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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Notebooks > The Definitive Rev D 12" PB G4 Screen display thread

The Definitive Rev D 12" PB G4 Screen display thread
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roders
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Feb 6, 2005, 02:22 PM
 
So is the display in the latest Rev D 12" noticeably better than previous 12" PB's & iBooks, is the viewing angle any better, and how do colour and sharpness appear.

Finally, do they actually compare to the quality of the 15" & 17" PB's screens?
     
fisherKing
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Feb 6, 2005, 02:43 PM
 
i'm also really curious about this.
i have no intention of replacing my 12" revC for one with so a modest bump in specs, but...
might consider it if the screen were that much better.


my bet is it's the same, but look forward to hearing from revD owners...
"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
rhythmicmoose
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Feb 6, 2005, 03:57 PM
 
My mom just ordered a Rev. D that should be here by Monday. I have an A and my sister has a C.

I really hope they fix the LCD in the Rev. D, because the screen on the C is downright crappy next to the one on the A. The backlight is about the same, but the viewing angle on the C is ever-so-slightly less than on the A. The real problem is the color fidelity. While the A is, in my opinion, fairly accurate, the C is noticeably washed and undersaturated, and has incredibly weak blues. This is all after calibrating with ColorSync, too.

It's a good thing my sister doesn't do any graphics/photo editing.

After I get a chance to look at my mom's new A, I'll let you know whether the screen has been at all improved.
     
Superchicken
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Feb 6, 2005, 04:21 PM
 
My Rev B's monitor never struck me as to great... I kinda wish I had a 15 incher...
     
rhythmicmoose
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Feb 7, 2005, 04:39 PM
 
I just got a chance to fiddle with the Rev. D, and the display seems a bit better than the C's. The picture is a bit sharper and the blues aren't nearly as washed out. It's not quite the same as the Rev. A's screen, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.
     
roders  (op)
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Feb 7, 2005, 08:58 PM
 
Well I used to own a Rev A PB 12" ans thought the display on that was a bit duff (if u pardon the Simpsons refrence)
     
wingnut16
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Feb 7, 2005, 09:56 PM
 
For what its worth, I think the new Rev D PB screen is brite and the color is sharp. It could be little better(color clarity), but overall it looks good. Understand this is my first apple laptop, so I have all most no experience with earlier revs.
     
PeterKG
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Feb 7, 2005, 11:45 PM
 
I currently have a 15" PB. I also have bought an iMac 20", so I did not think I needed the 15" anymore, so I went to my local Apple store and bought the new base 12" for portability. I ended up returning it due to a bad latch, and display, that had a 1/8th inch dark horizontal line running across the bottom of the display from side to side. It also had dark spots coming from the bottom. The replacement unit also had a bad display. The LCD must have been too tight on the lower right side, and any movement caused a wave motion such as what you get if you press in on the outer case behind the display. The trackpad was also unresponsive. I returned it for a refund. I'm still selling my 15" and will try again to purchase a 12", but the batch these two came from must have missed quality control inspection. I was really dissapointed that Apple lets such defective units get out in the market.
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7), 1.6 GHz, Core i5, 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3, 128 GB SSD, 24" LED ACD, 1TB Time Capsule (late 2009), IOS4 ATV, 16GB iPhone 4
     
wunderkind
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Feb 8, 2005, 12:26 AM
 
Compared to a 13-month old rev. B 12" it is brighter with colors that look more realistic. Probably white balance is also different. White looks whiter. But nowhere as gorgeous as the 15" PB screen.

Viewing angle is the same.
PB G4 12" 1.5GHz/1.2GB/100GB/SuperDrive/AE/Mac OS X Tiger
     
cmoney
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Feb 8, 2005, 12:42 AM
 
I've got a 12" Rev D in front of me and its screen is pretty good. I've also got a 15" TiBook that's 3 years old but its screen is still slightly brighter than the 12". I'd have to say the 12" isn't a particularly bad LCD, just nothing special.
     
shabbasuraj
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Feb 8, 2005, 01:09 AM
 
I have access to a RevA (bought towards the end of its upgrade cycle) and a RevC PB (right after it was released) and the RevC is much better in terms of brightness and contrast than the RevA.

Both screens are callibrated.

