Discussion about
MacBook Pro: glossy vs. antiglare?
I'm considering buying the Macbook Pro 17 inch unibody. My question is what is better glossy or antiglare? Pro's and cons of each?
I spent just over a year owning glossy displays across a MacBook Air and a 13-inch MacBook unibody. I use my notebooks almost entirely indoors, but I just couldn't handle the glossy anymore. The colors certainly pop a little more, and blacks are a little deeper, but I almost *always* ran into a situation where I had to shift around a table or try a few different seats in a coffee house until I found one where an overhead light didn't blow away half my display with glare.
I just bought a 17-inch unibody this past weekend and I went with matte. I'm typing this at a Starbucks, and so far, I'm really happy. I definitely notice a slight color difference, but even though I do web, photo, and image work for a software company and freelance tech writing, I don't care. The matte displays have improved quite a bit, and now I can actually see my entire display.
I just bought a 17-inch unibody this past weekend and I went with matte. I'm typing this at a Starbucks, and so far, I'm really happy. I definitely notice a slight color difference, but even though I do web, photo, and image work for a software company and freelance tech writing, I don't care. The matte displays have improved quite a bit, and now I can actually see my entire display.
I read some piece of very authoritative and well-written complete nonsense the other day from a drooling Apple fanboi on Reddit about how the 'perfectly flat glass prevented reflections outdoors in broad daylight' or something to that effect. Oh dear.
In addition to the Dell XPS 16 which suffered from exactly the same problem, I've dumped the 13-inch uMB/uMBP, the pre-matte 15-inch uMBP at least partly for the screen issues, and jumped on the 17-inch uMBP mattes when they were released. The Air level of glossiness is the absolute maximum I can stand, and then grudgingly. Anyone who feels the glass-fronted glossies are actually usable in a working environment is probably in a basement, facing away from whatever light there is.
In addition to the Dell XPS 16 which suffered from exactly the same problem, I've dumped the 13-inch uMB/uMBP, the pre-matte 15-inch uMBP at least partly for the screen issues, and jumped on the 17-inch uMBP mattes when they were released. The Air level of glossiness is the absolute maximum I can stand, and then grudgingly. Anyone who feels the glass-fronted glossies are actually usable in a working environment is probably in a basement, facing away from whatever light there is.
I have no idea what the pros of the glossy screen are supposed to be, but to me they're awful. In any kind of medium to bright light, all you can see is reflections. I have the 17" unibody with the matte option, and it's beautiful. I can use it in anything except noontime direct sunlight, and even there it's still readable with some minor effort. This laptop has the sharpest, richest display I've ever used, and I'm very happy with the matte display.
My glossy screen (not unibody) and my friends glossy screen (unibody) are great. I use my computer inside, outside, in sunlight, at nighttime. Basically everything. She does the same thing. Contrast ratios ARE better with a glossy screen and you DO get deeper blacks. Those are two pros for someone in the design field like me. The reflection issues some complain about, I just don't have complaints with. The matte screens just don't look as good or as sharp so it's not even really a comparison for me.
Easy solution if you still have a glossy screen ... POWER SUPPORT anti Glare film. I have mine on my iphone, ipad and old 15" MBP and its hard to believe how good a product it is.
I now have a new MBP with antiglare screen and its almost the same.
Shame is they don't do a film for my 27"LED screen and I have tried 3 of the available ones and they range from poor to average, Best of the bunch is Photodons new MXT film. BTW their customer service is excellent but the film is just not as good as Power Support's
I now have a new MBP with antiglare screen and its almost the same.
Shame is they don't do a film for my 27"LED screen and I have tried 3 of the available ones and they range from poor to average, Best of the bunch is Photodons new MXT film. BTW their customer service is excellent but the film is just not as good as Power Support's
The glossy display looks great; the image is very sharp and colors really pop. Unfortunately, it is highly reflective; more so than on the earlier generation MacBook Pros because the new unibody machines have a glass covering. You can see all of the lights, windows, and people around you. If possible, I'd take a trip to your nearest Apple Store and see them for yourself.
