Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

New MacBook Display is Horrible

I just got my new Aluminum MacBook last night, and it's going right back for refund this morning. The LCD is far inferior to my 1st generation MacBook display, and it's actually one of the worst displays I've seen on a modern notebook computer. I've been an Apple owner since I bought an SE/30, but Apple has screwed up badly here, and I find the new MacBook nearly unusable. (Please note, my current MacBook has a glossy screen; that level of glossiness is not the issue here.)

The issues:

1. The whole screen has an icky blue cast, and nothing in the display calibration settings will fix this. My old MacBook has a much more pure and natural looking white. I think Apple needs to work more on the LED back-lighting (or maybe they cheaped out on the MacBook LEDs).

2. The blacks on the new display are washed out. This is obvious on the start-up animation (with the multi-lingual "welcome" animations against the Leopard nebulae in space). It's not just an issue with black images, however, this propagates to everything looking less crisp. And it's not an issue of adjusting brightness or screen angle. In fact, if you try to adjust the screen angle to get some reasonably good blacks, you get parts of the screen where you have a metallic or posterized effect. I saw this in the store displays as well, but I didn't realize that it would occur under normal viewing angles vs. extreme situations.

3. Colors are not vibrant (nothing compared to my 1st generation MacBook). By not vibrant, I mean that different hues of blue, for example, are not distinct from one another. When I open Word, the splash screen has four different blue colors in the "feather" shape at the top right. On the old MacBook the blues are distinctly different and colorful, on the new MacBook they are much closer in hue and more dull. I think this is a result primarily of issues one and two above, but it may also have to do with other aspects of the inferior LCD on the Aluminum MacBook.

4. The new MacBook screen should be called "mirrored" not "glossy". My 1st generation MacBook has a glossy screen. It's good. I rarely have an issue with visible reflections from it. The new MacBook is a constant battle. One major problem is that the screen needs to be pushed farther back to get reasonable contrast, but this angle directly reflects ceiling lights at the user. It's also so significantly more reflective than the previous glossy screen that it picks up windows and floor lamps and everything else a lot more easily. It's a mess.

I hope this helps other folks avoid my mistake in seeking to upgrade from an existing MacBook. The new one is not any faster in day to day use (3D rendering excepted), and it has crippling issues with the display.

Aluminum MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 18, 2008 5:59 AM

195 replies

andy08

Level 1

19 points

Nov 1, 2008 11:22 AM in response to Macaby

Ah, find out that you have th third model 😉 I found the infos here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=590786

Some people talk about calibration which makes some things better, others are talking about less luck with calibration ... I did not test it until now.

Nov 1, 2008 7:43 PM in response to andy08

i've spent time with the new macbook at the applestore soho, and today at another apple-authorized dealer.

this store had the new book next to the white macbook. the white book had better color, and less glare (i matched settings in the display pane).

this is a shame (especially when you add in the removal of firewire).

first time in 12 years as a macuser that i am an apple hater...i want a small, light book (to replace my 12" powerbook), and apple isn't giving me a choice.

if i want a decent screen, and firewire, AND new tech...it's the macbook pro, too large for my liking and too expensive.

am seriously disappointed. at least give the macbook a better screen!

w7ox

Level 4

2,407 points

Nov 1, 2008 7:49 PM in response to fisherKing

I really like the new screen.

Phil

swixo

Level 1

95 points

Nov 2, 2008 9:03 AM in response to HopingForHelp

Agree - the display is disappointing. The viewing angle and colors are poor. But the deal breaker is that I get a headache and eye strain after using it for a short time. It is not the shiny screen.

My iMac is shiny - love it.

It is NOT LED backlighting. My MB Air is LED - love it. No problems.

There is something about the LCD itself, that is bothering my eyes, and others as you may read from the forums.
Too bad too - the MB is rocket fast and the design is superb. But the display is not acceptable. Sent it back.

Nov 2, 2008 10:59 AM in response to swixo

this has been discussed elsewhere, but...if your eyes are shifting focus, between the image onscreen and the reflections on the glass, you can get a headache, or eyestrain.

not a good thing in any case, but as someone who lives on his computer...not an option at all.

can't believe the new macbook screen makes the earlier macbook screen look not so glossy..!

joemacuk

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2008 6:17 AM in response to HopingForHelp

Listen, if you want a MBP screen, pay for it.