I guess this thread indicates that there is a LCD Lottery amongst 12" PB, sometimes you win, somtimes you don't.
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dissapointed
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Feb 8, 2005, 02:57 AM
 
Originally posted by wingnut16:
For what its worth, I think the new Rev D PB screen is brite and the color is sharp. It could be little better(color clarity), but overall it looks good. Understand this is my first apple laptop, so I have all most no experience with earlier revs.
I was planning on swithcing from a windows machine and buying a new 12inch powerbook but was so dissapointed at the quality of the screens on all three models that i decided it wasnt worth it.

The colours were washed out, the brightness was, well it wasnt bright at all. I looked at 3 different models in 3 separate stores and compared them to a friend's dell 8600 that i had with me and they were all less than impressive.

Instead i am going to get one of the new sony 13.3inch vaios with the xbrite screen (and 128mb vram) that are coming out here in a couple of weeks and then use linux.

What's the story, why doesnt Apple use the xbrite or ips (whatever it's called)technology like compaq, hp, toshiba, ibm or at least offer it as bto (apparently it is fairly expensive compared to normal lcd).

Very dissapointed as i was looking forward to trying out a different OS but not worth it if i have to have a dodgy screen. maybe i get a mini mac one day
     
shabbasuraj
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Feb 8, 2005, 03:24 AM
 
Originally posted by dissapointed:
I was planning on swithcing from a windows machine and buying a new 12inch powerbook but was so dissapointed at the quality of the screens on all three models that i decided it wasnt worth it.

The colours were washed out, the brightness was, well it wasnt bright at all. I looked at 3 different models in 3 separate stores and compared them to a friend's dell 8600 that i had with me and they were all less than impressive.

Instead i am going to get one of the new sony 13.3inch vaios with the xbrite screen (and 128mb vram) that are coming out here in a couple of weeks and then use linux.

What's the story, why doesnt Apple use the xbrite or ips (whatever it's called)technology like compaq, hp, toshiba, ibm or at least offer it as bto (apparently it is fairly expensive compared to normal lcd).

Very dissapointed as i was looking forward to trying out a different OS but not worth it if i have to have a dodgy screen. maybe i get a mini mac one day


Hmmm...

Vaio screen and plasticy built machine and WINDOWS?

Or

Mediocre screen and sexy Al skin and OS X?




I guess to each his own.


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h00ligan
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Feb 9, 2005, 03:02 AM
 
don't knock the vaio s series. I sold a 12" powerbook for one.. and the guy specifically stated he'd run linux.

the vaio is also lighter with a magnesium lid and bottom, so it's pretty sturdy.. now also let me state that i hate sony and i love apple.. but the 12" just wasn't getting it done for me,... for many reasons.

I will get a 15" pb when they make them faster and put a highgher res display on there.. as it sits now my vaio has a 13.3" widescreen with a better res then the apple 15"

the bottom line is.. apple has to start offering decent resolutions.. not all of their customers are old with bad eyesight.. i myself am young with bad eyesight.

-= H00ligan =-

1.33 GHz 12" | 60 gig 7200 rpm drive | 1.25 Gigs of ram
amd 64 3000+ eMachines m6805 (arima lappy) | 60 gig | 512 megs | almost 3400 3dMark03 and it was only $1250 :)
     
U n i o n 0015
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Feb 11, 2005, 12:03 AM
 
I got my new 12" today and I have been fiddling with it for a few hours.

The display seems exactly the same as my roommate's Revision A 12" 867Mhz PowerBook. I am not too impressed with it. It's plenty sharp, but the colors are pretty washed out. Calibrating it helped a bit, but compared to my 15" 1Ghz Titanium display (which is sitting right next to my new 12") it's pretty weak. For exampl, if there's a blue being displayed on one part of the screen, at the bottom of the screen that blue won't be as vibrant. The display doesn't seem balanced at all. But it'll do.

I am going to miss the 15's beautiful, clear, bright display, but the 12" makes up for it in sheer portability.
12" 1.5GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4
15" 1GHz Titanium PowerBook G4
     
dissapointed
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Feb 11, 2005, 04:27 AM
 
Originally posted by U n i o n 0015:
I got my new 12" today and I have been fiddling with it for a few hours.

The display seems exactly the same as my roommate's Revision A 12" 867Mhz PowerBook. I am not too impressed with it. It's plenty sharp, but the colors are pretty washed out. Calibrating it helped a bit, but compared to my 15" 1Ghz Titanium display (which is sitting right next to my new 12") it's pretty weak. For exampl, if there's a blue being displayed on one part of the screen, at the bottom of the screen that blue won't be as vibrant. The display doesn't seem balanced at all. But it'll do.

