The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Macbook 13" Screen or Dell XPS 13" Screen?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by dman777, Jun 1, 2009.

  1. dman777

    dman777 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Which would be a higher quality screen, the Aluminum Macbook 13" or the Dell XPs 13" inch? Speaking stricktly of the LED versions.
     
  2. pufftissue

    pufftissue Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    235
    Messages:
    607
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If you buy one that is straight off the shelf from a retail store, i.e., the most recent ones coming from the factory, it will have the macbook air screen per reports in the forums.

    In short, it's arguably the finest laptop screen out there right now. It would be closer to a no-brainer if they would get rid of the glossy glass, which to me serves no purpose.
     
  3. dman777

    dman777 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Actually, from what I read it's not the exact same model number as the air one. Just the same company. So it could still be a inferior screen to the air.
     
  4. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    The older Macbook screens like (9C89) were much worse than the LED screen of the XPS 13.

    The new Macbook screens are probably similar as the Dell. Although I have not seen them in real life, neither have I seen any measurements yet.
     
  5. dman777

    dman777 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I just got from best buy. The alu Macbook 13" had the 9C89 and it looked awfull. It looked washed out and vertical viewing angles were really bad.

    I looked at the Macbook air and although it had good contrast and blacks, it also had poor vertical viewing angles. To be honest, I think the viewing angles on the air were just as bad as the macbook. The only diff. was the air had more color. So in that logic, if the new macbook screens are on the same level as the mac book air, then the viewing angle will not be an improvement.

    I found the Macbook Pro screen to be superb with excellent viewing angles.
     
  6. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    I owned both MB and MBA. Vertical viewing angles may not be as good as MBP, but imo still better than the 9C89 which has the tendency to invert colors very quickly.

    According to Notebookjournal's measurements Macbook Air's contrast is about three times higher than the 9C89 screen.
     
  7. dman777

    dman777 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    can you tell me if the vertical viewing of the air angle equals the dell in your opinion?
     
  8. Phil

    Phil Retired

    Reputations:
    4,415
    Messages:
    17,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    If the Dell has the Toshiba LED panel, vertical viewing angles are sufficient.

    This means you can move your head a bit without noticeable changes in colors, (the 9C89 screen has this problem).
     
  9. Xirurg

    Xirurg ORLY???

    Reputations:
    3,189
    Messages:
    7,375
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    206
    yesterday someone said that new screens are as good as MBP's screens... don't know,but screens I sow at local store were quite close... much better then 9c89 screens.