New MacBook - probs with text and color

After having numerous problems with a Dell, I finally decided to convert to Apple in the hopes that my computer woes would finally be over. So, I purchased a MacBook, and of course, I'm having problems!

First off, the text looks fuzzy, like parts of a letter are black and others are gray. I've tried adjusting the smoothing settings, but that doesn't help.
Also, the colors are more faded than I would expect... I took it into the Apple store over the weekend and put it next to one of the display models, and the colors were clearly better and the text much crisper on the model than on my notebook. The only suggestion I received from the employee was to adjust the smoothing and play around with the display settings. (They definitely weren't going to let me exchange it)

Any else have a better suggestion?

 

Hrmm, that definitely sounds odd to me. If this is a brand new system, the color and text smoothing settings probably shouldn't be in anything other than the standard mode.

It might not necessarily need an exchange, but I'd at least call up AppleCare or take it back to the Apple store and insist that someone there actually show you how to get it looking like it should normally.

Just to ask, if you go to the System Preferences and choose Displays and then go to Color, what Display Profile is selected? In some ways it sounds like maybe it has a different Display Profile selected, which might account for the aliasing problems and color problems. I'd also be curious what the display settings are set to (screen resolution and colors).

Either way, if there isn't anything wrong with the MacBook, it should not be difficult for the people at the Apple store to get it looking the same way a stock MacBook should. If they can't, then it seems like it would warrant an exchange to me.

Actually, could you take a screenshot and attach it? You can do this by holding down Apple-Shift-3 (this will create a PNG image on your desktop). This may or may not show anything (it's possible that the screenshot will be fine), but it might be helpful.

 

thanks for the quick response! (better than apple - i've tried several times to book an appointment at the genius bar, but no luck yet)

Display
Resolution: 1280x1024
Colors: Millions

Color: Color LCD

Smoothing is set to automatic, turned off for font sizes <8

I attached a screenshot, but I don't know how well it will show what I'm talking about... here, some of the gray areas are: the right side of the "u", "n" and "h", middle bar of "E"


Edit: resolution is 1280x800

 

The screenshot shows nothing, but I wouldn't expect it to. Try and post a real photo of the screen - but it can be tricky getting the focus right. Ideally you should take a photo with another LCD screen beside it, for comparison.

Are yuou sure you have a 1280*1024 res? if it is nota typo, change it to 1280x800.

 

Wooky is right, if it is at 1280x1024 that would likely be your problem. If not take it in to Apple again and talk to a genius. Tell them to show you how to make it look right. If they can't demand an exchange.

 

yeah, that was a typo... typing without thinking was the problem.

it's 1280x800


i'm going to try the apple store tonight, so hopefully this will get fixed. but given their attitude last time, i have a feeling that they're going to tell me that i'm being too picky, and that's just how it's supposed to look. ah well, maybe that's just the jaded PC owner talking....

 

If someone gives you any hassle just ask to talk to a manager; I've personally only had good experiences at my local Apple store, but it sounds like some other Apple stores might have a problem with hiring some jerks or something.

Really, if there is a noticeable difference, and the text really doesn't look right and the colors are off, and they can't show you how to get it to look just like it does in the store, they should exchange it.

At least from what you've described this doesn't sound like a simple nitpicky issue (i.e. just that you don't like how it antialiases text or something).

-Zadillo

 

Wow. I'm having that problem on my dells 1520(returned it the same day) and my 1505. I have red and greenish tint/shadows coming from my text.
Replaced motherboard, 2 lcd and same problem. It is antiglare. Is yours antiglare or gloss. Another poster in another forum mentioned because it is antiglare with a special coating that they put on hard and it presses the screen. So I don't know if that is the problem or not.