I am going to miss the 15's beautiful, clear, bright display, but the 12" makes up for it in sheer portability.
I dont get that. You pay at least $1500 for a laptop, why do you put up with a crap screen (and a crap video card)? Is it because you have to have an apple OS because all your stuff is in some mac format, or is it more like the weirdo above, who thinks he'll get laid because he has a "sexy al skin"?

Why wouldnt you spend a little more on a PC machine, which are just as portable, if not more so than a 12inch powerbook and run XP, which in my opinion works fine, as long as you dont download porn, illegal mp3s and open email attachments from people you dont know. Or if you have some rational(based on past experience)/irrational fear of windows, run linux.

From browsing MACNN, it's like people think windows was purposefully engineered to self destruct and ruin people's lives and that conversely, OS X is like Nirvana, paradise where nothing ever goes wrong (despite the myriad mac forums designed to troubleshoot OS X). If you keep buying crap, they'll keep making crap and 'upgrading' the hardware once every 9 months.
     
Jalu
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Feb 11, 2005, 05:00 AM
 
Originally posted by dissapointed:
I dont get that. You pay at least $1500 for a laptop, why do you put up with a crap screen (and a crap video card)? Is it because you have to have an apple OS because all your stuff is in some mac format, or is it more like the weirdo above, who thinks he'll get laid because he has a "sexy al skin"?
[...]
I think you're overreacting; the 12" screen isn't crap; I've been using one for a year and a half now and I'm very happy with it. I have yet to see a better screen on a 12" laptop, because most laptops I see tend to get bigger and bigger.

Ofcourse the brightness on the larger models is better, there's simply more room for better, bigger backlights. But the price you pay is loosing a lot of portability.
PowerBook 12" G4-867 640MB 40GB
     
U n i o n 0015
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Feb 11, 2005, 08:37 AM
 
Originally posted by dissapointed:
I dont get that. You pay at least $1500 for a laptop, why do you put up with a crap screen (and a crap video card)? Is it because you have to have an apple OS because all your stuff is in some mac format, or is it more like the weirdo above, who thinks he'll get laid because he has a "sexy al skin"?

Why wouldnt you spend a little more on a PC machine, which are just as portable, if not more so than a 12inch powerbook and run XP, which in my opinion works fine, as long as you dont download porn, illegal mp3s and open email attachments from people you dont know. Or if you have some rational(based on past experience)/irrational fear of windows, run linux.

From browsing MACNN, it's like people think windows was purposefully engineered to self destruct and ruin people's lives and that conversely, OS X is like Nirvana, paradise where nothing ever goes wrong (despite the myriad mac forums designed to troubleshoot OS X). If you keep buying crap, they'll keep making crap and 'upgrading' the hardware once every 9 months.
I was a hardcore PC user for years. Never had a single virus, never got any attachments that screwed my computer up, and never got a single bit of spyware. I was running Windows 2000 and it was extremely stable. A friend had an iBook and was raving about it, so when I was in the market for a computer to replace my desktop PC, I looked at the 15" Titanium PowerBook. HANDS DOWN, it was a far nicer computer than any of the PC laptops available at the time. It was designed beautifully and was extremely fast. After using OS X for a while, I couldn't go back to the drab Windows. It's simple, elegant, and JUST WORKS. No messy installs, no weird files being dropped all over the place--everything is where you can find it.

Sorry bud, but the PowerBooks blow away any PC laptop I've seen. There are PC laptops that are smaller, but don't have an optical drive; then there's PC laptops that are bigger but too big. I'll take a slightly dimmer screen for what amounts to a fully-featured desktop in a 12" package.

Now, since your name is "disappointed," I imagine you bought a Mac and got burned somehow. Well that sucks, but my experience with them has completely eradicated any PC love I had. I suggest you either try your Mac some more or go back to using PCs.
12" 1.5GHz Aluminum PowerBook G4
15" 1GHz Titanium PowerBook G4
     
Simon
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Feb 11, 2005, 08:47 AM
 
The ThinkPad is certainly a fine notebook if you can't get a PowerBook.

But, how can anybody in their right mind drop the internal optical drive while at the same time there's a friggin PC card slot in there???

