MacBook Pro Grainy Display

[Drugojacopo]

Hi, just back from the Apple Centre...the guy there didn't have any complaints about the screens...and actually ALL the screens there in display looked exactly like mine!!! Starting from the MacBooks to the MBP CD, to the iMac (all of them) and even the Cinema 20" looked exactly with the same pattern of my MBP C2D...! So I think for my case I can't do anything about that, it's just how it is...I think it's not the best for the comfort of the eyes but that's how it is...!

Cheers!

 

[TheSpaz]

Hi, just back from the Apple Centre...the guy there didn't have any complaints about the screens...and actually ALL the screens there in display looked exactly like mine!!! Starting from the MacBooks to the MBP CD, to the iMac (all of them) and even the Cinema 20" looked exactly with the same pattern of my MBP C2D...! So I think for my case I can't do anything about that, it's just how it is...I think it's not the best for the comfort of the eyes but that's how it is...!

Cheers!

You're telling us that ALL Apple displays have this now... the previous MacBooks looked perfectly smooth. This sucks.

 

[4nex]

An update for anyone interested, I meant to go the apple shop at the weekend but had far too much to drink the night before so I couldn't move. Rang apple care today and after 30 mins on hold, they were really good about it. I didn't really have to explain the problem in too much detail, just said I think there is too much coating on the screen so it looks diffused and dusty, the guy said he knew what I meant and because I'm within the 10 working day refund or replace period they'd send out a replacement on Priority One Shipping (ooooo!) so meant to be here sometime this week. I even get an overlap before they collect the old one to make sure I'm happy with the replacement. Makes transfering my stuff over much easier too. The keyboard on the one I have now is really starting to piss me off, the space bar constantly squeaks and the keys are all over the place so a replacement will be most welcome. Fingers crossed I get a better one this time...

 

[PDE]

An update for anyone interested, I meant to go the apple shop at the weekend but had far too much to drink the night before so I couldn't move. Rang apple care today and after 30 mins on hold, they were really good about it. I didn't really have to explain the problem in too much detail, just said I think there is too much coating on the screen so it looks diffused and dusty, the guy said he knew what I meant and because I'm within the 10 working day refund or replace period they'd send out a replacement on Priority One Shipping (ooooo!) so meant to be here sometime this week. I even get an overlap before they collect the old one to make sure I'm happy with the replacement. Makes transfering my stuff over much easier too. The keyboard on the one I have now is really starting to piss me off, the space bar constantly squeaks and the keys are all over the place so a replacement will be most welcome. Fingers crossed I get a better one this time...

Could you post photos of your bad display? thanks

 

[4nex]

You wouldn't be able to see the problem if I did sorry. The main reason being it isn't something you can really pickup with a camera, you'd have to see it in person, the other reasons being I only have a mobile phone cam and I'm a rubbish photographer

The photoshop of the screen cap with noise added is a pretty good representation really. It is annoying to look at and makes my eyes hurt.

 

[PDE]

You wouldn't be able to see the problem if I did sorry. The main reason being it isn't something you can really pickup with a camera, you'd have to see it in person, the other reasons being I only have a mobile phone cam and I'm a rubbish photographer

The photoshop of the screen cap with noise added is a pretty good representation really. It is annoying to look at and makes my eyes hurt.

I understand. Thanks anyway. I'm curious though: do yo actually see it when you're at a distance, say 2 feet away, or mainly when you're up closer? When I compare my macbook with my friend's macbook pro, the macbook seems crisper, while the MBP is a little blotchy in comparison. When I sit a little bit away from the compute, it's not that apparent, but if I look close it is. Also, although I don't notice the blotchiness at a distance, I do notice that the display just doesn't seem very sharp compared to other displays I've seen.

If I had to choose, I'd definitely choose the macbook display over the macbook pro - I guess that tells the story.

 

[e12a]

I'm not exactly sure if the graininess people experience is the same that i have. My lcd does not look any grainier than my friend's 20" Dell widescreen LCD.

 

[brikeh]

The keyboard on the one I have now is really starting to piss me off, the space bar constantly squeaks.

Yeah, what the hell? My spacebar squeaks too...it didnt at first but now it does. Its suuuper annoying. Mines being replaced for a bunch of different reasons so I hope my new one doesnt have a singing spacebar.

 

[PDE]

I'm not exactly sure if the graininess people experience is the same that i have. My lcd does not look any grainier than my friend's 20" Dell widescreen LCD.

I agree. it looks very similar to my cinema display. However, it doesn't look as nice as the smooth, silky macbook display. Not sure if the glossy mbp would be better in that regard, and more similar to the macbook display?

