MAC OS compatible with PC programs?

[cheez]

Not necessarily, that is a software function as much as a hardware one. I can say this much. My 1.4GHz Air (Oct '10 model) with a 320m can playback 1080p video with nary a hiccup. Not so great with netflix streaming lately, not sure what is up there, silverlight must be bugged, but other than that...

The display on the Air though is very nice, and from all the reviews that I have seen around the web of the various ultrabooks that are coming/have come out is that the Air is the best complete package. The Asus one has good speakers, but the trackpad/keyboard and monitor leave something to be desired, the Acer is good and cheap, but uses a hybrid ssd/hdd solution that is lower in performance, and its screen isn't very good either.

Thanks for the detailed info. Since I dig for quality and good screen display quality looks like the Apple MacBook would be the way to go...

But man it's expensive. You're talking a thousand bucks for one of these. The PC version is considerably cheaper, but with inferior graphics hardware... I guess "You get what you pay for".

Thanks all for the info. Lemme do some thinking

 

[vailr]

man it's expensive. You're talking a thousand bucks for one of these. The PC version is considerably cheaper, but with inferior graphics hardware... I guess "You get what you pay for".

Thanks all for the info. Lemme do some thinking

Two suggestions for lower pricing:
1. Look at Lenovo laptops, which can be configured as you prefer at lenovo.com.
2. Check Apple's refurbished laptops.

 

[Ns1]

Two suggestions for lower pricing:
1. Look at Lenovo laptops, which can be configured as you prefer at lenovo.com.
2. Check Apple's refurbished laptops.

alternatively if you can wait, wait until new MBA's are announced and then buy closeouts from AMZ

 

[runawayprisoner]

What I want out of a video player is the ability to render subtitles at native resolution when a video is full screen, so the text isn't pixelated because it has been rendered at resolution of the video when watching SD content. The only player I have found that does this is XBMC which really isn't really ideal for the kind of things I use VLC for. I just checked out MPlayerX, and it sadly does not fit the bill. Do such programs exist?

Unfortunately, I think your best bet is to install Windows via Bootcamp and use Media Player Classic Home Theater. It has an option to force subtitle rendering at a specific resolution.

I don't know of anything else on Mac that can do such a thing. I have heard that Plex might be able to do it, but I haven't checked that one out yet.

I guess what I was asking was does the Macbook Air have better screen display quality and better video rendering quality as well compare to Non-Apple products such as Samsung 9-series?

From my experience, the screen on the Macbook Air is a hit or miss, really. For some reason, Apple's display quality got worse with the Macbook Air and iPad 2, and the difference in quality usually comes down to whoever manufactured the screen. If it's a screen by Samsung, then most of the time, it's acceptable. If it's a screen by LG, then I'm not sure if you'll like it, because most MBA owners I know of loathe having LG screens, and they would exchange their Air's multiple times until they get a Samsung screen.

There are multiple threads over at MacRumors forums dealing with this issue...

And by the way, I mentioned "acceptable", because to me, a Macbook Pro's screen is still far more vibrant and better-looking than the Air's. I have and Air with a Samsung screen, and the colors look far worse than a Macbook Pro's. I think you can see the difference quite clearly if you go to the Apple Store and play with them side by side.

Compared to another device, I honestly have no idea. I haven't touched Windows laptops in a while, but if reviews are to be believed, I think the Samsung Series 9 is quite a serious contender where screen quality is concerned. Other devices don't seem to be comparable to the Air's, even though from my standards, the Air is just about acceptable with a Samsung screen.

Not necessarily, that is a software function as much as a hardware one. I can say this much. My 1.4GHz Air (Oct '10 model) with a 320m can playback 1080p video with nary a hiccup. Not so great with netflix streaming lately, not sure what is up there, silverlight must be bugged, but other than that...

Silverlight doesn't have GPU acceleration, and most of the processing is done on the CPU as far as I know. Netflix seems to have boosted its DRM measures or changed the video format, or something, and as a result, I find that many of my devices that could barely play Netflix SD before now almost completely unusable with Netflix. And unfortunately, Microsoft is still mum about h.264 or GPU acceleration with Silverlight. Last I heard, they may drop it altogether.

