Mac Book Pros Have HD Screens?

[AnthroAndStargate]

I am trying to figure out if I want to buy a MBP or a regular windows laptop (I'm sick of waiting on this MBP update that is always coming "next week" so I may give up soon) but anyway for the sake of argument - does anyone know if MBP are HD?

I noticed that DELL XPS and a few other computers (like Alienware) advertise as having HD or 1020p or whatever HD screens. Do MBP have equiv screens?

What is the diff if there is one? Thanks so much!

 

[ViRGE]

All of the Macbook Pros have at least a 1440x900 screen, which is enough for 720P and then some. The 17" MBP tops out at 1680 x 1050, which is still a bit small for 1080p.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
All of the Macbook Pros have at least a 1440x900 screen, which is enough for 720P and then some. The 17" MBP tops out at 1680 x 1050, which is still a bit small for 1080p.

I have a 17" MBP running 1920x1200. Here: link

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: ViRGE
All of the Macbook Pros have at least a 1440x900 screen, which is enough for 720P and then some. The 17" MBP tops out at 1680 x 1050, which is still a bit small for 1080p.

I have a 17" MBP running 1920x1200. Here: link

Your link doens't work.. i'm curious to see

 

[AnthroAndStargate]

Oh so ANY laptop screen is automatically HD? I thought HD meant it had some special stuff in it that made the picture sharper and stuff? So basically it just depends on the size? So is Dell just saying that as a gimmick or is there really something "HD" about their screens?

Like would I be able to run TF2 in HD in Windows on a 15" Mac Book Pro?

 

[rikadik]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
Oh so ANY laptop screen is automatically HD? I thought HD meant it had some special stuff in it that made the picture sharper and stuff? So basically it just depends on the size? So is Dell just saying that as a gimmick or is there really something "HD" about their screens?

Like would I be able to run TF2 in HD in Windows on a 15" Mac Book Pro?

All you really need to do is ignore the HD splurge and look at the max resolutions of either laptop. Higher is better. As has been said the HD label starts at 720p which is outdone by the 1440 x 900 MBP screen.

 

[bearxor]

MOST laptops these days 12" or bigger have at least a 1280x800 screen, which is enough to do the 1280x720 resolution needed for 720p.

The 15" MBP is only available in 1440x900.
The 17" MBP starts t 1680x1050 and has an option for 1920x1200 for 1080P resolution.

Your main factor here is the video card. Does a 256MB GeForce 8600M-GT have enough power to push 1920x1200 in new games? I don't think so. I would get the base model 1680x1050 screen. If I was using the laptop for work and editing HD video for broadcast on it I would go for the 1920x1200 screen. Just depends on what you plan to use the laptop for. Like I said, for gaming, I'd go for the 1680x1050 resolution base model 17".

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: intogamer

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: ViRGE
All of the Macbook Pros have at least a 1440x900 screen, which is enough for 720P and then some. The 17" MBP tops out at 1680 x 1050, which is still a bit small for 1080p.

I have a 17" MBP running 1920x1200. Here: link

Your link doens't work.. i'm curious to see

Yep, he's right, there's a $100 upgrade option for the 17" for a 1920x1200 monitor.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: AnthroAndStargate
Oh so ANY laptop screen is automatically HD? I thought HD meant it had some special stuff in it that made the picture sharper and stuff? So basically it just depends on the size? So is Dell just saying that as a gimmick or is there really something "HD" about their screens?

Like would I be able to run TF2 in HD in Windows on a 15" Mac Book Pro?

High Definition is a screen resolution, which equates to increased picture size and detail:

720 HD = 1280x720
1080 HD = 1920x1080

The 15" MacBook Pros are offered with a resolution of 1440x900 while the 17" MacBook Pros are offered with your choice of 1680x1050 or 1920x1200. By definition, none of those resolutions are True HD, but rather HD-capable. Even the highest resolution on the 17" isn't real HD - it's 1920x1200, not 1920x1080. So on the 15", 720 would be upscaled and 1080 would be downscaled, the same on the 1680x1050. On the 1920x1200 display, 720 would be upscaled and 1080 would be stretched a bit. Honestly though it's hard to tell the stretching; I have a 24" Dell LCD that is 1920x1200 and 1080 HD movies look fine on it.

So your confusion is the result of clever marketing