This is an easy one. If you will be using it mostly outside, get a Matte Screen. A Glossy Screen yields no benefit for word processing or spreadsheet work either. If you are typically using it indoors, particularly in apps where accurate color representation is key (editing movies, graphic design, photo work) then you'll be glad you got the glossy screen.
Read Rob Galbraith review of the new MBP's. www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-100... He goes in to a good deal of detail on the glossy vs. matte.
I personally don't regret for one moment getting the matte screen.
I personally don't regret for one moment getting the matte screen.
i second aaron's advice. the glossy is nice image-wise, but requires a controlled environment to minimize screen reflections, which kinda defeats the purpose of the whole "take it anywhere" benefit of the laptop.
i 100% disagree with the assertion about glossy screen implying more accurate color. anyone who needs accurate color never relies on what they see. your eyes adapt, making them useless. much better to know your output well (print or otherwise) and base decisions on the specific color values. course, that's a skill you can only acquire with experience, but it's what you should aspire to.
i 100% disagree with the assertion about glossy screen implying more accurate color. anyone who needs accurate color never relies on what they see. your eyes adapt, making them useless. much better to know your output well (print or otherwise) and base decisions on the specific color values. course, that's a skill you can only acquire with experience, but it's what you should aspire to.
General consensus seems to be that matte is the way to go. General frustration is that matte is not offered for the 15"!
I remember a lot of groans (especially from graphic artists/film editors/photo professionals when there was the switch to glossy.
I remember a lot of groans (especially from graphic artists/film editors/photo professionals when there was the switch to glossy.
ah, from www.tuaw.com. jus read a post about radtech's anti-glare screen cover. for those overly glossy screens. :P
Whenever I use a glossy screen it drives me crazy. Other people are not bothered by glossy screens at all. Depending on which camp you are in you will either hate the glossy screen or not mind it at all.
My best advice is to head to the Apple store and use the glossy screen for awhile. That is the only way to know.
My best advice is to head to the Apple store and use the glossy screen for awhile. That is the only way to know.
I have a simple inquiry about the anti-glare vs. glossy question. I have enjoyed using both. However, the anti-glare was on an old MacBook Pro, whereas the glossy was on a 13” MacBook. I work intensively, and very long hours, on the computer. I noted with the 13” that I had more headaches. It could have been the limited screen real estate, or the fact that I was working very long hours. But I’m wondering if there is any basis for the claim that the glossy screens are harder on the eyes. Allow me to specify. They have more reflections, yes. But the anti-glare is less distinct in font and color, so could not that require more focusing effort from the eyes, also causing eye strain? I’m moving toward getting a replacement MacBook Pro, and am interested in any thoughts you all may have.
Many thanks!
Many thanks!
Hey all,
I have been a PC user for years and just switched over to a Mac. I'm an IT professional and have worked as a graphic designer, a CIO, and every position in between. I know there are differences of opinions on Mac vs. PC, but from a business standpoint I will never go back to a PC. 6 months of continuous operation (video production, server management, graphic design, application development) without a single headache (this is full use with 40k miles of travel and 6 moths operation in rural Haiti) means that the extra $1000 was definitely worth it in terms of productivity.
However, I'm writing this to talk about the screen. I decided to buy a 17" MPB with the anti-glare screen, and after my initial shock (I was surprised that there was no protective glass, just the anti-glare coating on the LCD) I have been happy with the decision. In all practical situations, inside and outside, I've much preferred the anti-glare screen. In April of this year (2011) I had three staff members join me in Haiti, all equipped with new MBPs (2 15" and 1 13"), all with glossy screens. In every situation, the screen on my laptop was more usable than theirs.
The only downside is that there is no protective sheet of glass. I travel with my computer in a Pelican case where it's safe from damage. However, I brought it along on a trip two months ago in a LowePro backpack with my camera equipment, and was asked to gate-check the bag when I went to board (it was a tiny plane). When I got my bag back two hours later it was obvious that the bag had been thrown against something rigid as the notebook chassis had been been bent like a banana. The impact was on the ports side of the chassis, right at the USB port furthest from the screen. The screen would not close properly. I was able to bend the case back into shape (mostly) and now the screen clicks shut properly. The screen has two small scratches (only noticeable when the screen is off) near where the spacebar would be, probably from where the screen nicked the chassis on impact. Most laptops won't take this kind of abuse (anyone know another laptop that can survive airport damage and be bent back into shape?) but I do wish I'd kept the little bit of foam that the computer came with.
