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    Off angle color shift

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by shadowx, Sep 3, 2006.

  1. shadowx

    shadowx Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am currently in the market for a new laptop, and I have decided to buy a 15.4'' Macbook Pro. I was just at the store looking at all of the LCD's of Apple's various product offerings and noticed some bad color shifts (white to yellow) when viewing off angle on the Macbook Pros (matte), Macbooks, and 17'' iMac. The 17'' iMac is ridiculously bad.. especially sitting next to the 20'' which has beautiful colors at any angle. The MacBook Pro is not nearly as bad, but it is worse than the glossy Macbook screen.

    Can anyone who has a glossy Macbook Pro comment on the color shift in comparison to the matte screen... similar to the Macbook??

    I know it is sort of a nitpick given how nice the colors are viewed head on, but it bothers me enough to question my potential $2,000+ purchase.

    Thanks!
     
    shadowx, Sep 3, 2006
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  2. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    That color shift is a common problem with most matte screens, excluding IPS screens. The glossy screen on the MacBook should be similar to the one you'd see on the MacBook Pro, the gloss is only a coating applied to the screen so there shouldn't be an enormous difference between the glossy MacBook you saw and your potential MacBook Pro.
     
    Reize, Sep 3, 2006
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  3. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    This is a common issue with all LCD. It is one of the downfalls, as soon as you get off center the colors start to get weird. The idea is that you look at the screen from straight on.
     
    cashmonee, Sep 3, 2006
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  4. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    Actually that is incorrect. The glossy screen differs more than just a coat. The coating is actually an anti glare coat.
    More info on glossy v. matte differences : http://www.screentekinc.com/pixelbright-lcds.shtml

    Thanks AlanY for that link from a while back.

    Yes, you will get colors shifts on all LCD screens. Glossy screens get less color shift, but they aren't actually as color accurate as I understand it. They tend to be more saturated, so it doesn't match up with what you may print. Not a big deal though, unless your a graphic designer.
     
    hollownail, Sep 3, 2006
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  5. Reize

    Reize Notebook Virtuoso

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    And all this time I thought it was just a simple coating that made it that way, sorry about that. I apologize for spreading misinformation, and thank you for the article.
     
    Reize, Sep 3, 2006
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  6. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

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    yeah, i thoguht it was a coating to Reize... :p
     
    hollownail, Sep 3, 2006
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  7. shadowx

    shadowx Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thank you all for your thoughts :)
     
    shadowx, Sep 4, 2006
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