Honestly, I don't think it's that hard for Netflix to come out with a native app on Mac and Windows. I think we should all boycott them for it...

 

[TheStu]

Unfortunately, I think your best bet is to install Windows via Bootcamp and use Media Player Classic Home Theater. It has an option to force subtitle rendering at a specific resolution.

I don't know of anything else on Mac that can do such a thing. I have heard that Plex might be able to do it, but I haven't checked that one out yet.



From my experience, the screen on the Macbook Air is a hit or miss, really. For some reason, Apple's display quality got worse with the Macbook Air and iPad 2, and the difference in quality usually comes down to whoever manufactured the screen. If it's a screen by Samsung, then most of the time, it's acceptable. If it's a screen by LG, then I'm not sure if you'll like it, because most MBA owners I know of loathe having LG screens, and they would exchange their Air's multiple times until they get a Samsung screen.

There are multiple threads over at MacRumors forums dealing with this issue...

And by the way, I mentioned "acceptable", because to me, a Macbook Pro's screen is still far more vibrant and better-looking than the Air's. I have and Air with a Samsung screen, and the colors look far worse than a Macbook Pro's. I think you can see the difference quite clearly if you go to the Apple Store and play with them side by side.

Compared to another device, I honestly have no idea. I haven't touched Windows laptops in a while, but if reviews are to be believed, I think the Samsung Series 9 is quite a serious contender where screen quality is concerned. Other devices don't seem to be comparable to the Air's, even though from my standards, the Air is just about acceptable with a Samsung screen.



Silverlight doesn't have GPU acceleration, and most of the processing is done on the CPU as far as I know. Netflix seems to have boosted its DRM measures or changed the video format, or something, and as a result, I find that many of my devices that could barely play Netflix SD before now almost completely unusable with Netflix. And unfortunately, Microsoft is still mum about h.264 or GPU acceleration with Silverlight. Last I heard, they may drop it altogether.

Honestly, I don't think it's that hard for Netflix to come out with a native app on Mac and Windows. I think we should all boycott them for it...

That would explain my performance issues. Adobe on the other hand FINALLY fixed performance issues in OS X. I can playback 1080p flash on my Air since it is GPU accelerated. I mean, there is no point since the screen is only 720p, but as a simple performance test...

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I guess what I was asking was does the Macbook Air have better screen display quality and better video rendering quality as well compare to Non-Apple products such as Samsung 9-series?

It's a TN panel so if you want the absolute best you should look elsewhere.

The Lenovo x220 has an IPS display that's extremely good and it also has far better battery life and is much more upgradeable than the Air however it is thicker. The Sony Vaio Z also only has a TN panel hwoever it's 1920x1080 which gives you excellent pixel density on a 13" screen. The only downside is the Z is incredibly expensive.

 

[cheez]

Thanks a tank Runwayprisoner for the detailed info. So MacBook Pro has better screen quality then. Yes I care for color quality too. PuddingJumper mentioned that MacBook Air is a TN panel. Is MacBook Pro TN panel or IPS? I looked it up in apple site and couldn't find info on the screen for MacBook Pro. Anyone?

Thanks a train.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I believe the Macbook Pro is TN. I have a 2011 MBP 15", and the viewing angle is not too wide. It's wider than the Macbook Air, though.

 

[cheez]

I believe the Macbook Pro is TN. I have a 2011 MBP 15", and the viewing angle is not too wide. It's wider than the Macbook Air, though.

IIRC iPad 2 has IPS screen. So iPad 2 screen has better visual quality than the MacBook Pro? I think you own/owned iPad 2, based on your experience, which one do you find have better display quality?:$


thanks

 

[TheStu]

Thanks a tank Runwayprisoner for the detailed info. So MacBook Pro has better screen quality then. Yes I care for color quality too. PuddingJumper mentioned that MacBook Air is a TN panel. Is MacBook Pro TN panel or IPS? I looked it up in apple site and couldn't find info on the screen for MacBook Pro. Anyone?

Thanks a train.

All Macbooks are using TN panels. The x220 with the upgraded screen is one of the few laptops I know for sure that is using IPS. However, Apple tends to use pretty good TN panels, and they come calibrated from the factory which is a nice bonus.