I've seen a PC card twice in the last 10 years. I've burned ten times more DVDs in the past two years.
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wunderkind
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Feb 11, 2005, 09:42 AM
 
If you want to see some crap LCD displays, you should come to my place of work and look at HP displays (connected to HP desktops) - probably the cheapest IT department could buy. Compared to them 12" PB display is like day and night. However, for color-critical work I connect my PB to a 23" Cinema.
PB G4 12" 1.5GHz/1.2GB/100GB/SuperDrive/AE/Mac OS X Tiger
     
analogika
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Feb 11, 2005, 09:45 AM
 
Originally posted by dissapointed:
windows was purposefully engineered to self destruct and ruin people's lives.... If you keep buying crap, they'll keep making crap and 'upgrading' once every 9 months.
Closer to the truth, and much more in keeping with the stories I get to hear every single ****ing day - from fed-up Windows users who come into the store to look at Apple's offerings.

The only thing on the 12" Powerbook that is sub-par is the monitor. I agree that it *is* sub-par (as of Rev C; haven't seen Rev D yet).

I would (and do) still rather use that than Windows, though.

-s*
     
audvidsvs
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Feb 11, 2005, 10:44 AM
 
I use a 12" Rev B for almost everything and I really like it. I also have a Tibook as a desktop.
I moved from an ibook which allegedly has the same screen but it looked a lot less impressive to me than the PB screen does.

Proir to that I have used PC's since the beginning and used Geoworks before Windows. Geoworks was great! I switched so I could use an iPod and I never thought I would actually switch,I just needed to use an iPod.

I recently brought home an IBM X30 with a 12" display,same res. as the PB.
I do think the IBM display looks a lot better than the PB.
Am I switching because of it?
Not in a million years!

The IBM has a fresh install of XP Pro on it,the former owner just wiped the drive and installed XP clean.
How many individual downloads do you think I have had to hunt down and install from cryptic non-descript locations to render this thing a usable Thinkpad with even the basic support for built-in features?

Even after 14 downloads I have device conflicts and non-working hardware in places. Nothing is ever really described in english without disclaimers and ambigious notes and exceptions.
You download,unzip,install(if you can find the oddly-named file)and cross your fingers that it works or at least does not kill something that worked before.

The hardware is impressive,almost everything I wish the PB had is here but I forgot just how frustrating and user-unfriendly Windows can be.
I have to use Windows frequently to program devices via serial port.
I also use some software that just won't work with VPC.
Never am I able to just boot up and do anything new without a fight with Windows no matter how minimal a change I am trying to make.

I have started my PB many mornings to be met with a message from Apple that there is an upgrade to OS-X waiting if I want to get it.
I press one button if I do and wait while it is done. Usually there are no problems and I just go on my way using new features or not but never really second guessing it.
I know I have been lucky here but I also know it can be handled this way because everyone here gets it handled this way and it works.

It is more than enough to drive me crazy.
     
dissapointed
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Feb 12, 2005, 02:37 AM
 
Originally posted by U n i o n 0015:


I was a hardcore PC user for years. Never had a single virus, never got any attachments that screwed my computer up, and never got a single bit of spyware. I was running Windows 2000 and it was extremely stable. A friend had an iBook and was raving about it, so when I was in the market for a computer to replace my desktop PC, I looked at the 15" Titanium PowerBook. HANDS DOWN, it was a far nicer computer than any of the PC laptops available at the time. It was designed beautifully and was extremely fast. After using OS X for a while, I couldn't go back to the drab Windows. It's simple, elegant, and JUST WORKS. No messy installs, no weird files being dropped all over the place--everything is where you can find it.

Sorry bud, but the PowerBooks blow away any PC laptop I've seen. There are PC laptops that are smaller, but don't have an optical drive; then there's PC laptops that are bigger but too big. I'll take a slightly dimmer screen for what amounts to a fully-featured desktop in a 12" package.

Now, since your name is "disappointed," I imagine you bought a Mac and got burned somehow. Well that sucks, but my experience with them has completely eradicated any PC love I had. I suggest you either try your Mac some more or go back to using PCs.
Why are you talking about when you bought a 15inch ti book? How many years ago was that? Im talking about now: 2005.

