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MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

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Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#31

Post by GHFigs »

cabalamat wrote: post #18
TrevorJ wrote: post #6

Surprising hardware spec choice given the the market penetration Apple has in the design profession.

Indeed. A 6 bit display in 2009 is inexcusible; I had to check the date of the article because I wasn't sure it had been written this millenium

All manufacturers use 6-bit displays on most if not all portable models. In fact, the trend has been more use of 6-bit panels, because they can be made larger for cheaper with a lower response time, things which more consumers notice. Last I checked, LG (one of the biggest suppliers) didn't even make 8-bit panels anymore.

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#32

Post by warfangle »

GHFigs wrote: post #27
notaddicted wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the point he is making is that if someone were to check the only information available, "millions of colors" on apple's website, is false. EDIT: and as a side quest, he is trying to get them to admit that their pro product doesn't have pro specs.

Define pro.

I dunno, "pro" for a graphic artist probably includes "actually displaying millions of colors instead of dithering so I can actually tell what color it is."

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#33

Post by jsz0 »

Does anyone know the price difference between 6-Bit and 8-Bit display panels? I can't really find any info on it. I've always thought, by comparison, that Macbook displays looked fantastic compared to the HP PC laptops I'm used to using at work. Just as good as the Samsung displays I use on my desktop. I do believe Apple still has their 30 day no questions asked, no restocking fee, return policy though so there's that.

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#34

Post by wysiwtf »

siukwai wrote: post #28

Maybe I didn't read the article correctly, but if this guy is outputting to another screen, isn't it the video card that's not outputting the colors/resolution correctly, and that has nothing to do with whether the laptop screen is 6bit or 8bit?

He doesn't have a color issue with his 30" display (they only sold him the wrong adapter). He's only complaining about the screen on his laptop.

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#35

Post by DanielStraight »

jonknee wrote: post #8

Alternate headline choice: Man with ability to research decides not to and is disappointed in purchase but offered full refund

I could've written the letter myself in the time it took to read that.

I say write the letter and address it to Steve Jobs. See what happens. It's worth a shot.

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#36

Post by DarkShikari »

I've noticed a phenomenal variance in LCD quality recently, and 6-bit is the least of the problem.

My Asus G1 has an incredibly good screen--very high-contrast, a near-perfect viewing angle: I can read text as far as 80 degrees to the side or top, where 90 means unable to see any of the screen. It's high-DPI (1680x1050 on a 15.4") as well. Odds are it's a 6-bit TN, and all the research I've done suggests that. But it's amazing despite that.

My company gave me a Thinkpad for personal use. It has a similar size screen. The contrast is abominable; the screen is bright gray when it's black and no matter how much I adjust contrast/brightness I can't make it usable. The viewing angle is atrocious. And yet from what I can tell... it's also a 6-bit TN.

Bits are, IMO, one of the less important problems in LCD panels these days; the overall quality as a whole is suffering greatly in new screens.

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#37

Post by ghshephard »

Does anybody know why Apple won't just come out and declare whether the 13" MacBook has 6 Bit or 8 Bit color?

As a side note - this is why I love HN - I remember the class action lawsuit over colors and Apple a few years ago (or at least discussion around it) - but I didn't know what it was over. Now I have insight into the differences in LCD color qualities and get the insight that the 13" MacBook pro isn't _really_ totally Pro.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/multimedia/a/LCDColor.htm

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#38

Post by jimboyoungblood »

bcl wrote: post #15

Interesting. The Apple MacBook Pro website makes no distinction between the models as to the color support. They all say "millions of colors", and as someone who doesn't deal with colors for a living I would expect them to have identical support.

They do- they all have 6-bit panels (as does every virtually every other laptop currently sold)

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#39

Post by fortybillion »

This article seems to indicate the exact opposite; that the new Pro displays (including the 13") have markedly improved colour accuracy.

"Colour accuracy in the three MacBook Pro displays is as right as we've seen in a laptop display, equal to or better than some midrange desktop displays and not that far off the level of colour correctness found in a premium desktop display."

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10041-...

Re: MacBook Pro, Thousands of Colors

#40

Post by jimboyoungblood »

jsz0 wrote: post #33

Does anyone know the price difference between 6-Bit and 8-Bit display panels? I can't really find any info on it. I've always thought, by comparison, that Macbook displays looked fantastic compared to the HP PC laptops I'm used to using at work. Just as good as the Samsung displays I use on my desktop. I do believe Apple still has their 30 day no questions asked, no restocking fee, return policy though so there's tha…

I think it's infinite. From everything I've read so far, nobody makes 8-bit displays in 13", 15", or 17" sizes.
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