Grandpop8

Q: How far back can you tilt the screen?

The online pictures show 90 degrees.I would like close to 180 degrees so I can stand the laptop vertically on my lap and read the screen easily. Once upon a time all laptops tilted back 180 degrees, Then all manufacturers changed to about 120 degrees. Now Acer offers laptops that tilt to about 160 degrees. What does Apple offer?

iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Jan 24, 2016 2:51 PM

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Q: How far back can you tilt the screen?

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  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Jan 24, 2016 7:27 PM in response to Grandpop8
    Level 9 (66,865 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Jan 24, 2016 7:27 PM in response to Grandpop8

    You can't do 180 degrees.     The resistance you feel is by design.  Many people have found if they push that resistance too far they will out of warranty damage the inverter cable or other connecting cable.    If you are not happy with the design, you can always use the notebook as  a closed lid with certain software, and add an external display.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Jan 24, 2016 8:33 PM in response to Grandpop8
    Level 5 (7,952 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 24, 2016 8:33 PM in response to Grandpop8
    Once upon a time all laptops tilted back 180 degrees,

    That's news to me, where you hear that from?

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Jan 24, 2016 8:34 PM in response to Grandpop8
    Level 9 (66,865 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Jan 24, 2016 8:34 PM in response to Grandpop8

    The closest I've ever seen an Apple laptop allow 180 degrees was the iMate.   You could argue the magnetic keyboard on the iPad allows that, though some might quibble that the iPad is a notebook computer.

  • by Grandpop8,

    Grandpop8 Grandpop8 Jan 27, 2016 3:00 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jan 27, 2016 3:00 PM in response to Lanny

    I used to own several, many years ago. I think Apple started the limited tilt design because it looked nicer when the display was folded down. The others copied Apple. You can buy a few Windows machines today that open 180 degrees.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jan 27, 2016 3:29 PM in response to Grandpop8
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 27, 2016 3:29 PM in response to Grandpop8

    There may be a link to a service manual or other product guides for early PowerBook G3

    and before, online in some archives; there used to be more at LowEndMac.com years ago.

     

    Here's a site with a few manuals in PDF you can read without downloading, or save offline;

    near the edge of this one, when viewing content, are links to other manuals for same one.

     

    The main page appears to offer other ones for different products.

    http://www.manualslib.com/brand/apple/laptop.html

     

    • PowerBook G3 User Manual, archive:

    http://www.manualslib.com/manual/427686/Apple-Powerbook-G3.html

     

    Perhaps some of the users of these Apple discussions would care to share experience of

    using their vintage and obsolete portable Apple products in a technically supportive way.

    My most vintage was a first edition white iBook G3 500MHz 12-inch, that I repaired and

    sold to an older guy who'd never owned a computer before. I also provided  2-yr support.

     

    Anyway, hopefully you have a good time with your Macs. My dad is over 90 y/o and has

    used Mac computers in his avocational and professional tasks since the early 1980s.

     

    Good luck!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jan 27, 2016 8:04 PM in response to Grandpop8
    Level 6 (14,340 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 27, 2016 8:04 PM in response to Grandpop8

    There is mention in the following page (link) concerning very old Apple PowerBooks that could open

    180-degrees; the topic appears more like an online discussion or chat in print form from a forum, and

    it seems to start with the early/first model MacBook Pro when the article was current, circa 2006..?

     

    • Historical Archive - Aral Balkan - Screen Tilt Angel annoyance on MacBook Pro:

    https://ar.al/693/

     

    Screen Shot 2016-01-27 at 6.51.49 PM.png

     

    - from linked 'historical archive' page; by Steve in reply to 'dinosaur,' on Nov 18 2006.

    {includes discussion of near 130° open angle, on first intel-based MacBook Pro, etc}

     

    Figured it had to be prior to the G3 series, and back toward the PowerBook 100, etc era.

    Later ones had mechanical and electrical distress when opened too far, &/or too often.

     

    Those ancient models appear in some archives http://lowendmac.com/powerbooks.html

    site and a few others.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!