 

[e12a]

I agree. it looks very similar to my cinema display. However, it doesn't look as nice as the smooth, silky macbook display. Not sure if the glossy mbp would be better in that regard, and more similar to the macbook display?

I think it's the glossy display. the glossy finish gives everything a rich, vibrant look. I have matte, but i'm happy with the absolute no reflection.

 

[uv23]

I thoroughly examined a friend's last gen 15" PB and a first gen 15" MBP and the displays were both exactly the same as on my C2D MBP. This whole issue is a matter of mass hysteria and extreme nit picking.

 

[PDE]

I thoroughly examined a friend's last gen 15" PB and a first gen 15" MBP and the displays were both exactly the same as on my C2D MBP. This whole issue is a matter of mass hysteria and extreme nit picking.

yes, the last revision powerbook was the first time Apple introduced these displays. Before that, they had great viewing angles, relatively uniform illumination and color accuracy. I had the powerbook before the last one and its display was simply superb, albeit not as bright as the current ones. But brightness alone does not make a high quality display and apple is clearly not paying attention to other qualities.

 

[uv23]

yes, the last revision powerbook was the first time Apple introduced these displays. Before that, they had great viewing angles, relatively uniform illumination and color accuracy. I had the powerbook before the last one and its display was simply superb, albeit not as bright as the current ones. But brightness alone does not make a high quality display and apple is clearly not paying attention to other qualities.

His is the 1280 res model. Not sure if that's the last revision of the G4 PBs?

 

[4nex]

I thoroughly examined a friend's last gen 15" PB and a first gen 15" MBP and the displays were both exactly the same as on my C2D MBP. This whole issue is a matter of mass hysteria and extreme nit picking.

I think what you meant to say was you got a good one
As has been said before, if you need to ask, you don't have the problem. Or you have gotten so used to bad screens you can't tell the difference anymore. My screen is visibly crap from the other side of the room. It isn't as obvious as from close up but it doesn't look like a good, sharp screen should. Certainly couldn't do any serious jpeg work on it as you can't tell the jpeg noise from the screen noise.

 

[phoo]

I think what you meant to say was you got a good one
As has been said before, if you need to ask, you don't have the problem. Or you have gotten so used to bad screens you can't tell the difference anymore. My screen is visibly crap from the other side of the room. It isn't as obvious as from close up but it doesn't look like a good, sharp screen should. Certainly couldn't do any serious jpeg work on it as you can't tell the jpeg noise from the screen noise.

Well, I still think we are all talking about the same screen (as I said, every mbp 15in/matte I've seen is like that)... so I am still waiting for the first one here to get another matte screen that looks better.

 

[uv23]

Nope, I don't have a "good one." I notice the "grain" as much as it sounds like anyone else is. But people are getting hysterical over it. I'm just saying I'm seeing it in every other Apple portable I've looked at, new and old.

 

[4nex]

Nope, I don't have a "good one." I notice the "grain" as much as it sounds like anyone else is. But people are getting hysterical over it. I'm just saying I'm seeing it in every other Apple portable I've looked at, new and old.

Well if that is the case, they need to start buying better screens. My old crappy laptop had a better display, my mates Dull has a better display, my sister's Dull the same, my Mum's Sony, my Dad's HP, my work Tosshiba, my Phillips panel at work, my NEC panel at home etc. etc. etc. (need I go on?)

I find it hard to believe a machine aimed at the pro graphics arena is DESIGNED to have a crappy crappy display that gives eye strain and looks worse than the run of the mill hardware I listed above. The Powerbook I played with in John Lewis clearly had the same panel but it wasn't caked in anti-glare coating that screwed the whole display up.

Anyway, its not worth arguing about. I just hope I get less coating on my replacement.

 

[TheSpaz]

Well if that is the case, they need to start buying better screens. My old crappy laptop had a better display, my mates Dull has a better display, my sister's Dull the same, my Mum's Sony, my Dad's HP, my work Tosshiba, my Phillips panel at work, my NEC panel at home etc. etc. etc. (need I go on?)

I find it hard to believe a machine aimed at the pro graphics arena is DESIGNED to have a crappy crappy display that gives eye strain and looks worse than the run of the mill hardware I listed above. The Powerbook I played with in John Lewis clearly had the same panel but it wasn't caked in anti-glare coating that screwed the whole display up.

Anyway, its not worth arguing about. I just hope I get less coating on my replacement.

Maybe that dithering is to improve the maximum viewing angle by deflecting the pixels in all directions... just a crazy though... no proof.

 

[4nex]

Maybe that dithering is to improve the maximum viewing angle by deflecting the pixels in all directions... just a crazy though... no proof.

