17" Unibody MacBook Pro Orders Begin Arriving

[true777]

I was told at an Apple Store that they (Apple) have no plans to stock or display the matte "anti glare" version.

Thanks for this info! Too bad people won't be able to compare the screens side by side. I am sure there are many people who have a hard time deciding between the two screen options.

If anyone has received their anti glare 17" model, can you please post pictures? I am hesitant to order the anti glare without at least having seen pictures of the machine, especially since the bezel is also different.

 

[flipperfeet]

Thanks for this info! Too bad people won't be able to compare the screens side by side. I am sure there are many people who have a hard time deciding between the two screen options.

If anyone has received their anti glare 17" model, can you please post pictures? I am hesitant to order the anti glare without at least having seen pictures of the machine, especially since the bezel is also different.

I received mine but had to send it back because of a WiFi card that died after 72 hours so I can not provide a picture. The replacement will ship within 7 days.

The matte screen is like the pre-glossy screens found on my Ti PowerBook and AL PowerBook. There is a silver bezel on top of the LED display panel. There is no special anti-glare glass or film between the user and the panel. If you were hoping the extra $50 was going to get you special anti-glare glass you will be disappointed. But if your are willing to pay $50 for Apple to leave the shiny glass off and give you a matching aluminum bezel, and want an anti-glare MBP with a very bright, high contrast LED you will be happy. I was happy.

 

[macsrgoood]

I should have gotten that one

 

[true777]

I received mine but had to send it back because of a WiFi card that died after 72 hours so I can not provide a picture. The replacement will ship within 7 days.

The matte screen is like the pre-glossy screens found on my Ti PowerBook and AL PowerBook. There is a silver bezel on top of the LED display panel. There is no special anti-glare glass or film between the user and the panel. If you were hoping the extra $50 was going to get you special anti-glare glass you will be disappointed. But if your are willing to pay $50 for Apple to leave the shiny glass off and give you a matching aluminum bezel, and want an anti-glare MBP with a very bright, high contrast LED you will be happy. I was happy.

Flipperfeet -- I have the previous 17" MBP with the matte HD LED screen (it used to be a built to order option, which I got with my MBP a year ago). I am wondering if the current 2009 MBP 17" "antiglare" screen is the exact same screen as my current one? I.e., does it have a "soft" surface that clearly isn't glass? And has the bezel changed at all from the previous model, or is it virtually the same as the old MBP bezel? Does it have grey plastic at the outer edges, or is it all aluminum to the very corners of the MBP? The keyboard is still black on the antiglare one just like the glossy ones, right? Just the bezel is different?? I wonder why they made it silver.

Ok... thanks so much for your input, I have such a hard time deciding between the two.

 

[flipperfeet]

Flipperfeet -- I have the previous 17" MBP with the matte HD LED screen (it used to be a built to order option, which I got with my MBP a year ago). I am wondering if the current 2009 MBP 17" "antiglare" screen is the exact same screen as my current one? I.e., does it have a "soft" surface that clearly isn't glass? And has the bezel changed at all from the previous model, or is it virtually the same as the old MBP bezel? Does it have grey plastic at the outer edges, or is it all aluminum to the very corners of the MBP? The keyboard is still black on the antiglare one just like the glossy ones, right? Just the bezel is different?? I wonder why they made it silver.

Ok... thanks so much for your input, I have such a hard time deciding between the two.

Near as i can tell it is the same soft surface HD LED screen. There is a thin rubber o-ring between the bezel and case that rests on the lower case when you close the laptop. Clever design detail actually. Whether the bezel is truly aluminum I can not tell without scratching it, and you are not going to talk me in to finding out for you. So my advice in making the decision is to take your current laptop into a retailer and put it next to the new glossy version and decide which you prefer to work on. The bezel is minor detail in comparison to the screen

 

[bronksy]

Near as i can tell it is the same soft surface HD LED screen. There is a thin rubber o-ring between the bezel and case that rests on the lower case when you close the laptop. Clever design detail actually. Whether the bezel is truly aluminum I can not tell without scratching it, and you are not going to talk me in to finding out for you. So my advice in making the decision is to take your current laptop into a retailer and put it next to the new glossy version and decide which you prefer to work on. The bezel is minor detail in comparison to the screen

When I got my new Unibody 17" I put the same wallpaper on both.. same brightness and both screens calibrated. The colours on the new UMBP were richer. I noticed it on the yellows and reds in particular. I'm pretty sure its NOT the same screen.
The bezel actually looks nice..there is a black rubber 'sealing' ring around the screen and the bevelled corners look nice. there is a slight edge on the lid so when it closes its like a little clamshell..

its actually rather lovely.