If you cant find a smaller PC laptop with an optical drive, then you probably havent actually looked. e.g., Sony makes one (10.6inch screen with a higher res than the PB, plus the 13.3inch that weighs less than pb and which i plan on buying), Dell makes one (inspiron 700m). I am not arguing that the PB is not a decent 12inch laptop, im saying that it is far from great because it has a very average screen (and vid card).

For mine, i couldnt care less if Apple made a g5 laptop with 256mb videocard and 120gb 7200rpm hard drive. If the screen stays the same as what's in the current pb, im not buying it. If it had a screen comparable to the absolute best in the laptop world, i'd pay whatever it took. Why, when better technology is available, does Apple refuse to introduce it into the pb line???? Even if it does jack the price up by $500 or more. The pb is for professional users, whereas the ibook is for everyone else, therefore, professionals (or anyone that wants a nice notebook) shouldnt whinge about paying more.

As for your prediction about me being burned by apple. If you'd read my original post, you'd have seen that i was considering switching from a wintel machine and 'dissapointed' is a reference to how i felt upon seeing the pb screens.

I have very little experience with OSX and was curious and interested to try something different, however, having never had a problem with XP and working primarily with microsoft software, the only thing that would get me to change, would be if the pb (and apple's software) met each and every one of my expectations. Unfortunately for apple, with regards the screen and the vid card, it didnt. (Also, reading dud reviews about the 'pages' software also put me off. )
     
shabbasuraj
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Feb 12, 2005, 08:36 AM
 
Originally posted by dissapointed:
I dont get that. You pay at least $1500 for a laptop, why do you put up with a crap screen (and a crap video card)? Is it because you have to have an apple OS because all your stuff is in some mac format, or is it more like the weirdo above, who thinks he'll get laid because he has a "sexy al skin"?

Why wouldnt you spend a little more on a PC machine, which are just as portable, if not more so than a 12inch powerbook and run XP, which in my opinion works fine, as long as you dont download porn, illegal mp3s and open email attachments from people you dont know. Or if you have some rational(based on past experience)/irrational fear of windows, run linux.

From browsing MACNN, it's like people think windows was purposefully engineered to self destruct and ruin people's lives and that conversely, OS X is like Nirvana, paradise where nothing ever goes wrong (despite the myriad mac forums designed to troubleshoot OS X). If you keep buying crap, they'll keep making crap and 'upgrading' the hardware once every 9 months.

Dude CHILLAX...

No one is forcing you to buy Windows, or run Linux, OR BUY CRAP as you say.

Maybe you are a newbie to the forum, but this many people here (including myself) have discussed and debated this notion of Apple providing BTO's in the PB line with respect to screen resolutions. Hopefully, Stevie will remedy this in the G5 PB line. There have been many threads on this very issue with many great suggestions resulting from them.

Meanwhile f you love love Sony XBRITE screens then buy one and run Linux on it as you say and be happy.

I love the high resolutions of comparable sized VAIO screens, but I will not leave the stability and security and aesthetic beauty of OS X for WinCrap.

Personally, I also place aesthic beauty along with novel design, and performance of course as my requirements for a notebook computer, and no magnesium cased VAIO in my eyes can even hold a candle to the neo modern industrial/engineered motif of the current PB's. (Be aware, I said MY eye, not yours).

Design cues such as integrated antennas, hidden latches, minimal outer external labelling, quiet fans, machined metal powerbattery release buttons, monochromatic colour scheme, polished hex screw heads, pulsing white LED while sleeping, integrated led battery indicater lights, all ports on one side (12"), lighted keyboards, slot optical drive, even the colour of the both rubber feet on the bottom and LCD screen bumpers have been carefully thought out, etc. And perhaps the most important to me the 'perfect feel' (key size, shape, and even sound) of the PB keyboard are all things that factor into my notebook choice.

And thus the Apple PowerBook is my choice. Sure it lacks in the screen department, but using MY criteria it excels in countless others and by no means do I or the thousands of other posters here feel that they are being forced to BUY CRAP per se.