Well it doesn't, so I doubt it
I don't think there is any big mystery/conspiracy to this, I just think they sprayed too much coating on some of the panels, it happens. Its just annoying to have to return it.

 

[TheSpaz]

Well it doesn't, so I doubt it
I don't think there is any big mystery/conspiracy to this, I just think they sprayed too much coating on some of the panels, it happens. Its just annoying to have to return it.

No... I don't think it's "Some"... I think it's deliberate. It's even on all the PC displays I looked at. I saw a 23" Apple Cinema Display that looked HORRIBLE and it was running Windows... it just looked very unprofessional. However, when I looked at the 24" iMac... it looked way smoother than any LCD I've ever seen and it's not even glossy.

 

[TheSpaz]

I guess everyone got over it. Sweet... I got over it already too. I have a 20" Apple Cinema Display and I'm very satisfied with it even though it's a tad grainy but, it depends on how far away I view it from or if I even look and TRY to see it.

For example... it's a lot less noticeable when I'm closer to the display (about 12" from it) but, when I'm about 17" away from it, it's a little visible. I'd like to say it's better than the MacBook Pro but, I can't even tell anymore... maybe I just got used to it and that's just how it's gonna be so I don't even care anymore. Oh, and another thing... I just saw a MacBook Pro today at the store and the screen didn't look too bad... sure, I could see a little bit of grain but, from my memory, the 15" MBP that I had was really annoying me. Perhaps I should have given it more time for my eyes to get more used to it and to be able to see passed it and concentrate more on the actual image on the display rather than the coating on the outside. No one can really tell. All I can say right now is that I don't mind using this 20"... it's probably the best display I've ever used.

PS: I looked at a BUNCH of display models set up at Circuit City (some from Apple and a lot from other companies) and to tell you the truth... almost all of them suffered from the same problem... although some were a little worse than others... but, they all had it... interesting.

 

[ign]

Screen-wise. What's best: Glossy or non glossy? CD or C2D?

hello everyone,
I am about to buy a macbook pro 15 ether the new C2D or the refurbished CD.
I'm getting paranoid about the screen problems.

Do the problems affect mostly the last mb pros or also the old series is affected? Does it affect mostly the glossy or non glossy screens?

Has the screen quality gone down just in the C2D?
What do you suggest of the two mb pros (new or refurbished)?

thank you in advance for your comments/suggestions

 

[YS2003]

hello everyone,
I am about to buy a macbook pro 15 ether the new C2D or the refurbished CD.
I'm getting paranoid about the screen problems.

Do the problems affect mostly the last mb pros or also the old series is affected? Does it affect mostly the glossy or non glossy screens?

Has the screen quality gone down just in the C2D?
What do you suggest of the two mb pros (new or refurbished)?

thank you in advance for your comments/suggestions

I think this issue is blown out of proportion by small number of vocal users. My Matte C2D MBP does not have any grainy issue I can notice. If you are worried about this, maybe you should visit the near-by Apple store or Apple-certified retailer to check out the display model in the stores.
If I were you, I would avoid CD MBP as it is the rev A. It seems Apple finally put their acts together with C2D MBP in terms of built quality.

 

[weckart]

It's not the grainy nature of the screen which is causing the viewing problems, it is as said by others the excessive coating of anti-glare which causes whites to appear grey, if the brightness is turned right down and silver at mid to high levels of brightness. It is impossible to get a proper white to display on these screens.

For instance, on this site, it is hard to tell the difference between the grey background to the left of replies where avatars sit and the reply boxes themselves. It all sort of merges into one. The difference is particularly pronounced when running Windows, where the smaller system fonts appear blurry, because of the lack of contrast from all of the shimmer.
This is not restricted to Apple. I had a look around PCWorld (UK's answer to CompUSA) and noticed the same problem with a lot of current laptops - particularly on a lightweight Samsung model, which looked every bit as bad as the MBP C2D.

I suppose that the excessive anti-glare caking is a response to higher levels of brightness in current laptops. I could live with the Powerbook levels of brightness and better colour rendition, since the first thing I do with laptops is to turn the brightness down, anyway. I don't think returning the laptop and getting a replacement will solve anything, as the replacement will most likely have an identical screen. I have four Applestores to choose from (live in Nth London - work in Manchester) and all the MBP C2Ds have the same poor panels - whether glossy or matte in all the four stores I visited.

 

[danengel]

I have four Applestores to choose from (live in Nth London - work in Manchester) and all the MBP C2Ds have the same poor panels - whether glossy or matte in all the four stores I visited.

You mean there are glossy MBP C2D with the same grainy screen as the matte? I am about to send my super-grainy matte back and exchanging it for a glossy one.