a similar price reduction would get the rMB in the ballpark of the magical $1,000 consumer price point.
First, I would double-down on an 11" MBA with modern internals, even with a non-Retina display. The little portable engine that could doesn't need the greatest built-in display, so long as it can drive a good external display well.
Having bought a refurb mid-2012 13" MBP (and AppleCare+) this past June, I'm pretty sure that being the last truly upgradable and user-serviceable MBP might have something to do with it, too.
Exactly! I used a 2014 15" Retina MBP for work (this was my Mac introduction). When it came time to buy my own Mac, the user-serviceability of the non-Retina MBP won out over a sparklingly shiny, super high-res Retina display. As an audio guy, my use case didn't require it, either. I can always connect to an external display if I need more than what this has built-in.
Having bought a refurb mid-2012 13" MBP (and AppleCare+) this past June, I'm pretty sure that being the last truly upgradable and user-serviceable MBP might have something to do with it, too.
Exactly! I used a 2014 15" Retina MBP for work (this was my Mac introduction). When it came time to buy my own Mac, the user-serviceability of the non-Retina MBP won out over a sparklingly shiny, super high-res Retina display. As an audio guy, my use case didn't require it, either. I can always connect to an external display if I need more than what this has built-in.
I'm finding the air to be a great computer for audio/music. It's a cost effective way to get into the Mac platform, so pay your "apple tax" and then get the great bargain of Logic. Audio doesn't need a fancy color accurate screen, the USB-A ports are still generally useful for audio... and there's countless usb audio devices/midi controllers out there. And the power is good enough for small to moderate size projects. The only real downside is the cap of 8GB of ram, but for me I've run out of CPU before I've run out of ram. The non Retina pro is probably good for Music too, good enough power and upgradability is nice too.
I find it hilarious all the excuses everyone makes for Apple. Sorry, but a TN display in 2018 is absurd. I understand the resolution, but not the dated display technology.
You may find it "hilarious" but this thread was started and lasted posted to in "2017". Nobody in this thread is making excuses for Apple in 2018.
sracer, it happens. The poster missed only two facts: the thread is from 2017 and noone made excuses for Apple. Otherwise, no problems.
Alright, I'm going to point out a positive point about the mid-2013 to 2018 Air: all parts from these models, including the screen assembly and connecting cables, are completely interchangeable. This makes the sourcing of replacement parts a much easier task. Can't say that about PC laptops where they seem to change many parts from year to year.