Heck using your rationale, us Mac users can ask the same thing of the billions of PC users out there and why are they being forced to BUY CRAP?










edit sp-e-l-l-ing.......................
( Last edited by shabbasuraj; Feb 12, 2005 at 02:10 PM. )
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shabbasuraj
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Feb 12, 2005, 08:51 AM
 
[QUOTE]Originally posted by rhythmicmoose:
[B]I really hope they fix the LCD in the Rev. D, because the screen on the C is downright crappy next to the one on the A. The backlight is about the same, but the viewing angle on the C is ever-so-slightly less than on the A. The real problem is the color fidelity. While the A is, in my opinion, fairly accurate, the C is noticeably washed and undersaturated, and has incredibly weak blues. [B]





This is exactly the opposite from my perspective. In my circle of family and friends, RevA was the weakest of all the screens.

The screens actually got better as the revisions progressed.

RevA
RevB (better)
RevC (best)
RevD (I don't know, but I will report tomorrow as a new RevD, will be joining the aforementioned PB clan, after a trip to the Apple Store).

Hopefully the trend will continue.

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Simon
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Feb 12, 2005, 09:03 AM
 
Originally posted by shabbasuraj:
Design cues such as integrated antennas, hidden latches, minimal outer external labelling, quiet fans, machined metal power buttons, monochromatic colour scheme, polished hex screw heads, pulsing white LED while sleeping, integrated led battery indicater lights, all ports on one side (12"), lighted keyboards, hidden latches, slot optical drive, etc, and perhaps the most important to me the 'perfect feel' of the PB keyboard are all things that factor into my notebook choice.
Shabbasuraj, thanks for that nice compilation of the PowerBook's engineering beauty. I will keep a link to it for the next time my PC colleagues ask why my PowerBook looks so much nicer than their bulky doorstep PC notebooks.
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zzarg
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Feb 12, 2005, 09:56 AM
 
I have a 12" Rev.A and find the screen to be really usable.
Compared to my previous Vaio and Compaq (which for various reasons I've had to fire up again this week) it actually holds it's own.
That said, I've sat in next to a Rev.C 15" recently and realised mine was a little washed out.
Planning on making a visit to a dealer in a week or so to compare to the Rev.D 15" (thinking of updating). I'll also be comparing to Vaio and Thinkpads and also the Toshiba M200 tablet (all around the same price bracket spec'd as I want them) - screen will be important, but fit and finish, keyboard and mouse are probably just as important for usability and there the PowerBook wins hands down. If someone put a keyboard / case this good around a top flight Centrino II machine then maybe I'd not have to think too hard.... but I've got used to OSX as well over the last few months
     
fisherKing
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Feb 12, 2005, 11:29 AM
 
i'm fine with my 12"revC screen...it's only when it sits next to my girlfriend's 15" revC that i see it's weaknesses...

i hope the revD screen is better, but am happy with what i have (and i'm on my mac all day, literally).


i'm waiting for the bigger changes...greater speed, better battery life (altho 4 to 4 1/2 hours is nice), a backlit keyboard, etc...and a really better screen.

until then, the 12" ROCKS.
"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
U n i o n 0015
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Feb 12, 2005, 11:38 AM
 
Originally posted by dissapointed:
Why are you talking about when you bought a 15inch ti book? How many years ago was that? Im talking about now: 2005.

If you cant find a smaller PC laptop with an optical drive, then you probably havent actually looked. e.g., Sony makes one (10.6inch screen with a higher res than the PB, plus the 13.3inch that weighs less than pb and which i plan on buying), Dell makes one (inspiron 700m). I am not arguing that the PB is not a decent 12inch laptop, im saying that it is far from great because it has a very average screen (and vid card).

For mine, i couldnt care less if Apple made a g5 laptop with 256mb videocard and 120gb 7200rpm hard drive. If the screen stays the same as what's in the current pb, im not buying it. If it had a screen comparable to the absolute best in the laptop world, i'd pay whatever it took. Why, when better technology is available, does Apple refuse to introduce it into the pb line???? Even if it does jack the price up by $500 or more. The pb is for professional users, whereas the ibook is for everyone else, therefore, professionals (or anyone that wants a nice notebook) shouldnt whinge about paying more.

As for your prediction about me being burned by apple. If you'd read my original post, you'd have seen that i was considering switching from a wintel machine and 'dissapointed' is a reference to how i felt upon seeing the pb screens.

I have very little experience with OSX and was curious and interested to try something different, however, having never had a problem with XP and working primarily with microsoft software, the only thing that would get me to change, would be if the pb (and apple's software) met each and every one of my expectations. Unfortunately for apple, with regards the screen and the vid card, it didnt. (Also, reading dud reviews about the 'pages' software also put me off. )
The reason I mentioned my experience with Windows is because you said Apple users must have an irritational fear of Windows to switch.

