Comments on: Screen tilt angle annoyance on MacBook Pro

By: abs

abs — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 20:46:12 +0000

I usually work while sitting on a couch, in bed, or while standing at a 36″-tall kitchen island. (I’m 5′9″ barefoot.) The tilt angle is absolutely maddening, all the more so considering Apple’s obvious dedication to design and interest in ergonomics. I previously had a (very expensive) Dell whose only redeeming feature was a full 180 screen tilt.

I came up with a very high-tech solution: take a kitchen towel, roll it up, and place it under the edge of the laptop near-most to your belly. This raises the keyboard (making it easier to type, I believe), increases the screen tilt, and provides the much-needed cooling mechanism. Not enough tilt? Get a bigger kitchen towel.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:33:40 +0000

Note to Matt:
I also saw a Macbook Air (1st gen) in the new Apple Store Honolulu that would tilt way back, but not without ill effects. When I tilted it more than about 120-130 degrees the weight of the screen would make the whole Air tilt backwards!

I’ve never seen this before on any laptop, just shows how extremely light the Air is. Could be easily fixed in the next version by changing the design of the bottom and placing the rubber pads differently, but as the Air also usually won’t tilt that much I’m betting nothing will be done.

By: UnHinged

UnHinged — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:55:19 +0000

Having read this thread (and watching my co-worker effortlessly open her 2-year-old MB to a workable viewing angle), I’m now considering the gentle-pressure idea as described on my newish 15″ MBP.

UNLESS anyone’s had a bad experience doing this–has anyone?

By: shadrack

shadrack — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:16:24 +0000

The biggest problem i’ve noticed with the macbook pro is that it looks like it’s spying on me. I think it takes my picture every time I reset safari. I ended up putting a bandaid over the lens so it would stop taking my picture.

By: Marc

Marc — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:58:25 +0000

I’ve recently moved from a 12″ G4 PB to a used 2.16GHz C2D 15″ MBP. Seemingly the only thing that’s wrong with it after having been used to the PB screen tilt … was this issue. The screen doesn’t go back far enough. I’m tall and it is not as comfortable to use as the G4 units.

After reading Swing’s note, I tried a similar method. I’ve also put the open MBP upside down on the kitchen bench but instead of pushing gently, simply left it alone with the weight of the unit enough to show a difference. After an hour, it has increased the angle by roughly 8 to 10 degrees. Not a lot but I’ll do it again a few times. This way I’m less worried about breaking something. I am concerned though about the ventilation vents at the back of the unit as the wider angle visually seems to make the vents less effective.

Thanks to Swing for the suggestion.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 10:06:18 +0000

Recently I upgraded from a PB 1.67 Ghz from late 2005 to the 2008 MBPro 2.4. The low screen angle is one of my biggest peeves of the new MacBook Pro design - until now!

I had considered just trying to bend the screen further back, but was worried about breaking the screen or hinge. After carefully pushing the screen back much further than I felt comfortable doing (10-20 times, gradually increasing the pressure), I can now match the opening angle of my Powerbook. Excellent!

Thanks to Swing for being the first one to take the plunge. I report no problems, and a much more useful computer as a result. Cheers!

Note: Of interest, I was also considering buying a Macbook Air. The screen also does not go far back - except ONE computer I saw in store (5th Ave) would go back ALL the way - completely flat - really cool. I asked a sales assistant, and he said it had happened to the Air in the last day or two, and was not normal…but clearly possible with no ill effects.

By: tkny

tkny — Thu, 22 May 2008 20:49:04 +0000

THANK YOU !!!

this is a serious problem and I have even considered buying an older refurbished model just to avoid this. At my last Job we had several models of varying age, and one day I lined them all up and sure enough with each new model the screen title angle has become less and less. WTF! why even bother making a laptop if it is this unusable. I am really surprised this has not blown up over the internet.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:22:59 +0000

I bought a 17″ macbook pro with hi-res LED screen. The screen is absolutely gorgeous but the limited hinge angle is really annoying.
I wish i had spent that $3000 elsewhere.

By: gragegrl

gragegrl — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:41:28 +0000

A follow up to my earlier comment (above)…I had a particularly tight hinge that would not open up past almost about a 100 degree angle. After pushing it back, gently but harder than I was comfortable with- the screen is now at about 130-140 degrees and it is MUCH better. Nowhere near as nice as my 12″ PowerBook, but at least this is usable. I don’t feel like I wish I could return it anymore but I am still puzzled that it doesn’t go back further.

By: gragegrl

gragegrl — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:56:41 +0000

I just bought a new MacbookPro 15 ” and I had no idea this was an issue. I’m only 5′ 6″ and it is a HUGE problem for me. HUGE. I can’t believe they thought this was acceptable. Unfortunately, mine was built custom with the 250gb hard drive so I can’t return it, or I probably would.