Why do 13" MBP screens look better than PC laptops?

[johnnymg]

I have been researching a new laptop and I have a MB/MBP question regarding the screens: How does Apple make these screens look sooo much better than a PC laptop with a higher resolution? The baseline MB/MBPs are 1280X800. My present laptop is that resolution and doesn't look half as good (LCD of course), but some of the newer PC laptops I have seen have dedicated video, higher resolution, and an LED display yet the Macs still look better. Why?

The new 2010 13" LCD panels have excellent screens. I'm super impressed with mine ~~~~~~~

IQ is probably due to the LED backlighting technology.

cheers
JohnG

 

[cosmicblue]

OP apparently hasn't seen the Dell Studio XPS RGBLED screen. It blows away any laptop screen.

.

I was going to mention the Dell XPS16 screen as well. I have the standard LED backlit LCD and it is comparable to the MBP displays. But the RGB LED exceeds the MBP displays.

 

[kny3twalker]

Lenovo and hp offers ips displays in their thinkpad and elitebook lines. T510, w510, x201t, and the elitebook 17" and convertible tablet.
These are the best displays available for laptops.

 

[jbachandouris]

And yet, how many of these great screens have a decent battery life?

Any ideas?

 

[FieryFurnace]

And yet, how many of these great screens have a decent battery life?

Any ideas?

What is the real meaning of the thread?
To justify paying big bucks for a MBP?
Or just bashing non-Apple laptops because you must feel superior to others?

 

[jbachandouris]

What is the real meaning of the thread?
To justify paying big bucks for a MBP?
Or just bashing non-Apple laptops because you must feel superior to others?

Why are you here? I am looking to buy a Mac. I don't know if one is better than the other and that is what I am trying to find out. Answers such as yours help no one.

I am curious, as originally stated, HOW do Mac screens with a 1280 displays 'appear' to be better looking than a PC laptop with the same resolution.

I have a 1280X800 display on my PC laptop and it looks nowhere near as good as even the entry level Macbook. So, I just want to know why. And the question of how Apple acheives such good battery life is another topic altogether.

 

[doktordoris]

I agree with the OP.
There is something remarkable about MBP screens.

I would rather have my MBP on my chest with the screen about a foot from my eyes than look at my HD plasma from 4 feet.

In fact I have tested it by moving my chair back and forth with my MBP on my chest until both screens are the same size.
When the screens appear to be the same dimensions my MBP utterly blows my 42 inch HD plasma away.

To make extra-certain I played avatar on my plasma via blu-ray, whilst playing an avatar DVD on my MBP. I spent ages making sure that they were both exactly in sync.

The DVD of Avatar on my MBP looked loads better than BD Avatar on my HD plasma.

So, yet again, I concour with the OP. Mac panels have some magic quality!

(wow, I just discovered by accident that if I press ctrl whilst scrolling up and down the entire screen gets zoomed in and out! Perfect for looking at small web site pictures. Crikey I love my mac)

And, good grief, I just spotted another thing about my mac! I saw the icon used by my mac to represent my PC on my network. I lol ed. Childish, but it amused me.

 

[vty]

Why are you here? I am looking to buy a Mac. I don't know if one is better than the other and that is what I am trying to find out. Answers such as yours help no one.

I am curious, as originally stated, HOW do Mac screens with a 1280 displays 'appear' to be better looking than a PC laptop with the same resolution.

I have a 1280X800 display on my PC laptop and it looks nowhere near as good as even the entry level Macbook. So, I just want to know why. And the question of how Apple acheives such good battery life is another topic altogether.

I highly doubt that there is anything but a negligible difference between various CCFL and LED laptop screens when it comes to battery life.

And the ctrl zoom mentioned above has absolutely nothing to do with Macs. It's an application feature of probably every single web browser and has existed since.. jesus, I don't even know --
welcome to computers.

 

[doktordoris]

I highly doubt that there is anything but a negligible difference between various CCFL and LED laptop screens when it comes to battery life.

And the ctrl zoom mentioned above has absolutely nothing to do with Macs. It's an application feature of probably every single web browser and has existed since.. jesus, I don't even know --
welcome to computers.

Blimey, I just tried it on my PC with firefox and you are right,

Not that such a fact excuses you for being a snotty bastard.

I have been using home computers since one had to build them.

 

[FieryFurnace]

Why are you here? I am looking to buy a Mac. I don't know if one is better than the other and that is what I am trying to find out. Answers such as yours help no one.

I am curious, as originally stated, HOW do Mac screens with a 1280 displays 'appear' to be better looking than a PC laptop with the same resolution.

I have a 1280X800 display on my PC laptop and it looks nowhere near as good as even the entry level Macbook. So, I just want to know why. And the question of how Apple acheives such good battery life is another topic altogether.

I'm sorry if I came across a little harsh, but threads like these appear all the time "Why are Macs so much better then WinPC/laptops...".
Check out Win laptops in a similar price range as a MBP and you will find same or better screens - Dell, Sony, Lenevo like mentioned before.

