Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Hello to everybody, i'm quite new to the Mac world and especially to this board.
First of all, i yesterday finally got my second-hand mac, so i cannot return, unfortunately. I have to say that in general i'm really happy with it. But this crappy screen, it's horrible. Grain everywhere! So i'm thinking of what to do now. I'll need my MacBook Pro next week thursday, but after that i could exchange it with any other model, but i'm still unsure what to do.
By the way, it's that CD matte 9C057. I think sending it back to Apple wouldn't make sense. I could get a glossy one but i guess that wouldn't solve my problem with grain, although i like glossy more. The only options i really have are the following, right?:
- switching to 17". Well, don't have enough money, not really an option..
- switching back to PC. Okay, good display.. But Windows? Never again. And i had some time of my life with linux. I like it, but OS X is much better. So, not really an option...
- switching to MacBook. I hate that little screen.. But i need a portable device, so this will be the only real option, correct? Any other advice? I don't think so.. :(
I guess i'll be switching to a MacBook, maybe C2D, in 2 weeks then. If there's any other possibility for me, let me know..
Greetings.
PS: I read through all 20 sites. What a day, took me about 3-4 hours..
PPS: My father has a FSC with glossy and it's simply great concerning the graininess. None at all. But the brightness is disappointing. My opinion is: better a little dark display than a grainy one. :/
 
As long as they put in better screens for the next revision I will be so over the moon, I never thought I will say this, but the MBPs are near perfect except for the screens, and that is one big caveat.
 
As long as they put in better screens for the next revision I will be so over the moon, I never thought I will say this, but the MBPs are near perfect except for the screens, and that is one big caveat.

I totally agree with that. For me, it might be the "kill" factor - sorry, don't know if I chose the correct word.. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say. :)
 
Couldn't agree more. That's why I have a black macbook...simply because the screen is so much better than the 15" MBP i took back. It's pretty absurd to have such awful screens on the Pro line.
 
And the 13 inches are enough for you? I still think of selling my MBP and buying a MacBook, but i'm unsure about the size.. :eek:
 
I found somebody who wants to exchange his MacBook for my MacBook Pro and i'm gonna do that (Of course he's going to pay some money for that..). Hopefully the Santa Rosa CPU will also bring us new LCDs - maybe I'd change back to MacBook Pro then..
 
Thanks. I also think, that the 13 inches with a relatively high resolution compared to other 13 inches notebooks is quite ok for me. And maybe i'll be buying any iMac soon, as for a good graphics card. :)
 
I'm no gamer, so the non-dedicated GPU is really a non issue. I have 2 GB of ram, and the MacBook does CoverFlow, ripple effect, expose, front row, genie effect...etc...with ease.
 
Okay, that sounds good. Actually, i don't play anything but i might wanna play Anno 1701 anytime in the future.. I bought it but only played that game once. :D Also, I have X360 and Wii. No problem at all then.
I guess i'll be happy with the MacBook, because i noticed today that this grainy screen really bothers me. I don't know why Apple does such stupid things, since the MacBook Pro is the high-end line - for photographers, graphic designers and such people, i guess.. :rolleyes:
 
And the problem is that if you see the grain, you'll always see it and it will only annoy you more. The macbook has a very pleasant display by comparison.
 
Me too

I just got a 15-inch MBP. Grainy screen, really bad. It hurts my eyes to look at it, gives me throbbing headaches.

I need to look at that screen for about 13-14 hours a day. It's my work machine, my home machine, my everything.

I called Apple to discuss the problem and they gave me the runaround. Said that they would have to go through a lengthy return/exchange authorization process or have me ship my two-day-old machine in for "repairs." So I'm going to the nearest Apple store to demand an exchange. Not even a refund, just an exchange. I sincerely hope that they approve it, otherwise I'll be forced to put this thing on eBay.

Anyway, a question: Exchange it for a glossy MBP or a regular MB? Which has the better screen for everyday stuff, like reading and writing TONS of text and doing the occasional photo in photoshop? Thankfully, processing power isn't a huge deal for me. I don't play games and I only use Photoshop every once and a while. In fact, I spent the extra $$ on the MBP almost solely because of the bigger screen!!

Your opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
I just got a 15-inch MBP. Grainy screen, really bad. It hurts my eyes to look at it, gives me throbbing headaches.

I need to look at that screen for about 13-14 hours a day. It's my work machine, my home machine, my everything.

I called Apple to discuss the problem and they gave me the runaround. Said that they would have to go through a lengthy return/exchange authorization process or have me ship my two-day-old machine in for "repairs." So I'm going to the nearest Apple store to demand an exchange. Not even a refund, just an exchange. I sincerely hope that they approve it, otherwise I'll be forced to put this thing on eBay.

