“A forthcoming update to Apple’s MacBook Pro line will usher in a generation of more vibrant and uniformly-colored notebook displays thanks to some new underlying backlight technology,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.
“Confirming an earlier but widely discounted report from Taiwan-based DigiTimes, faithful industry sources say the new pro-oriented systems will mark the start of a gradual transition away from cold cathode fluorescent backlights (CCFLs) and towards LED backlights for the Mac maker,” Jade reports. “Thus far, those sources say Apple has agreed to implement the LED technology only within a revision to its 15-inch MacBook Pro due sometime in the second quarter of this year. A broader expansion to the 17-inch model and across the company’s 13-inch consumer line, though inevitable, reportedly remains under consideration.”
Jade reports, “While pricer than CCFLs, LED technology is more efficient at distributing lighting evenly across the entire display surface and offers an increase in color saturation. According to a white paper from Cree, a backlight solutions provider expected to provide its LED technology to Apple, LED-based backlights also consume less power, run cooler, and last longer than CCFLs.”
“For end users, the new technology translates into improved notebook battery life and displays that will maintain their initial levels of brightness longer into their respective life-cycles. Come this spring, LED-lit displays will also deliver a more vivid canvas for the various software user interface enhancements and animation techniques that will be included with Mac OS X Leopard,” Jade reports.
Full article here.
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Report: Apple to launch LED-based notebooks – January 03, 2007
Apple has a long tradition of quality displays. They used Trinitron tubs instead of the cheap shadow mask units in their early monitors. Apple deemphasized and then eliminated CRTs from their lineup earlier than other vendors. Their 30 in Cinima display is a very nice display. The Apple displays are due for an update and price cut.
Apple screens are the best I have ever used, they are one of the main selling points for me.
I also have a flashlight with a Cree LED in it. Would not want to stare at it for very long however.