Does your old laptop even have LED backlight? CCFL to LED makes a huge difference.

My X340, has a really nice screen and the X340 cost around $500-$600.

 

[TheNewDude]

The Envy is out as I want an internal optical drive. I prefer to buy from a brick and mortar store and have yet to see the Vaio Z series, so I'll need to look for it.

Yikes. $2000 and 4-5 hour battery life? I think I'll have to choose an entry-level MBP.

The NEW ENVYs have slot loading drives...

Those will be out VERY soon and have KILLER specs! Quality is yet to be seen!

 

[jbachandouris]

I'm sorry if I came across a little harsh, but threads like these appear all the time "Why are Macs so much better then WinPC/laptops...".
Check out Win laptops in a similar price range as a MBP and you will find same or better screens - Dell, Sony, Lenevo like mentioned before.

Does your old laptop even have LED backlight? CCFL to LED makes a huge difference.

My X340, has a really nice screen and the X340 cost around $500-$600.

No, my HP does not have LED backlight.

As for the Envy, even though the prices are similar, the battery life seems to be lacking. Or are the new ones going to be better?

 

[lilo777]

Why are you here? I am looking to buy a Mac. I don't know if one is better than the other and that is what I am trying to find out. Answers such as yours help no one.

I am curious, as originally stated, HOW do Mac screens with a 1280 displays 'appear' to be better looking than a PC laptop with the same resolution.

I have a 1280X800 display on my PC laptop and it looks nowhere near as good as even the entry level Macbook. So, I just want to know why. And the question of how Apple acheives such good battery life is another topic altogether.

As others pointed out, Apple does not manufacture (or even design) LCD panels. So there is absolutely no way that MBP screens are better than the ones on PC laptops. You are probably comparing $1300 MBP to $600 PC laptop. What would you expect? Try comparing MBP screens to PC laptops with comparable prices. They will all have the same or better screens. Resolution is just one spec of the screen. You just can not compare screens on this spec alone. The only difference between PC laptops screens and Apple laptop screens is that there PC laptops offer much much more choice: from cheap bad panels to excellent RGB LED backlit panels unavailable in Apple line-up.

 

[thespazz]

As others pointed out, Apple does not manufacture (or even design) LCD panels. So there is absolutely no way that MBP screens are better than the ones on PC laptops. You are probably comparing $1300 MBP to $600 PC laptop. What would you expect? Try comparing MBP screens to PC laptops with comparable prices. They will all have the same or better screens. Resolution is just one spec of the screen. You just can not compare screens on this spec alone. The only difference between PC laptops screens and Apple laptop screens is that there PC laptops offer much much more choice: from cheap bad panels to excellent RGB LED backlit panels unavailable in Apple line-up.

Very true.

 

[Eidorian]

As others pointed out, Apple does not manufacture (or even design) LCD panels.

It's even possible for a single model to have various panel manufacturers of varying qualities. There are plenty of threads trying to find out which manufacturer had the best panel.

 

[entatlrg]

I'm sorry if I came across a little harsh, but threads like these appear all the time "Why are Macs so much better then WinPC/laptops...".
Check out Win laptops in a similar price range as a MBP and you will find same or better screens - Dell, Sony, Lenevo like mentioned before.

Does your old laptop even have LED backlight? CCFL to LED makes a huge difference.

My X340, has a really nice screen and the X340 cost around $500-$600.

As others pointed out, Apple does not manufacture (or even design) LCD panels. So there is absolutely no way that MBP screens are better than the ones on PC laptops. You are probably comparing $1300 MBP to $600 PC laptop. What would you expect? Try comparing MBP screens to PC laptops with comparable prices. They will all have the same or better screens. Resolution is just one spec of the screen. You just can not compare screens on this spec alone. The only difference between PC laptops screens and Apple laptop screens is that there PC laptops offer much much more choice: from cheap bad panels to excellent RGB LED backlit panels unavailable in Apple line-up.

Hold on here. High end PC notebook screens are as good as or better than MBP screens?

I'd suggest if possible people compare themselves before they make their own determination.

I've bought a lot of high end pc laptops for my company, Sony Z's, Lenovo T and X series, Latitudes of all resolutions.

In my experience NONE where as good as the screens on all the MBP's we've purchased.

Put a low res 13" MBP beside a high res Sony Z and prepare to be surprised.

Apple puts excellent high quality displays in their notebooks, far better than even competing high end laptop PC's.

 

[mark28]

I have been researching a new laptop and I have a MB/MBP question regarding the screens: How does Apple make these screens look sooo much better than a PC laptop with a higher resolution? The baseline MB/MBPs are 1280X800. My present laptop is that resolution and doesn't look half as good (LCD of course), but some of the newer PC laptops I have seen have dedicated video, higher resolution, and an LED display yet the Macs still look better. Why?