Anyway, a question: Exchange it for a glossy MBP or a regular MB? Which has the better screen for everyday stuff, like reading and writing TONS of text and doing the occasional photo in photoshop? Thankfully, processing power isn't a huge deal for me. I don't play games and I only use Photoshop every once and a while. In fact, I spent the extra $$ on the MBP almost solely because of the bigger screen!!

Your opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

This is what one'd deserve for putting faith into Apple. With the many threads on MR... anyone considering a purchase of a MBP right now has already been warned.
 
I just got a 15-inch MBP. Grainy screen, really bad. It hurts my eyes to look at it, gives me throbbing headaches.

I need to look at that screen for about 13-14 hours a day. It's my work machine, my home machine, my everything.

I called Apple to discuss the problem and they gave me the runaround. Said that they would have to go through a lengthy return/exchange authorization process or have me ship my two-day-old machine in for "repairs." So I'm going to the nearest Apple store to demand an exchange. Not even a refund, just an exchange. I sincerely hope that they approve it, otherwise I'll be forced to put this thing on eBay.

Anyway, a question: Exchange it for a glossy MBP or a regular MB? Which has the better screen for everyday stuff, like reading and writing TONS of text and doing the occasional photo in photoshop? Thankfully, processing power isn't a huge deal for me. I don't play games and I only use Photoshop every once and a while. In fact, I spent the extra $$ on the MBP almost solely because of the bigger screen!!

Your opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Being in the same situation you are, just 2 weeks ago, i went to the store and explained the issue to the Mac Genius. I checked out all the displays while i waited, and found even the glossy 15" MBP had grain...along with the matte 30" LCD. The MacBook was perfect though. I exchanged it for a Black MacBook, and was adamant about NOT paying a ridiculous $200 restocking fee.....which the eventually didn't end up charging me.

Go to the store and have a look for yourself. If you don't truly need the horsepower that a Pro machine offers, i cannot recommend that MacBook enough.
 
I just got a 15-inch MBP. Grainy screen, really bad. It hurts my eyes to look at it, gives me throbbing headaches.

I need to look at that screen for about 13-14 hours a day. It's my work machine, my home machine, my everything.

I called Apple to discuss the problem and they gave me the runaround. Said that they would have to go through a lengthy return/exchange authorization process or have me ship my two-day-old machine in for "repairs." So I'm going to the nearest Apple store to demand an exchange. Not even a refund, just an exchange. I sincerely hope that they approve it, otherwise I'll be forced to put this thing on eBay.

Anyway, a question: Exchange it for a glossy MBP or a regular MB? Which has the better screen for everyday stuff, like reading and writing TONS of text and doing the occasional photo in photoshop? Thankfully, processing power isn't a huge deal for me. I don't play games and I only use Photoshop every once and a while. In fact, I spent the extra $$ on the MBP almost solely because of the bigger screen!!

Your opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!


Take this advice from a very persistent veteran Macbook and Macbook pro beta tester. I've tried them all, multiple units of each and my conclusion is
that the best displays are, in order:

1. Macbook pro 17" - very nice, uneven illumination but extremely comfortable and soothing for your eyes. Good color accuracy, reasonable viewing angles and just a pretty good display.

2. Macbook 13" - nice, relatively even illumination, gloss is ok but matte is nicer but not MBP mate, ok viewing angles, sharp and overall a pretty decent display

3 -100. All PC laptops displays, starting at $499 and up

101. macbook pro 15" - uneven illumination, grainy, poor viewing angles and generally nasty display except for the wonderful brightness!


Seriously, the 17" is the nicest with themacbook a close second. Don't even bother trying to get an exchange. Return it and argue with them by putting it next to either the 17" or macbook and showing them whites. If theydon't see it (they will say automatically that it's within specifications since they're trained to do that), ask them when they had their latest eye checkup and then ask to speak to a manager.

Good luck! Oh, if you decide to get a macbook: the black ones are really nice but to stay nice they need constant love in the form of wiping and cleaning since they look like you've dipped them in kentucky fried chicken oil after you've touched them. The white ones get scratches just by looking at them for too long, but the scratches are pretty much invisible under normal conditions. Get white....
 
Take this advice from a very persistent veteran Macbook and Macbook pro beta tester. I've tried them all, multiple units of each and my conclusion is
that the best displays are, in order:

1. Macbook pro 17" - very nice, uneven illumination but extremely comfortable and soothing for your eyes. Good color accuracy, reasonable viewing angles and just a pretty good display.

2. Macbook 13" - nice, relatively even illumination, gloss is ok but matte is nicer but not MBP mate, ok viewing angles, sharp and overall a pretty decent display

3 -100. All PC laptops displays, starting at $499 and up

101. macbook pro 15" - uneven illumination, grainy, poor viewing angles and generally nasty display except for the wonderful brightness!