I was also surprised that the bezel has stayed clean. Dust creeps into every crevice in Haiti, and the metal bezel creates a nice little shelf at the bottom od the screen for dust to settle and congeal. This never happened, and I've been able to get the screen - the whole computer really - back to like-new condition (except for the stress-fractures from the impact) with window cleaner.
It's not shiny and the screen looks smaller when it's off, but anyone looking to buy a computer that is a usable tool and not just a fashion accessory should go with the anti-glare screen. It's simply a better functioning screen. It is easier to damage, but in 6 months of heavy duty field work in a developing country, the only damage I've seen was due to baggage handlers.
Plus the 1920x1200 LCD is just lightyears ahead of anything else on the market. The spacing between pixels is tiny - every time I look at a lower-resolution screen - even other MBPs - I find myself thinking they look like there's an overlayed grid of black lines that shouldn't be there.
Go with the anti-glare, but keep the foam to protect the screen when it's folded shut, and never, ever trust it to baggage handlers.
I have been a PC user for years and just switched over to a Mac. I'm an IT professional and have worked as a graphic designer, a CIO, and every position in between. I know there are differences of opinions on Mac vs. PC, but from a business standpoint I will never go back to a PC. 6 months of continuous operation (video production, server management, graphic design, application development) without a single headache (this is full use with 40k miles of travel and 6 moths operation in rural Haiti) means that the extra $1000 was definitely worth it in terms of productivity.
However, I'm writing this to talk about the screen. I decided to buy a 17" MPB with the anti-glare screen, and after my initial shock (I was surprised that there was no protective glass, just the anti-glare coating on the LCD) I have been happy with the decision. In all practical situations, inside and outside, I've much preferred the anti-glare screen. In April of this year (2011) I had three staff members join me in Haiti, all equipped with new MBPs (2 15" and 1 13"), all with glossy screens. In every situation, the screen on my laptop was more usable than theirs.
The only downside is that there is no protective sheet of glass. I travel with my computer in a Pelican case where it's safe from damage. However, I brought it along on a trip two months ago in a LowePro backpack with my camera equipment, and was asked to gate-check the bag when I went to board (it was a tiny plane). When I got my bag back two hours later it was obvious that the bag had been thrown against something rigid as the notebook chassis had been been bent like a banana. The impact was on the ports side of the chassis, right at the USB port furthest from the screen. The screen would not close properly. I was able to bend the case back into shape (mostly) and now the screen clicks shut properly. The screen has two small scratches (only noticeable when the screen is off) near where the spacebar would be, probably from where the screen nicked the chassis on impact. Most laptops won't take this kind of abuse (anyone know another laptop that can survive airport damage and be bent back into shape?) but I do wish I'd kept the little bit of foam that the computer came with.
I was also surprised that the bezel has stayed clean. Dust creeps into every crevice in Haiti, and the metal bezel creates a nice little shelf at the bottom od the screen for dust to settle and congeal. This never happened, and I've been able to get the screen - the whole computer really - back to like-new condition (except for the stress-fractures from the impact) with window cleaner.
It's not shiny and the screen looks smaller when it's off, but anyone looking to buy a computer that is a usable tool and not just a fashion accessory should go with the anti-glare screen. It's simply a better functioning screen. It is easier to damage, but in 6 months of heavy duty field work in a developing country, the only damage I've seen was due to baggage handlers.
Plus the 1920x1200 LCD is just lightyears ahead of anything else on the market. The spacing between pixels is tiny - every time I look at a lower-resolution screen - even other MBPs - I find myself thinking they look like there's an overlayed grid of black lines that shouldn't be there.
Go with the anti-glare, but keep the foam to protect the screen when it's folded shut, and never, ever trust it to baggage handlers.