I don't find the screen better at all. I haven't checked the 2010 models yet, but I didn't think the 2009 was that special.

They are also more glossy than the screen of my current laptop

edit: The screen of the iMac 27 is however amazing

 

[mark28]

I'm sorry if I came across a little harsh, but threads like these appear all the time "Why are Macs so much better then WinPC/laptops...".
Check out Win laptops in a similar price range as a MBP and you will find same or better screens - Dell, Sony, Lenevo like mentioned before.

Does your old laptop even have LED backlight? CCFL to LED makes a huge difference.

My X340, has a really nice screen and the X340 cost around $500-$600.

It doesn't make a huge difference, except in power consumption

And the 2009 MBP don't even use the best LED techniques.

I can't comment on the 2010 models since I have no idea what screens they use yet and haven't seen them yet.

 

[Azathoth]

Hold on here. High end PC notebook screens are as good as or better than MBP screens?

I'd suggest if possible people compare themselves before they make their own determination.

I've bought a lot of high end pc laptops for my company, Sony Z's, Lenovo T and X series, Latitudes of all resolutions.

In my experience NONE where as good as the screens on all the MBP's we've purchased.

Put a low res 13" MBP beside a high res Sony Z and prepare to be surprised.

Apple puts excellent high quality displays in their notebooks, far better than even competing high end laptop PC's.

I'll just reiterate that Apple puts a variety of COTS screens in their laptops. Most manufacturers have gone over to LED backlight which improves brightness, some even use RGB LEDs, which yields improved colour saturation.

Apple tends to use a variety of screens for each model, this is sometimes referred to as the 'panel lottery', as there are marked differences in the quality of the screens.

MBP13 2009:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5105&review=apple+macbook+pro+13

Dell Latitude Z
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5543&review=dell+latitude+z+z600

HP Envy 13
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=5578&review=hp+envy+13

Thinkpad T200t


I would say that those 3 screens exceed the quality of the MBP13 screen in terms of viewing angle, so although the MBP screens tend to be better than most laptops - better screens (and better than MBP screens) are available.

 

[FieryFurnace]

It doesn't make a huge difference, except in power consumption

And the 2009 MBP don't even use the best LED techniques.

I can't comment on the 2010 models since I have no idea what screens they use yet and haven't seen them yet.

For me, most if not all LED looked better then CCFL - I'm no laptop screen expert, just observations (and I guess you are right, a good CCFL will probably look better than a bad LED screen).

Just looking at my 2008 MacBook compared with my X340 -> huge difference.

 

[teerexx52]

So is the 2010 MacBook Pro Screen noticeably better than the 2009 edition?

 

[neteng101]

I would say that those 3 screens exceed the quality of the MBP13 screen in terms of viewing angle, so although the MBP screens tend to be better than most laptops - better screens (and better than MBP screens) are available.

There are better screens, but I would caution just using viewing angles as the only criteria. One of my biggest peeves is muddy colors... very typical in a lot of cheap panels, but as you can tell the MBP13 has great color gamut and deep blacks, which makes all the difference in the world for display quality IMO.

Unfortunately aside from notes that are very subjective in those reviews, there's really no way to tell which or what is better - I'd venture a guess that the Envy 13 > MBP 13 > Latitude Z and I can't place where that Thinkpad falls. The photos aren't good enough to tell from, if they were, I'm not that impressed with the Thinkpad despite its IPS display.

This is far more useful for trying to compare display quality...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3669/...o-more-battery-life-tests-display-evaluated/4

I think Apple can still do better but the current screens do everything well even if they're not the absolute best... and calibration is still a necessity regardless.

 

[Azathoth]

This is far more useful for trying to compare display quality...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3669/...o-more-battery-life-tests-display-evaluated/4

I think Apple can still do better but the current screens do everything well even if they're not the absolute best... and calibration is still a necessity regardless.

Good link - Im really looking forward to my matte hi-res MBP15 - >400nits of brightness :-o Im moving up from a 1024x768 CCFL T60, which has one of the dimmest, dingyist LCD screens I've ever seen (my Spyder3pro doesn't give luminance numbers, but I think that it's around 120 in real life)...

TBH, none of the TN screens are suited for professional graphics, though some are better than others...

 

[GregPQ]

My first Apple computer was a IIGS, which cost over $2,000 in 1988 dollars. Included a printer, but not a hard drive, as I recall.

I just got my 2010 13" MacBook Pro, and it seems good value for $1,199. I got the stock version, 2.4 GHz Core2Duo, 4Gb ram and 250Gb HD.

The display is amazing. Also appreciate the quality of the built-in speakers. The display, plus the touchscreen functionality of the mousepad, really is something!

Greg

 

[Azathoth]

The display, plus the touchscreen functionality of the mousepad, really is something!

Greg

The touchscreen fuctionality of the mousepad??? Except there's no screen and no mouse => touchpad...

But the point being the MBP screen, yes, it's better than most.