What I was trying to demonstrate was that I was an advanced user of Windows, had pretty much zero problems with it, but STILL thought it was crap after using OS X.

Sorry to hear you're disappointed by the PowerBook; go buy a Wintel PC. If every one of your posts is going to be questioning why we buy Apples, then you obviously don't get it and you're as good as a troll. If you had read my original post, you'd see that I was comparing the 12" screen to my 15" screen, which is were the difference shows up. And in the past few days, I've adjusted the 12" screen so that the color is pretty much spot on with the 15".

And where did I compare my 12" to Wintel machines? I didn't, because I could care less about what Intel, Microsoft, and the rest of the PC world is putting on the market. I'm an Apple user and love their stuff, because even the weakest Apple blows away a PC in my opinion.
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jamil5454
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Feb 12, 2005, 01:13 PM
 
Like I said in a previous post, I would pay $1000 for OS X if I needed to. That's what we Apple users are paying for. Everything is not all hardware.
     
365
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Feb 12, 2005, 01:26 PM
 
Originally posted by jamil5454:
Like I said in a previous post, I would pay $1000 for OS X if I needed to. That's what we Apple users are paying for. Everything is not all hardware.
Spot on, it's not about the hardware (if it was I'd buy a ThinkPad), it's the OS.
     
sodamnregistered2
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Feb 12, 2005, 04:52 PM
 
I went in to the Apple Store last year to get a Rev C. 12"

The screen was just horrid next to the 15"

I left with a 15"

I'd love a 12" but the video card and screen just lag the 15" too much. I could live with a second rate video card, but the screen, man, the 12" screen was washed out, grey looking and not bright and had icky contrast.

The 12" just got 64MB video cards recently, before that, with the 32MB video cards, you could use 2 monitors, but only at 16MB per screen, not enough for Quartz acceleration.

It's about the form factor. A lot of people could not live with a 1024x768 main LCD screen and will always step up to the 15" even if the 12" screen and vid card were on par. For me, the 17" is just too big. It's a personal thing.

I just sold my 15" it was a great laptop. Would love to get a 12" but the screen is just too important to happiness. You look at the screen as long as you are using the computer. It's arguably the most important part of a laptop.
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Simon
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Feb 12, 2005, 07:08 PM
 
Originally posted by sodamnregistered2:
I left with a 15"
Which one did you get? Specs?
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iREZ
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Feb 12, 2005, 07:24 PM
 
Originally posted by Rhythmicmoose:

I just got a chance to fiddle with the Rev. D, and the display seems a bit better than the C's. The picture is a bit sharper and the blues aren't nearly as washed out. It's not quite the same as the Rev. A's screen, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.
Is this a Rev A 12" PB that your speaking of. If that's the case why did Apple stop using the Rev A screens in the Rev B-D?
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David Hagan
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Feb 12, 2005, 08:26 PM
 
The 12's screen will not change until Apple has other major new things to add to the PowerBook line, like G5 processors or dual core G4s. When this happens, I think you'll see a better screen and a wider one too. They also need to add a PCMCIA slot to the 12 inch.
     
Simon
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Feb 13, 2005, 04:19 AM
 
Originally posted by David Hagan:
They also need to add a PCMCIA slot to the 12 inch.
I disagree.

Would you really prefer a larger 12" PB with a PCMCIA slot over a smaller 12" PB w/o the slot? After looking at 12" disassembly manuals and opening 12" PBs countless times, I know there is not a single cubic inch left in there.
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macintologist
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Feb 13, 2005, 08:34 AM
 
I don't understand, I have a Rev A 12" PB, and I think the screen is fine. I've never owned a PB before, and I'm using this in a fairly dark setting, but I think the brightness is perfect. It's true that if I'm in a room with lots of sunlight, then the screen appears more dim, but you can't really help that.
     
U n i o n 0015
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Feb 13, 2005, 01:10 PM
 
Would love to get a 12" but the screen is just too important to happiness. You look at the screen as long as you are using the computer. It's arguably the most important part of a laptop. [/B]
To be fair, after a few days use with my 12", the screen is comparable to my TiBook. I'd definitely still say the 15" has a better screen, but I calibrated my color profile so that it is darn near close to the 15". I definitely enjoy the screen more now, because the out-of-the-box color profile is TERRIBLE. All the colors are washed out. I finally got it so that the blues are blues, not emerald.

