How can I see screen better outdoors?

It really is just a fact of life with notebook computers. They have actually become much brighter than in the past (and will surely consider to do so), so now you can use them outdoors... just not in direct, bright sun. In the past you couldn't even use a notebook computer effectively outside in daylight at all, even in a shaded spot.

My solution is simply to sit in shade outdoors. That works well for me with my MBP.

Several companies make sunshades that fit onto laptop computers to shade the screen for use in sunny settings. Search Google for the words like laptop shade hood and you get a good idea of what's out there.

There are no other adjustments you can make.

Unfortunately, due to the way LCD screens are designed, they are difficult to see when direct sunlight is present. The best thing you can do is build yourself a cardboard sheild around the screen, but I know this is not exactly feasible much of the time.

Alternatively, you could invest in an external display with a much higher brightness and contrast ratio, but again, I know this isn't always feasible.

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> no matter how I adjust the keyboard brightness controls or laptop position. Is there another adjustment control available?

Just for clarity: Display Brighness is controlled with f1 and f2, f9 and f10 are only keyboard backlighting and will not be active unless in low light conditions

Open System Preferences/Displays and make sure 'Automatically adjust brightness as ambient light changes' is unchecked.

It's very bright here in Australia and when I work outside I must be in the shade and with the back of the screen toward the sun, then, at maximum brightness, I can work OK ...

Sounds like you have a glossy screen, my Mate screen works perfect in all conditions even with the sun on it coming from behind me i can see everything.

If you have a glossy screen there is nothing you can do.

Sounds like you have a glossy screen, my Matte screen
works perfect in all conditions even with the sun on
it coming from behind me i can see everything.

If you have a glossy screen there is nothing you can
do.

I just got a Macbook Pro 2.16G with glossy display yesterday evening. I wanted a matte one, that's what i'm used to with my powerbook and have been very happy with it. I think the glossy display colors and resolution look beautiful but i was worried about glare on the screen.

But the Apple store had two open box MBPs, bought and returned unused by other customers, which I could get for $200 less than the regular price, as new with full warranty, and they were both glossy. So i decided to get a glossy one. I started it up and looked at it before leaving the store, it's perfect, the accessories were still in shrink wrap.

Happily i noticed last night in my usual chair, there was no glare whatsoever. It looked the same as the powerbook. There was a little subtle glare in the bedroom when i took it to bed on one corner of the display, but not distracting me. Given the choice, i would now choose a glossy one.

Anyway, this thread caught my eye and after reading it, i took the MBP into the backyard. There's lots of sun, it's exactly noon right now. I tried it in the shade, indirect sun, and with sun shining directly on it. The display has great visibility for text, very sharp, no problem under any conditions. I was surprised at how good it is.

I compared it to the powerbook, the glossy display has more contrast, it's sharper. But hard to compare because the powerbook is smaller. The powerbook was ok for text. The colors on both computers are darker in the sun, but i didn't have any trouble seeing anything that was there, nothing was faded out and obscured, just a little darker. The colors are still distinctive, they aren't faded out. It looks normal in the shade.

I think the glossy display is supposed to have sharper contrast than the matte. But i still would've expected more difficulty based on experience with other LCDs, like my Palm TX and Razr, forget it.

If you want something to reduce the glare from the sun, look here for some good products.
www.3m.com/computerfilters