 

[MagicWok]

I was told at an Apple Store that they (Apple) have no plans to stock or display the matte "anti glare" version.

Just spiteful of Apple really. Like they are trying to ignore the fact that they were wrong to not allow buyers the choice in the first place, so they throw a mini-fit and pretend they don't exist in retail. That's my impression anyway... Sour grapes...

 

[flipperfeet]

Just spiteful of Apple really. Like they are trying to ignore the fact that they were wrong to not allow buyers the choice in the first place, so they throw a mini-fit and pretend they don't exist in retail. That's my impression anyway... Sour grapes...

Since when has Apple stocked BTO configurations in their retail outlets?

I am truly done with MacRumors Forums. They are populated by too many people who are trapped in an abusive co-dependent relationship with Apple. They buy Apple's products all the while complaining that Apple is spiteful, or hates it customers, or its resellers. A large number posters in here make a career out of whining about products and a company that they actually prefer to the competition, and about a company that gives them the option to customize their purchase.

 

[MagicWok]

Since when has Apple stocked BTO configurations in their retail outlets?

I am truly done with MacRumors Forums.

Apple stores do stock multiple version of their products, especially with the previous revisions - they would stock matte and glossy MBP's with two different primary configs, and with similar other products - and display them alongside eachother. So they have done in the past, and that is why I find it slightly petty that we are getting reports that they won't be stocking matte models in-store. And it's my impression, and my opinion. I am not going to evangelize Apple, they do things wrong like every other company. They have great products, and I do buy them. But I am totally within my rights to expect more of them, otherwise they wouldn't be a company worth investing in their products.

Bye bye then, it's your choice.... Too many things wrong with your post to bother replying to.

 

[qoqo]

I am wondering if the current 2009 MBP 17" "antiglare" screen is the exact same screen as my current one? I.e., does it have a "soft" surface that clearly isn't glass? And has the bezel changed at all from the previous model, or is it virtually the same as the old MBP bezel?

I've both a 17" Oct2008 anti-glare MBP and 17" Feb2009 glossy MBP 17". I much prefer the Feb2009. I'm not at all bothered by the reflections on the glossy (even though I thought I would be). Side-by-side, the colors on the glossy are an improvement over the anti-glare and that's won me over.

I'd think about getting rid of the Oct2008 MBP but I fell and landed on it, bending one of the corners (the corner with the superdrive) up by about 1.5 inches. I had to press down on it to remove that deformity which extruded the aluminum trim in a couple places. Amazingly, the box still works, as does the superdrive. It was the excuse I needed though to order the new 17" glossy :-/ and it's gained a second life serving as a security cam these days

 

[true777]

The Palo Alto Apple Store now has BOTH the matte and the glossy 17" MBP on display in the store, so people can actually view them side by side, which is great.

On my *previous* (2008) 17" MBP I got the special order matte HD LED screen, and the new 2009 antiglare screen appears to be the exact same screen as the previous HD LED screen. The bezel looks very similar to the 2008 bezel on the antiglare.

When I walked into the store I was extremely anti-glossy and pro-antiglare. But - while the reflection on the glossy still greatly bothers me and the yellows seem too light and chartreuse-ish - I have to say the glass surface and the no-bezel design with the glass extending all the way to the edge of the MBP look so visually stunning, modern, and sleek that I am now very much considering trying the glossy screen (for the first time ever). I have talked to a friend who is a high profile graphic designer, and he says it is possible with some calibration to get the color on the glossy displayed accurately.

 

[kastenbrust]

I have talked to a friend who is a high profile graphic designer, and he says it is possible with some calibration to get the color on the glossy displayed accurately.

Its actually possible using proper calibration to get the colors more accurate. but many people still have a fetish about the reflection.

 

[PissAnt]

Its actually possible using proper calibration to get the colors more accurate. but many people still have a fetish about the reflection.

No such thing as "more accurate." It is either accurate or not. However you are not alone in this is a common misuse of the English language.

 

[PissAnt]

....

Bye bye then, it's your choice.... Too many things wrong with your post to bother replying to.

Yet you bothered to reply... Technically Flipperfeet is correct, BTO or CTO is not the same as stocking multiple configurations.