So I'd say anyone with a 12" should definitely make sure to calibrate the color.
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99RedSi
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Feb 14, 2005, 01:53 PM
 
Is there a calibration file (profile) that you can export and post here?
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U n i o n 0015
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Feb 14, 2005, 08:14 PM
 
Originally posted by 99RedSi:
Is there a calibration file (profile) that you can export and post here?
If I could find the file or preference, I would definitely share it. But I don't know where OS X stores it.
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ChrisF
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Feb 14, 2005, 11:23 PM
 
Originally posted by U n i o n 0015:
If I could find the file or preference, I would definitely share it. But I don't know where OS X stores it.
It would either be in /Library/ColorSync/Profiles or ~/Library/ColorSync/Profiles (where ~ indicates your own home folder.)
     
mmurray
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Feb 15, 2005, 04:33 AM
 
Originally posted by sodamnregistered2:
........

You look at the screen as long as you are using the computer.

......
Not if you have a 20" LCD monitor at work and the 12" PB supports DVI out :-)


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mmurray
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Feb 15, 2005, 04:34 AM
 
Originally posted by macintologist:
I don't understand, I have a Rev A 12" PB, and I think the screen is fine. I've never owned a PB before, and I'm using this in a fairly dark setting, but I think the brightness is perfect. It's true that if I'm in a room with lots of sunlight, then the screen appears more dim, but you can't really help that.
Don't put it next to a 15" -- I the screens do look better on the 15" if you
compare them. But I like the smaller size.

Michael
     
Agent69
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Feb 15, 2005, 08:58 AM
 
I really do like the size and weight of the 12" Powerbook but like a lot of people, I just couldn't get along with the 1024x768 resolution of the screen.
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Agent69
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Feb 15, 2005, 08:59 AM
 
Originally posted by U n i o n 0015:
If I could find the file or preference, I would definitely share it. But I don't know where OS X stores it.
Maybe we should have a Colorsync profile exchange thread.
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U n i o n 0015
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Feb 15, 2005, 10:22 AM
 
Originally posted by Agent69:
Maybe we should have a Colorsync profile exchange thread.
That'd be a really great idea! That way you could try out different profiles. Like I said, this profile seems to match my 15" Ti closely, but I did it using the advanced color calibration guide and a good eye. Someone with proper tools might be able to come up with something better.

Here's the link (option + click to download):
http://www.union-exxis.com/Media_att...ed-4270A80.icc
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Jason25
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Feb 15, 2005, 12:33 PM
 
I just bought a 12" PB with superdrive last night. The screen looks great IMO, even next to the 15" and 17" they had in the store. I'm a Mac n00b though, so I don't have much basis of comparison to the previous 12" PBs

My co-workers (in a Windows shop) are very impressed with the screen as well, for whatever that is worth
     
ism
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Feb 15, 2005, 04:49 PM
 
Originally posted by U n i o n 0015:
Here's the link (option + click to download):
http://www.union-exxis.com/Media_att...ed-4270A80.icc
For some reason I can't get this to work. Just isn't recognised.

Here is someone else's that I used for awhile. http://www.simongbrown.com/photoblog...615422000.html

And Adobe have some here:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloa...47&fileID=2245

Here's mine for what it's worth (1st attempt with Supercal) Si-profile.zip
( Last edited by ism; Feb 15, 2005 at 05:38 PM. )
     
fisherKing
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Feb 16, 2005, 05:48 PM
 
just came from the apple store soho...
12" screen looks the same as my revC; no brighter or sharper.
just as hot left of the trackpad.

no real reason to upgrade (for me, anyway); not for a slight speed bump etc.


now, waiting on the next real revision (or the next design...)
"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
ism
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Feb 17, 2005, 10:35 AM
 
Well I was hoping for a whole host of color profiles to get posted, since I don't trust the ones I've generated. For some reason the vibrant one posted above wouldn't 'register' when I put it in my ~/Library/Colorsync/Profiles directory and wouldn't show up in System Preferences. However, you can get it to work if you do it via the ColorSync Utility. Select Devices, then the current display, then under current profile you can browse and select it.

Comparing the Vibrant one with mine via ColorSync Utility they seem pretty similar, but I'm sure my colours are way off.
     
 
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