[PhrogDriver]

Does anyone know when apple will offer the LED backlight on the Macbook? I have not heard anymore about it since they introduced it on the 15" MBP.

[frdmfghtr]

Beats me...but I'll tell ya this: if the impact on battery life is as much as I have heard it can be, I'd consider retrofitting my current MacBook with one.

However, I suspect that the cost would be too close to a new machine, void AppleCare, and probably not even work. But I can dream...

[imitchellg5]

It would seem likely that the next revision would include it. There's really no reason for Apple not to put it in.

[Guy Kuo]

I believe the largest impact of the LED backlighting is not the lower battery consumption, but prolonged lifespan of the screen. The cold cathode lamps of most LCD panels degrade in light output quite significantly - probably the biggest reason a new laptop model's screen always blows away the previous generation when you put them side by side. The older model's backlight has faded to perhaps half or less of its former light output. The LCD layers are probably just fine. On the other hand, a properly driven (as in not overdriven) LED can retain its light output over a longer period of time. That translates to a laptop screen which continues to look bright after two years of use.

[PhrogDriver]

I was surprised it was not included on the upgrade this month. Since it is essentially a direct replacement part, I guess it will arrive when they are ready to put them in. I read somewhere that LED screens might me thinner, so maybe they need to fit it with an adapter, once they have decided on a manufacturer. On the other hand, I do not remember there being any mention of dimension differences with the 15" MBP. I know that the LED backlights cost more, I wonder if Apple threw one in quickly (at a lower profit margin) into the 15" to appease the environmentalists that were giving them a hard time, in order to buy them some time to get a cheaper supply of the 13.3 screen. Apple must sell more of the MB then the MBP, so maybe it cost them less to look like they were serious about being "green".

[frankthetank966]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

It would seem likely that the next revision would include it. There's really no reason for Apple not to put it in.

I disagree. Looking at it from a consumers P.O.V. you would want the backlight. But looking at it from Apple's P.O.V. they should NOT add the backlight. This is one reason that makes the MBP more "professional."

[turnedge762]

I can't see them putting it in the MacBook before it is in the 17" MacBook Pro. Otherwise, they're top of the line MacBook doesn't look so top of the line anymore.

[ph0ust]

Originally Posted by frankthetank966 

I disagree. Looking at it from a consumers P.O.V. you would want the backlight. But looking at it from Apple's P.O.V. they should NOT add the backlight. This is one reason that makes the MBP more "professional."

it certainly is NOT a reason the mbp is more "professional", not any more than using some environmentally friendly product that costs less would be. granted, there is a marginal improvement in brightness, but that isn't remotely a major benefit! processors, graphics cards, etc. are what make a mbp more professional.... using a new backlighting technology doesn't fit that bill in my opinion.

[mfbernstein]

Professional photographers disagree. The LED-backlit displays offer substantially better brightness and dynamic range among other things.

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by frankthetank966 

I disagree. Looking at it from a consumers P.O.V. you would want the backlight. But looking at it from Apple's P.O.V. they should NOT add the backlight. This is one reason that makes the MBP more "professional."

Apple always trickles down features from the professional lines to consumer products though. It isn't unreasonable to think that the next revision would have them, since MacBooks are always a revision behind the MacBook Pro in terms of standard and optional features (RAM amount, HD size, processor speed, etc.).

[ph0ust]

Originally Posted by mfbernstein 

Professional photographers disagree. The LED-backlit displays offer substantially better brightness and dynamic range among other things.

interesting statement here, as an amateur photographer (i've had paid gigs, but it is not my profession) the first thing i do with all new macs is turn DOWN the brightness on my screen. calibrating the monitor will generally require this on all current displays because they are too bright to get a solid match to output. and yes, an led backlight is even brighter.... which i doubt as a photographer you want (my new 24" imac has its brightness turned down all the way).

certainly, led displays have some better attributes.... i'm not arguing that. but this newer backlighting technology has nuanced benefits that are not necessarily typical of "professional" features, such as the other hardware in the machine (i.e. cpu, gpu, etc.)

consider that the display has never been a product differentiator in the past between the mb and mbp.

[imitchellg5]

According to this article, January, at MacWorld SF.