So... about that Macbook screen wash-out

[Eidorian]

I have a 9C89 model also. I downloaded Eldorian's profile and his comes up as a 9C5E. Both manufacturer 610.

Note, my MacBook is the Late 2007 one. I bought it the day of release. When I get home I'll get my display information and post it here.

The default profile is miserable in my opinion and I got my updated one off of another user on MacRumors. I have a friend with an identical MacBook bought in late January of 2008 and they're using my profile as well.

If anyone is going to try it on a new Aluminium Macbook how is it compared to the default Apple one?

 

[sammy2066]

Note, my MacBook is the Late 2007 one. I bought it the day of release. When I get home I'll get my display information and post it here.

The default profile is miserable in my opinion and I got my updated one off of another user on MacRumors. I have a friend with an identical MacBook bought in late January of 2008 and they're using my profile as well.

If anyone is going to try it on a new Aluminium Macbook how is it compared to the default Apple one?

I tried your profile on my macbook, and it was still a little too blue and washed out for my taste. I mean, we can't really make a bad panel good just by calibration. This needs to be taken to the next level, because this screen is a rip-off!

Anybody up for signing petitions?

 

[Eidorian]

I tried your profile on my macbook, and it was still a little too blue and washed out for my taste. I mean, we can't really make a bad panel good just by calibration. This needs to be taken to the next level, because this screen is a rip-off!

Anybody up for signing petitions?

Yeah it looks like it only really works on the Late 2007 MacBook then. Thanks for trying it out though. I get similar results using it on my 20" iMac at work.

The MacBook panels have always been of a lower quality in general. Apple really wants to push you to the MacBook Pro for a better LCD.

 

[bluesTank]

Compared to what I am used to, the colors on my new macbook are magnificent and I love it.

I don't know what you all are talking about it being a rip off. It looks incredible, and my wife was amazed when we first took it out and turned it on.

I don't understand what the problem is?

 

[Eidorian]

Compared to what I am used to, the colors on my new macbook are magnificent and I love it.

I don't know what you all are talking about it being a rip off. It looks incredible, and my wife was amazed when we first took it out and turned it on.

I don't understand what the problem is?

Have you tried different color profiles on your new MacBook? Do you have another Mac to compare it to?

Unless you're spending money on calibration hardware then a lot of this depends on your eyes and interpretation of a display.

I'm a big fan of reading newspapers and other paper media since a displayed version doesn't seem as real to my eyes.

 

[poozer115]

I'm envious of all these people buying Macbook's for their daughters, and having their Macbook paid for with their "dad's hard earned money" =(. I'm sixteen and it's going to take me another whole year before I can pay for one of these machines (jealous expression).

 

[eye.surgeon]

I'm coming off a Sony TZ with an LCD screen largely considered one of the best in the industry. I find the screen on my MB to have a fairly limited viewing angle but when positioned correctly it's fine. I'm OK with that in fact it works like a privacy screen which I need at times anyways.

 

[sammy2066]

Have you tried different color profiles on your new MacBook? Do you have another Mac to compare it to?

Unless you're spending money on calibration hardware then a lot of this depends on your eyes and interpretation of a display.

I'm a big fan of reading newspapers and other paper media since a displayed version doesn't seem as real to my eyes.

Well put. There are some people (like me. and many others on this forum) who expect nothing short of the best from Apple. I've been a loyal Apple user for years now, and I've seen the company become what it is today. Quality used to be Apple's strong points, but it seems the profits have given way to value engineering and economies of scale.

My primary work monitor is a Dell 2005FPW, which has brilliant viewing angles and color reproduction. My bar was already set too high it seems.

 

[Eidorian]

Well put. There are some people (like me. and many others on this forum) who expect nothing short of the best from Apple. I've been a loyal Apple user for years now, and I've seen the company become what it is today. Quality used to be Apple's strong points, but it seems the profits have given way to value engineering and economies of scale.

My primary work monitor is a Dell 2005FPW, which has brilliant viewing angles and color reproduction. My bar was already set too high it seems.

I'm moving from iMacs and a wonderful Dell 2407 at another job. The MacBook is much more bearable when using the customized profile that I posted earlier. Even then I can't guarantee it's calibrated in any way. The colors and contrast is a remarkable improvement to my eyes over what Apple ships as the default profile for my MacBook.

Sadly the MacBook is shipping with a much more inferior LCD panel then the MacBook Pro. You can only make an inferior panel look so much better. There is some investment in a panel with a wider viewing angle and color gamut.

The viewing angle on my MacBook does annoy me from time to time but it usually doesn't take much more then a quick adjustment to rectify it. It's great for privacy but poor for multiple viewers or movie playback.

 

[hazoomeh]

I just turned this new glassbook baby on a few mins ago. The display I think is nice but the text is somewhat out of focus. It seems more like a calibration issue. After all, apple didn't tell us they are using a different technology between the new MB and MBPs.. Perhaps the screen size just makes calibration difficult??

 

[Cabbit]

How is the new macbook display compared to the GMA 950 era macbook, my friend has the SR MB and it is no ware near as nice as the display on this on, hers has a noticeable grid a bit like a television and she can only look at it from limited angles.
My one i can look at it from every angle and even from a good distance and it is still showing sharp color and images without any of that ghost type view were everything looks inverted like her one and a lot of the newer macbooks i have seen.