Seriously, the 17" is the nicest with themacbook a close second. Don't even bother trying to get an exchange. Return it and argue with them by putting it next to either the 17" or macbook and showing them whites. If theydon't see it (they will say automatically that it's within specifications since they're trained to do that), ask them when they had their latest eye checkup and then ask to speak to a manager.

Good luck! Oh, if you decide to get a macbook: the black ones are really nice but to stay nice they need constant love in the form of wiping and cleaning since they look like you've dipped them in kentucky fried chicken oil after you've touched them. The white ones get scratches just by looking at them for too long, but the scratches are pretty much invisible under normal conditions. Get white....

Thanks for the advice! My thoughts exactly about the black. I don't want the friggin keys to look greasy after a day's work. And I know that even if I wipe them down every day they'll get shiny anyway, just from the polishing action of typing a few million words a day. I guess I could go with white and then swap out the hard drive with a bigger one. Man, so complicated! Ugh.
 
Grease?

Being in the same situation you are, just 2 weeks ago, i went to the store and explained the issue to the Mac Genius. I checked out all the displays while i waited, and found even the glossy 15" MBP had grain...along with the matte 30" LCD. The MacBook was perfect though. I exchanged it for a Black MacBook, and was adamant about NOT paying a ridiculous $200 restocking fee.....which the eventually didn't end up charging me.

Go to the store and have a look for yourself. If you don't truly need the horsepower that a Pro machine offers, i cannot recommend that MacBook enough.

Thanks man! One question, do the keys on black macbook get polished and greasy looking after a while? I've seen black keyboards on other machines—after time the matte surface gets polished by constant wear. Even cleaning them with alcohol doesn't do the trick. Same thing with my 12-inch PowerBook's silver keys—polished and shiny, but not bad because the silver tends to hide it.
 
Thanks man! One question, do the keys on black macbook get polished and greasy looking after a while? I've seen black keyboards on other machines—after time the matte surface gets polished by constant wear. Even cleaning them with alcohol doesn't do the trick. Same thing with my 12-inch PowerBook's silver keys—polished and shiny, but not bad because the silver tends to hide it.

From experience with both white and black ones, I can tell you that they both get shiny after a while, but the black one shows it more. Teh white gets shiny but just doesn't look as yucky. Silver of the macbook pros is the best, like you say.
 
Good news

Good news, they took the computer back for a full refund!

Everyone is so right, the MacBook screen is beautiful and even the glossy Macbook Pro has grain.

So now it's just down to me deciding black or white. The white is easier to keep up, but the black just LOOKS nicer. Decisions decisions decisions.
 
Good news, they took the computer back for a full refund!

Everyone is so right, the MacBook screen is beautiful and even the glossy Macbook Pro has grain.

So now it's just down to me deciding black or white. The white is easier to keep up, but the black just LOOKS nicer. Decisions decisions decisions.

Or maybe not. . . The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking about just waiting. I mean, both MacBooks have inferior finishes. The white one scratches and both the black and white have that sticky-ish, rubbery material on the palmrest area. Whatever. Disappointing. Very disappointing that I can't run OSX on whatever I want. Especially considering that none of the Apple laptops fit my needs right now. bummer.
 
Reference monitor used - Not nitpicking

I have noticed that the LCDs on Macbook PRO, Cinema Displays, iMacs have similar grainy displays.

It is harder to see depending on the light. But if you look right up close, you can see. First I thought it was dirt, so I rubbed the screen, but no dust etc moved off.

So finally to put my mind at rest, I took my Eizo Color Edge CG211 down to the mac store and plugged it in side by side to some Macbook Pros and a cinema display. The Eizo (coming off a Mac Pro) showed no grain, in start contrast to a 15" macbook pro. Same with the cinema display.

My friend that works at the shop was quite surprised, as he through the Cinema Displays were excellent. But the Eizo was crystal clear next to them ... though still a more expensive monitor, so not entirely fair comparison! But I think Apple can do better.

I have always bought Eizo, as their monitors have brilliant displays and often used as references.

Kind of depressing, so I am going with a Mac Pro, so at least I will have a nice display (Eizo) and still run Windows on Parallels.
 
I have a 1 year old HP laptop (DV1000 series). The screen has this same grainy appearance. I never thought it was abnormal until I saw screens in some other HP notebooks that do not have this issue.

I was recently at BestBuy and saw a MacBook pro on display. It had this same grain issue. I was also surprised that the screens, while bright, are not nearly as bright/clear/grain-free like the sony vaio notebooks (there was one right next to it).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.