Chosen Solution
Hi iFixit people, Without going to the reasons of why, for a while already I have been searching and wondering wether it has been done, is possible, or within reach. That is replacing the original MacBook 1280/800 display with an equivalent 13" display in size but with higher resolution and maybe better technology (IPS/LED). I understand that os x certainly could handle any display, but the physical connectors should match and the display should physically fit to the casing of course. If no third party displays exist with the right dimensions and specifications, could I replace the MacBook display with the MacBook Air display. Are the connectors the same? Thanks.
It is not feasible to do what you are asking. In short the answer is - no. Your money will be better spent by selling your MacBook and putting those proceeds with your LCD money, then buying a laptop that has what you want on it. Within reason most things are possible. Many of those things are not plausible to do. Upgrading to the LCDs you mention (3rd party, MacBook Air), can be done. You will need to custom build an interpreter board to go between the LVDS/video cable on the MacBook and the new LCD to make it work. 98%+ of the people on this earth are not capable of doing that. If you paid someone to do the work, it would most likely cost you more than the purchase price of a new MacBook Pro, to get the first one built. If you could find/develop a market to sell the interpreter board on and had the start up money for the project, then it would be a plausible venture.
Dusty - I have a 15" while its heavy to travel with it works (I design Web portals) 13" is to small to really be effective without constantly shifting the view area. Try do a one on one presentation with a client on such a small screen you won’t get the contract. I’m sure Apple is heading in that direction of a lighter systems in the future given the popularity of the Air’s. There are limits on what they or anyone else can do. Hi-Res displays require more powerful graphics processors which then need more battery power which leads to a larger battery, then the weight and on and on we go. So its going to a ways off before the tech gets to the level needed to make such a system. So what you have is what there is. Get a 15" Hi-res MacBook Pro and build some muscles!
I’ve thought about this a lot. The 13” Mid-2012 Model is my favorite MacBook Pro. It’s built like a tank, works like a horse and near completely fault-proof. Except the bottom RAM slot problem. Taking a look on panelook.com and trying to narrow down for a better LCD by any parameter, the closest I could find to match the size, aspect ratio, signal type etc was this BOE HYDIS HV133WX1-100 (BOE0A28) panel. I don’t see a specific indication for it being IPS, but it filtered down as being IPS in the search engine. Significant hardware difference being that instead of the 30pin LVDS connector, you have a 40pin one. Further implications to me are unknown as I have no understanding in that, but could be something a more knowledgable person could delve into. Would be cool to at least have nice colours and a better viewing angle on our favorite compact form factor, most repairable MacBooks of recent time.