If I went to Audi and said that the TT had a better windscreen than the A3, they would say that is right. But you will pay £15,000 more for that and many other features that the TT has. If I then I moaned about it on an Audi forum and expected them to change the specs of the A3 I would be daft. You want 'better' pay for it. Otherwise make do.

Compare it with the Early 2008 Macbook then it is apples with apples. Not apples with melons.

I can't see what the issue is. You are comparing two different models, not like for like. Of course it is better, it is more expensive and therefore Apple use a higher spec of screen.

Why don't you go into a Sony store and compare two 28" TVs that are different specs. Ask them to reduce the cost of the expensive one as it is better than the cheaper model. They will laugh you out of the shop.

Nov 3, 2008 6:26 AM in response to joemacuk

So MB users must perpetually lower their expectations? Where is it written that everything on the MB must be of significantly lower quality than the MBP? There are other features that justify the MBP's higher price. The MB is still a $1300 notebook, and the display is not up to par. I want a small notebook with a nice display. Fortunately I have one in my MBA. Our new MB is at this moment having Mac OS X reinstalled so that it can be returned.

joemacuk

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2008 7:06 AM in response to Fitzperry

You missed my point. It is a lower price, so it will/may be lower specs.

It is not about expectations, it is merely business.

You buy cheaper, you buy twice my friend.

If you want the better screen, pay the price.

Simple as.

andy08

Level 1

19 points

Nov 3, 2008 7:18 AM in response to joemacuk

OK, assuming you are right. Then: Apple please offer a 13" MBP. I will pay for it. But I don't want to carry a 15,4" notebook. And I also want to have integrated network and integrated DVD. Sounds like the MB will fit for me. Instead of the display.

Nov 3, 2008 7:35 AM in response to joemacuk

But I don't want the larger notebook. It's not a matter of buying twice because I've cheaped out. The 13" size works well for me. I love my MBA but want a faster processor, larger hard drive and an optical drive. The MB is perfect, except for the display, and it doesn't seem I'm alone in this.

Nov 3, 2008 7:53 AM in response to joemacuk

I agree with andy08 and Fitzperry.

All I want is a high quality 13-inch notebook. I don't care how this product is called (nor do I really care much about the price - as long as it is not more expensive than a 15 inch "MacBook chunky"...).

I am working with my notebook. So every investment in quality is a good investment.

@Apple: Please give me a 13 inch MacBook Pro. I will pay the price!

Nov 3, 2008 8:33 AM in response to michael-e

i agree; i want small and light, not consumer. i need firewire, want a good screen...
and would pay for a 13" mbp.

Nov 3, 2008 3:23 PM in response to HopingForHelp

I returned mine today for a full refund. I can't deal with the eyestrain, the headache, and the fact that I can see myself looking back at me thinking about the code that I am writing. Really distracting. I think I'll get a previous generation MBP and that will tide me over until either one of the following three things happen:

1) Ubuntu is as usable as OS X

2) Jobs and Ives come to their senses

3) Microsoft releases a better OS than Vista.

RUnited

Level 1

85 points

Nov 3, 2008 6:23 PM in response to HopingForHelp

After reading so many complaints, I thought I had to join in to give the other side of the coin.

Eventhough I agree with some of the points here, that the blacks are not complete blacks, and the vertical angle is very narrow, I'm still very happy with my MacBook.

It does what it's supposed to do for me and I'm sure plenty of the new MacBook users. The screen is much, much better than my 3 years old MacBook. I'm thinking that a lot of people upgrading have used their old computer for atleast 2 years now, so this will be a big improvement on any old screens. I've put them side by side with my MacBook and It's easily 10 times better.

There has been some polls going around on other websites whether people are actually happy with their new MB and the majority are happy with it. Maybe we can have a poll here as well to find out if the majority on here are holding grudges? I think it's unfair if a small group of customers are deterring people like myself from buying the product. It's not bad at all if you are looking for basic computer that's far superior in design than other brands.

I believe a poll will give the simple computer users not concerned about viewing angles and contrast issues an idea of whether the product is otherwise a good one or not.

Nov 3, 2008 6:35 PM in response to RUnited

How is anyone here deterring you from purchasing a new MB? We're returning them, so there should be plenty to go around 😉

Also, I'm not sure what you mean by "holding grudges." From what I've seen here and in other forums, most of the people who are dissatisfied with the MB display are either purchasing other products in the Macbook line or pleading with Apple for a 13" MBP. Doesn't sound like a grudge to me.

New MacBook Display is Horrible