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Level 1

5 points

Latest Macbook Problems Resolved ?

Hi Everyone,
I have been thinking about buying the new 17" Macbook however the well known problems with the 15" have put me off somewhat. I have just spoken to the phone Mac store and i asked them about all the problems and if they had had many returns. The guy i spoke to said they had quite a few problems with the first run of Macbook but they were now on the second build and all the problems have been solved. Has anyone had any of the lastest build systems yet ? Is it problem free or was the chap just given me a load of b ****t to try and make a sale ?

imac 20" 2gig, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on May 2, 2006 6:00 AM

17 replies

May 3, 2006 7:25 AM in response to PDE

It was explained here that there’s an optically active later between the light source and the surface (I’m not sure which side of the LCD layer it’s on) that “steers” the light output to be stronger along the axis perpendicular to the screen. The effect of this layer becomes very noticeable when you view the screen off-axis. So much so that at normal viewing distances the angles formed are sufficient to notice the effects of this layer, especially along the up / down axis.

I’d probably have left it out it, but I didn’t design the thing and what’s more, they didn’t come and ask me first!

Randall Schulz

iMac 20" Core Duo; MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

PDE

Level 1

85 points

May 3, 2006 8:02 AM in response to Randall Schulz

It was explained here that there’s an optically
active later between the light source and the surface
(I’m not sure which side of the LCD layer it’s on)
that “steers” the light output to be stronger along
the axis perpendicular to the screen. The effect of
this layer becomes very noticeable when you view the
screen off-axis. So much so that at normal viewing
distances the angles formed are sufficient to notice
the effects of this layer, especially along the up /
down axis.

I’d probably have left it out it, but I didn’t design
the thing and what’s more, they didn’t come and ask
me first!

Randall Schulz

iMac 20"
Core Duo; MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Thanks Randall for the explanation. I think the problem for me is that even when I look straight on, the illumination distribution is not even from bottom to top and from right to left. Because of this whites look different depending on where there are on the display and that's something I can't accept. I'm used to LCDs being a little brighter at the bottom, but not difference from side to side.

The limited viewing horizontal and vertical viewing angles is not something I like, but I can learn to work around it as long as the display is evenly illuminated. I wish Apple had figured out another way to enhance brightness - or just license Sony's great display technology. Given the availability of superb LCDs today, there is no excuse for Apple to use a display in a professional notebook with these limitations.

At the same time, I was for a little while considering going back to a powerbook again and when I looked at the powerbook display I realized I'm not hooked on the brightness of the macbook pro LCDs and can't go back. So, I hope my replacement is a little better and that I will learn to live with it. It seems most people are happy with the display so I'm sure I can learn to be too.

Latest Macbook Problems Resolved ?