 

[bluesTank]

So why are we comparing this macbook to the macbook pro? Obviously the pro will be better, otherwise it wouldn't be more expensive?

I think a fair comparison would be to the old macbook, or even the old macbook pro.

If you can tell me that this new aluminum macbook has a worse display then the old macbook, then THAT is a problem and it would be logical to complain. Didn't the previous gen. macbook pro have a better screen then the plastic macbook? What is the difference now?

I am saying all this assuming that the new gen macbook display HAS been upgraded from the old macbook. If not...then I will shut up and complain with you all.

Also I am curious as to whether there has been an improvement on this macbook over the previous gen MB pro? Anyone know?

 

[DaveOZ]

I've calibrated mine 3 times now and it's at the point where I'm happy.

Calibration makes a massive difference to text on white readability. I don't think sharing calibrations is the way to go. Use expert mode and really take the time to get it right. I use the suggested method of sitting back about 1m and sort of squinting. I also found it easier to use a mouse and turn the speed right down while you do it.

Good luck.

 

[sammy2066]

I'm still fiddling with my MB ... I've just gotta live with it till December. Then I take it back to India for my Dad, and I get to use his MacBook Pro.

 

[hazoomeh]

I've calibrated mine 3 times now and it's at the point where I'm happy.

Calibration makes a massive difference to text on white readability. I don't think sharing calibrations is the way to go. Use expert mode and really take the time to get it right. I use the suggested method of sitting back about 1m and sort of squinting. I also found it easier to use a mouse and turn the speed right down while you do it.

Good luck.

Which part of the calibrations affect display sharpness? A little over my head here.

 

[DaveOZ]

Contrast.

 

[nemein]

Thanks for the replies guys. Were any of you able to make pure black colors to not glow on the screen? I get this awful feeling whenever I see a black on the screen that turns out grey, so that you never actually see true "black".

As to why we're comparing screens of the different laptops, bluesTank - I did it to get a scope of the MB screen's quality. Its not about a change of quality, but about the quality of the screen right now; its like using a benchmark. Without comparing the screens, you'd never even know they WERE different based on the minimal specs Apple provides on their LCD (no contrast ratios, or brightness levels given... store reps were completely clueless as well). And that I think is pretty deceptive of Apple. I shouldn't "expect" a worst screen on a laptop just because it is a consumer laptop at a lower price point - the Air's got the same bloody screen technology (or even better, from what I've seen) as the Pro and it is definitely cheaper.

 

[jade]

I think side by side comparisons are tricky. The screen is superior to the outgoing macbook certainly. The insiron 640m i am typing this on has better viewing anges, but isn't as bright. Fonts are a little fuzzy sometimes. The macbook, the fonts look great. In terms of color (based on the computer I am sitting in front of right now.) The MacBook has far better color reproduction, and the images are much crisper. So the macbook has a nice LCD. Not as nice as the MBP. But absolutely usable in fact it is really bright and crisp. Unless you are looking at the vertical viewing angle.

If you are skeptical, go to your local apple dealer and look EXCLUSIVELY at the MB screen in the typical way you'd use it. Try some movie trailers and judge for yourself. (it is a huge improvement over the Dell i use at work, my old ibook and the outgoing macbook model.) That's good enough for me.

 

[mac jones]

Well I'm going to keep as it's pretty cheap.

As I recall the original Macbooks screens were not the greatest and that didn't seem to bother anyone except the hardcore nit-pickers (like myself).

But if the buzz get's seriously bad maybe Apple will start spending a little more on the better 13" screens and we can change them later if we are desperate.

Mind you, I have an Air and it's screen is best screen i've ever seen on a laptop.

On second thought, I doubt Apple will do anything.

If people want better screens they pay more for the 'Pro'.

 

[bluesTank]

Yes I don't think apple will do anything about this OR the firewire problem.

Apple customers are STILL going to by these laptops no matter how much they complain. These things just encourage them to buy a more expensive laptop, which is in no way bad for apple.

 

[nemein]

Actually in my case I'm considering the Sony Z at the moment. There ARE people that want a 13" with a good screen (and decent performance)...

 

[pw1388]

Sorry pls don't flame me but is there a way to calibrate your screen when u run vista?

 

[Slurpy2k8]

It's not the fact that the MB's screen is inferior to the Pro that really grates me. That was to be expected. It's that it's visibly inferior to that of the Air. Why, Apple, Why? The screens are the exact same size, same resolution, LED, and the air came out close to a year ago. Why couldn't they have at least kep that quality, instead of intentionally crippling it and putting in an inferior display? It's absolutely ridiculous, and a massive disappointment from Apple. I had no doubt I was going to purchase this before comments about the display started sprouting up from reviews, and its really turned me off. Its not just the issue itself, but the rationalization that Apple must have made to come to this decision. It's just utterly insulting, and extremely frugal, especially for a $1400 laptop.

 

[mcdj]

I use a custom display profile on my MacBook right now. You might want to look into making one.

I like this profile very much. Not too cool, like the other one called "Perfect" posted in this thread, and no where near as washed out as the default. Thanks for sharing.

*EDIT* After some more experimenting, I find this profile to be too contrasty. Shadow details, especially in B&W photos are lost.

 

[Moks]

I've just ordered one of the 'old' macbook 2.4 Ghz's from refurb store. As long as the screen no worse than my iBook G4's I'll be happy. That has very limited vertical viewing angles in my opinion, but it's been fine for me for four+ years.