I have no complaints about the color or vibrancy or anything about my Air's display, but as I mentioned before, I have the Oct '10 model, so that may have something to do with it.

 

[cheez]

Thanks Stu.

Oh and I found out that the Lenovo X220 uses matte screen. Ewww... I hate matte. Reflective screen is required for me. So Lenovo is out of the list. The laptop looks ugly too.

I think I need to stop off at Apple store and check out some of these MacBook laptops!

I still need to check out some of PC laptops too to see how the screen quaility is.

 

[cheez]

Hey wait, don't Apple products suffer from light leakage on their displays? iPad 2 is famous for this. Do MacBooks have the same issue?

 

[TheStu]

Hey wait, don't Apple products suffer from light leakage on their displays? iPad 2 is famous for this. Do MacBooks have the same issue?

Seriously, just go a Best Buy already, most of them have Apple sections

The fact that one individual product out of a line of them has a single issue is not indicative of every product sold by that same company that just happens to have similar components.

Do you hear people complaining about light leakage on their iPhones? No. And no, I have not heard of any issues like that on their laptops, iMacs or standalone displays.

Buy or don't, but man, you are kind of killing us with all these questions

 

[cheez]

I want answers.

LOL

Good point. I should check out BestBuy. They got Apple stuff don't they. Thanks a truck.

 

[runawayprisoner]

IIRC iPad 2 has IPS screen. So iPad 2 screen has better visual quality than the MacBook Pro? I think you own/owned iPad 2, based on your experience, which one do you find have better display quality?:$


thanks

To be clear, IPS or not doesn't really effect the visual quality of the actual display at an ideal viewing angle. So IPS or no IPS really only effects the viewing angle, not the display quality.

The display on the iPad 2 is also a hit or miss like the Macbook Air. You can get extremely lucky and land a really good Samsung display on either the Air or the iPad 2, in which case, it may match the Macbook Pro. But in general, it's guaranteed that the display on the Macbook Pro is always of the higher quality kind. I think if I have to lay it out bare, you have a 95% chance of getting a really good screen with vibrant colors on the Macbook Pro, whereas with the iPad and Macbook Air, it's a 35% chance or so. I'd suspect less, because I have seen a number of Samsung displays on the Macbook Air, and they still can't match the Macbook Pro.

 

[cheez]

To be clear, IPS or not doesn't really effect the visual quality of the actual display at an ideal viewing angle. So IPS or no IPS really only effects the viewing angle, not the display quality.

The display on the iPad 2 is also a hit or miss like the Macbook Air. You can get extremely lucky and land a really good Samsung display on either the Air or the iPad 2, in which case, it may match the Macbook Pro. But in general, it's guaranteed that the display on the Macbook Pro is always of the higher quality kind. I think if I have to lay it out bare, you have a 95% chance of getting a really good screen with vibrant colors on the Macbook Pro, whereas with the iPad and Macbook Air, it's a 35% chance or so. I'd suspect less, because I have seen a number of Samsung displays on the Macbook Air, and they still can't match the Macbook Pro.

Thank you for the awesome info. I'm learning everyday! This is very valuable info. The judge has decided to go with the MacBook Pro, that is once I get some cash... don't have enough right now as I already spent too much on other stuff.:whiste:

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Thanks Stu.

Oh and I found out that the Lenovo X220 uses matte screen. Ewww... I hate matte. Reflective screen is required for me. So Lenovo is out of the list. The laptop looks ugly too.

I think I need to stop off at Apple store and check out some of these MacBook laptops!

I still need to check out some of PC laptops too to see how the screen quaility is.

The HP Envy 15 is supposed to offer a glossy IPS display. I didn't bother to mention that the x220 was matte since most people prefer that over glossy.

Checking out any pc laptop won't give you useful results as you need to go for the ones that actually have good screens. The following are worth looking at.

Sony Vaio Z
Dell XPS 15
Dell XPS 15z
HP Elitebook w/ the Dreamcolor IPS display
Samsung Series 9
Asus UX31

IPS display do tend to have better color accuracy than TN panels which does give them better quality at an ideal viewing angle.

