Best Laptop when working outside

18 replies
Hi,

Does anyone have any information about which laptop has the best screen when working outdoors?

Neither of my current laptops are easy to work with outside. Their screens are too reflective and make them hard to read, especially when it is bright outside. Even when working in the shade.

As the weather is soon to get warmer (hopefully), I want to be able to write articles and work outside from time to time.

Are there any laptops specifically made to cater for this?

Thanks.

Sam
#laptop #working
  • Profile picture of the author Kevin Hill
    Get a laptop that has a matte screen so there is no reflection...you can get a Macbook Pro that has this...although it is a small upgrade.

    Kevin
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    • Profile picture of the author QuickSurf
      Macbook Pro 15/17 or HP Envy Line, both companies have hi-res matte screen options that look excellent. I have a Macbook Pro 13, which uses a glass screen, and absolutely hate the reflections, drives me f'n nutz lol. Should have gotten a 15, but liked the size and portability of the 13 however Apple doesn't offer a matte option on the 13 (nice lil gimmick to make you step up to the 15 lol)

      The HP Envy line I love, you can spec the heck out of them, dual SSD's etc. The HP's are really good on battery life for a windows computer, but the Mac's are still the best... I love being on a plane and watching a couple movies no problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author RichKent
    Yep, I use and travel with a Macbook Pro 17 with the High-res anti-glare screen. It's a thing of beauty! But costs a ton.

    The other option is to buy and anti-glare screen protector. You can get them on Amazon - that's what my wife uses, but it's not as good by a long shot. Still better than the standard glare screen all computers come with these days.
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    • Profile picture of the author QuickSurf
      Originally Posted by RichKent View Post


      The other option is to buy and anti-glare screen protector. You can get them on Amazon - that's what my wife uses, but it's not as good by a long shot. Still better than the standard glare screen all computers come with these days.
      Yeh the anti-glare protectors suck, even more annoying as gives the screen a sorta fuzzy look with text and sometimes different colors... like something is "off" with the screen lol.

      Damn you apple for not offering hi-res anti glare on the 13" Pro
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by QuickSurf View Post

        Yeh the anti-glare protectors suck, even more annoying as gives the screen a sorta fuzzy look with text and sometimes different colors... like something is "off" with the screen lol.

        Damn you apple for not offering hi-res anti glare on the 13" Pro
        Yes, I've seen laptops with the anti-glare film, and the text and graphics typically end up being "smudged" and blurry, and the sharpness that should be there is lost. It's just unsatisfying (to lose screen clarity that is intrinsically there) and probably also detrimental to your eyes to have to deal with this on a daily basis, whether you're outdoors or indoors.

        If your budget can stomach it, I'd recommend getting a Lenovo Thinkpad with a high-nit (nits measure brightness) and high resolution matte screen. These displays are pretty much available across their entire T-series line of laptops, if I'm not mistaken.
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  • Profile picture of the author tj
    Originally Posted by Steadyon View Post

    Hi,

    Does anyone have any information about which laptop has the best screen when working outdoors?

    Neither of my current laptops are easy to work with outside. Their screens are too reflective and make them hard to read, especially when it is bright outside. Even when working in the shade.

    As the weather is soon to get warmer (hopefully), I want to be able to write articles and work outside from time to time.

    Are there any laptops specifically made to cater for this?

    Thanks.

    Sam
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  • Profile picture of the author barath13
    Macbook Pro 17 is the best which my brother is using he used to travel lot with that, thing is is bit costly but it worth the money.
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  • Profile picture of the author Billy Rey
    yep go with a mac with matte. Go out and work in style
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  • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
    Laptops with a reflective screen are obviously a no-no. Matte is the way to go.

    I have a Lenovo Thinkpad X201 which has always been fairly good outside, whatever the conditions - much better than my old Acer laptop (which also had a matte screen).

    I think some of their tablet laptops (such as the tablet version of the X201) also have special screens manufactured specifically for readability in strong sunlight, too, but these are slightly more expensive.
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  • Profile picture of the author DIGITALCHAMELEON
    Apple Macbook Unibody for me...
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  • Profile picture of the author bareket57
    Personally, I like Toshiba and the new LG which has a special high quality screen. Here in Israel only graphic artists have a Mac in addition to PC because Microsoft has the most powerful RTL language support.
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  • Profile picture of the author iYingHang
    I'm currently using Macbook Pro 13 Inch. I bring it anywhere with me, Japan, Singapore, any place you name it.

    Cheers!
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  • Profile picture of the author A P Geofrey
    Well I guess a screen shade should do the trick. Just check it out first before thinking of buying a new notebook.
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    • Profile picture of the author blue_sky
      looks a bit strange - people will suspect that you watch porn or such LOL

      bytheway anyone here using a toughbook from toshiba???????
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      • Profile picture of the author Steadyon
        Thanks all for the replies everyone.

        It seems that higher end macs may do the trick. I will look into these, but I have never used a mac before.

        Does anyone know of any good windows laptop alternatives that can be used in bright sunshine?

        I have tried the wrap around screens with my existing laptops and they improve things a little, but the overall result is still poor due to the shiny screens on my current laptops.

        Kind regards,

        Sam
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        • Profile picture of the author QuickSurf
          Originally Posted by Steadyon View Post

          Does anyone know of any good windows laptop alternatives that can be used in bright sunshine?
          Look at my 1st post, HP Envy line (they only have a 14 and 17 now, no more 15 for right now). Aluminum build like unibody Mac's, and both are powerhouses for laptops, and you can spec the heck out of them for far cheaper then a Mac (the 15" you used to be able to get dual SSDs for cheaper then aftermarket). And they have an anti-glare screen option that imo is a tad nicer then the Mac's anti-glare.

          If I didn't have my Macbook Pro 13 I would go for an HP Envy 14 or 17, I don't think I could ever use an other "plastic" laptop again lol, the solidness of the aluminum is insane. And both have excellent keyboards with the chiclet key layout and backlit keys.

          Mac's still win in the trackpad department though, but the Envy line is the closest compared to any other laptop in regards to that.

          Heres the HP Envy Line, you can customize and option the way you want, looks like the new 3D 17" just came out http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/sh...tegory&v1=ENVY
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        • Profile picture of the author paulie888
          Originally Posted by Steadyon View Post

          Thanks all for the replies everyone.

          It seems that higher end macs may do the trick. I will look into these, but I have never used a mac before.

          Does anyone know of any good windows laptop alternatives that can be used in bright sunshine?

          I have tried the wrap around screens with my existing laptops and they improve things a little, but the overall result is still poor due to the shiny screens on my current laptops.

          Kind regards,

          Sam
          Sam, as I mentioned earlier the Lenovo displays (on the high end T and X series Thinkpad laptops) are all matte, and they are pretty bright as well. Overall, these Lenovos are much tougher than the Macs (all the Lenovo Thinkpads pass Military-Spec testing, meaning they are subjected to all kinds of shock, vibration, moisture, dust and other durability testing). Since you're going to be using your laptop outdoors, you might as well get something that's tough and can stand up to being outside.

          Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author bareket57
        Originally Posted by blue_sky View Post

        bytheway anyone here using a toughbook from toshiba???????
        I have a Toshiba Satellite since Dec. 2009. Thank God I have no reason to complain. I don't know the newer models available today.

        Good Luck with your search
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