Alternative PC Laptop to macbook pro (with similar LCD)

Hi

I recently seen a macbook pro on display at a retailer and i really like the subtle "paper like", non harshly bright look of the laptop. When compared to other glossy screens next to it, i could see this one won't easily cause eye strain or the "snow blinding" effect that many other new laptops have. Other matte laptops i have tried seem to all be awful, i did have a HP nx9105 (cant boot it on to see what panel it is) which was great (looked like a CRT).
anyway, I here this is likey a LG PHILIPS PANEL in the macbook laptop and on what type of screen i am looking for, mac like / crt like ,
what other PC laptops can you advise?

 

Did the MBP you were looking at have a matte or glossy screen?

 

There is no equivalent screen of the same size as the MBP - it's the only 15" laptop out there that uses LED backlights instead of CCFL.

I assume when you say "compared to the other glossy screen next to it" you're looking at a matte screen right?

MBP uses screens from both LG and Samsung. People tend to prefer LG as a brand over Samsung - although I wonder how much of that is due to their own particular preference and how much is due to simply the brand name.

Asus has a few decent screens (G1S, V1S-B1), as does Sony. Lenovo offers decent matte screens.

 

The Thinkpad T61 also uses LG and Samsung screens -- at least the 15.4" ones... not sure about the 14-inch ones. It's matte only, and the screen isn't as bright as the MBP unfortunately, and the Thinkpad's screens are a bit higher-resolution. Unfortunately, there's no way to know which brand of LCD panel you'll get when you order one.

A few other vendors use LG panels, but only as one of several panel suppliers, as far as I know. And as Taelrak mentioned, no one else has an LED-backlit 15.4" screen yet... but I expect that to change at some point in the not-too-distant future.

 

im almost certain it was a matte screen, it didnt have any noticeable reflection, and looked like a CRT monitor. and of course all the other screens in the retailer have glossy screens, which i guess are "ok", and will have to do at this rate as all the other matte screens i order HP/Toshiba seem awaful and have gone down hill, having awful light bleed, viewing angles and look washed out and too bright. I ordered a HP 6715b and the screen was great... and then i got it replaced as it was faulty and the second one appearedto have a different panel in it, it was awful, unfortunately i didnt check the panels via pcwizard as i have read to do!

I tried a Sony and i get on with the screen, but it fried on me, and wont even start up! having lots of fun with laptops lately... it was new so im trying to get my money back, i dont want a repair after reading horror stories about them not covering warranty, slow to repair, ongoing reliability problems etc.
Its a tough one, it seems that all the brand names have gone somewhat down hill amidst fierce competiton and they all appear to be using the exact same awful panels!, ANYWAY
i was looking at both ASUS (G1S) and LENOVO (T61/T60) on the web... but again it sounds like a panel lottery on what brand of screen you get, and as i cant see it before i buy...
shame ASUS/ LENOVO arent in any stores (UK)?

 

Aren't the Thinkpads notorious for dim screens? I think you should look into the HP 8510p even though you had a bad experience with HP. I have only read good things about that notebook.

 

i dont think i could cope with another HP! thenless im getting a "glossy" lcd one and then they look one of the best....
otherwise going off subject somewhat, if i did go for a mac, i never in my wildest dreams thought i would and it seems abit silly just for the sake of the screen but im also hearing good things about them (reliable/good support???)...
if i boot camp to windows...
will all( or most 99%) windows hardware and software that i'll add be compatible?
just looked at price again i think the Pros might be too much...$2,500US hmm

 

In Boot Camp everything works the same as it does in Windows, except there is no right trackpad button and the Macbook / Macbook Pro keyboard lacks a delete key. These issues are easily resolved though.

 

Martin,

I have the same situation and I have never expected so many problems with this issue.

I bought Dell M6300 thinking the screen will be fine but it was awful (even LG). It is so difficult to find a decent laptop screen outside MBP. Such a shame! I am also thinking about 8510p and 8710p but I don't want to play in another screen lottery (although 8710p 1680x1020 has a wide angle screen which should be good). Leopard makes it tempting to go for MBP but when you add up Windows licence and paralles it becomes expensive.

After taking a few pictures with my Canon I went to a friend of mine and projected them on his Mac. What a difference it was comparing to PC laptop screens.

Maybe it is worth doing a research regarding LED screens in Dell/HP...

 

Regarding ThinkPads, I have heard many complaints about screen quality.

 

My friend, all notebook brands use the same suppliers, so if you can get a crappy (Samsung) screen from Lenovo, then you can get exactly the same crappy screen from HP. No magic is involved here.

Otherwise, the WSXGA+ LG/Philips screens are considered "best" as far as 15.4" matte screens go, regardless of the notebook brand.

And yes Samsung have been producing a lot of crap lately, so if you had bad luck and got one of their screens, you would hate your notebook, at least most people do.

The V1S has grainy gloosy screen, that for sure. (every onwner from this forum will confirm that) And some people complain about the G1s as well...

 

Dreamer, you changed your avatar! Do you have any information regarding >15" LED screens coming in HP laptops?

I am waiting for 8710p to be available in the UK (laptop buyers need to be patient).

 

Yeah, I change my avatar every once in a while...

Well, I don't have a direct phone line to HP, so I don't know but generally, there aren't 17" LED screens yet, afaik. Plus, HP don't update their notebooks that often, so I woudn't expect any dramatical changes before the next series... when? dunno.

 

I would expect the MBP 17" to be the first to get the LED screen of that size.

 

slowly going crazy, cant find a laptop that wont cause me headaches....
doesnt seem to matter what i buy, it seems to go wrong or have a crap screen to start with....id get a mac if i knew it would been problem free but past experience (with any other laptop) is telling me it might not be...

just looked again at macbooks, thinking the screens are good... shame they arent cheaper!
oddly a cheap ADVENT (UK brand apparently made by twinhead, who make avertec/ philips) lcd was the next best , but these are suppose to be poor quality laptops, stab in the dark, guess i need to ask in the avertec forum.... but anyone know what lcd panel manufacturer they use, Like the great screen of the macbook it looked different than all the other laptops in the store, the whites didnt have a 'glare' (even in there stupid BRIGHT lighting).... ?