I do agree that the Macbook pro displays are generally much better than the ones found in the Air. I have always found the Airs screen to be very poor compared to my x220 while the Pro is much more acceptable although still not quite as good.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Yeah, IPS displays do tend to have better color accuracy, but that's assuming the panel being used is also one of good quality. For instance, the iPad 2 has IPS screens by standard, but in general, I find that different iPad 2's have vastly different color quality. Some are just more vibrant and the dynamic range is just better.

 

[cheez]

Thanks a ship PuddingJumper. Yes, the 2D picture quality seemed awfully good on the iPad 2 I had (sold recently).

Yes I just got back from Apple store and checked out the MacBook Air and Pro, both 13.3" version. Viewed a couple of HD movie titles. The MacBook Pro indeed had better PQ. The pictures had more depth. The colors are deeper and vibrant. The viewing angle was better than the Air. The Air, when I viewed at like 40 degree or so angle, the entire picture dimmed. The Pro was nice. The brightness and vibrance stayed.

I'm going to BestBuy now... and will check out Sony Vaio Z and Samsung 9 Series, if they carry them. I'll be back! Astalabista BABY!

 

[cheez]

Ok, I just got back from BestBuy.

Checked out the Samsung Series 9. It's crap, sorry.

Problem: Poor whites - It has dirty whites. It appears to have yella orange-ish tint to it. The pixels looked pretty tight while the other brands and models you can see lines of pixels across the screen which looked like absolute garbage. For God sake, my 6 year old Sony has tighter looking display.

Even bigger problem: - It's matte screen, which I would not take even if it was offered to me for free.:wub: Just to show you, that's how much I hate matte screens. EUCK.


The Asus one next to it had cleaner screen display, though this one had a minor blue'ish tint, but looks MILES better than the Sammy Series 9. I don't support Asus so this is out the window. The only Asus product I do buy is motherboard that's it.

They didn't have Sony Vaio Z. Except Apple, all the rest of brands and models looked garbage and cheap. That Sammy Series 9 felt cheap too.


What's the VERDICT???

- I have decided to go with the Apple MacBook Pro 13.3". The MacBook Pro to me, appears to have BEST screen and PQ. The whites are clean like there is no tomorrow. It's white white. You are right, it must have gone through pro calibration by Apple. They know how to make fine stuff!

The laptop appears to be very well made. It's full of qualities. MacBook Air seemed to be made well too, but the screen quality, PQ, and viewing angle does not match to the Pro version. I think there is also limitation on this due to the screen being too thin on the Air version.

MacBook Pro appears to be very solid product. The screen display is amazing. The pixels seem so tight I can't see no lines no nothin. it's SOLID.

Can this be had for $1000? I thought I saw somewhere on the web selling them as closeouts.

 

[alfa147x]

Ok, I just got back from BestBuy.

Checked out the Samsung Series 9. It's crap, sorry.

Problem: Poor whites - It has dirty whites. It appears to have yella orange-ish tint to it. The pixels looked pretty tight while the other brands and models you can see lines of pixels across the screen which looked like absolute garbage. For God sake, my 6 year old Sony has tighter looking display.

Even bigger problem: - It's matte screen, which I would not take even if it was offered to me for free.:wub: Just to show you, that's how much I hate matte screens. EUCK.


The Asus one next to it had cleaner screen display, though this one had a minor blue'ish tint, but looks MILES better than the Sammy Series 9. I don't support Asus so this is out the window. The only Asus product I do buy is motherboard that's it.

They didn't have Sony Vaio Z. Except Apple, all the rest of brands and models looked garbage and cheap. That Sammy Series 9 felt cheap too.


What's the VERDICT???

- I have decided to go with the Apple MacBook Pro 13.3". The MacBook Pro to me, appears to have BEST screen and PQ. The whites are clean like there is no tomorrow. It's white white. You are right, it must have gone through pro calibration by Apple. They know how to make fine stuff!

The laptop appears to be very well made. It's full of qualities. MacBook Air seemed to be made well too, but the screen quality, PQ, and viewing angle does not match to the Pro version. I think there is also limitation on this due to the screen being too thin on the Air version.

MacBook Pro appears to be very solid product. The screen display is amazing. The pixels seem so tight I can't see no lines no nothin. it's SOLID.

Can this be had for $1000? I thought I saw somewhere on the web selling them as closeouts.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac
That's a good start