Possible to have screen brightness "upgraded"???

[GhostMac24]

Pardon my ignorance as to how screen brightness is determined (hardware? software? etc?). I have a 17" MBP with an intel Core Duo and the screen is rather dim, especially compared to my wife's brand new MBP. Other than that, this laptop is awesome and I have no issues with it other than wishing the screen was brighter.

So, is it possible (without spending what it would cost to get a new computer ) to upgrade the screen brightness?

I plan to get a new laptop in the coming months but I have a few software programs that I absolutely have to run on this MBP since it runs SL which won't work on Lion (this biggest is a full SPSS license). So selling this laptop is not an option. The new laptop will be an addition.

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[simsaladimbamba]

As newer Macs use better and brighter display technology (LED for one), you can only get a brighter screen with a new display, though I don't know, if there is one fitting your Mac, that is brighter than your current one.
You could also just get an external display for 200 USD and use that.

Btw, 2011 MBPs can run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
[SUCCESS!]Late 2011 Macbook Pro with Snow Leopard

 

[Schtumple]

There's so many variables to think about, the connectors would probably be different, the power consumption would be different, the ribbon for the display would be different... All in all, it's probably possible, but I wouldn't recommend trying it unless your laptop is disposable incase it all goes wrong.

 

[Macman45]

That's the opposite for me....My (Mid 2011) MBP 17" high res screen is TOO bright...I'm always turning it down.

 

[GhostMac24]

That's the opposite for me....My (Mid 2011) MBP 17" high res screen is TOO bright...I'm always turning it down.

Totally understand. I have a new iMac 27" that I have the brightness setting below 50% as anything higher is really bright and stressful on the eyes. And that is still brighter than my older MBP!

There's so many variables to think about, the connectors would probably be different, the power consumption would be different, the ribbon for the display would be different... All in all, it's probably possible, but I wouldn't recommend trying it unless your laptop is disposable incase it all goes wrong.

That's what I was afraid of. Thank you for the reply.

As newer Macs use better and brighter display technology (LED for one), you can only get a brighter screen with a new display, though I don't know, if there is one fitting your Mac, that is brighter than your current one.
You could also just get an external display for 200 USD and use that.

Btw, 2011 MBPs can run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.
[SUCCESS!]Late 2011 Macbook Pro with Snow Leopard

Wow, good know. Thanks for the info.