The advantages of a matte screen do not simply sit at whether the device is ideal for outdoor use or not, as many people are pointing out. It is because Professionals have found that working with color accurately on the "glassy" screen is exceedingly difficult (and in some cases impossible without an external monitor) because the layer of material that covers the screen lessens the width of the viewing angle and changes the colors and tones of the display underneath it drastically. The typical user may not be affected by this; those who use his/her computer for entertainment or basic productivity purposes without having the need to work with color, as previously mentioned.
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Anti-Glare 15" MacBook Pro Review
- Thread starter kolax
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The advantages of a matte screen do not simply sit at whether the device is ideal for outdoor use or not, as many people are pointing out. It is because Professionals have found that working with color accurately on the "glassy" screen is exceedingly difficult (and in some cases impossible without an external monitor) because the layer of material that covers the screen lessens the width of the viewing angle and changes the colors and tones of the display underneath it drastically. The typical user may not be affected by this; those who use his/her computer for entertainment or basic productivity purposes without having the need to work with color, as previously mentioned.
Agree with OP. Here are some screenshots from a MBAlu side-by-side with a 15" MBP/AG. Difference between Pic 1 and Pic 2 is light on/off in the room.
Of course the comparision is not fair as the matrices are different, however I think the effects of the glass can clearly be seen in these examples.
My personal experience has been that when working for > 6 hrs, I get much more eye fatigue when using glossy screens.
Of course the comparision is not fair as the matrices are different, however I think the effects of the glass can clearly be seen in these examples.
My personal experience has been that when working for > 6 hrs, I get much more eye fatigue when using glossy screens.
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Matte 15 inch it is!
Thanks for the great overview. I bought the 13 inch Pro, and it is a nice computer, but the glassy gloss drives me nuts. You've helped set myself on selling this and getting the anti-glare 15 inch. There's the pretty good deals on the refurb store right now!
Thanks for the great overview. I bought the 13 inch Pro, and it is a nice computer, but the glassy gloss drives me nuts. You've helped set myself on selling this and getting the anti-glare 15 inch. There's the pretty good deals on the refurb store right now!
thanks for the sweet pics.
so do you like the antiglare better than the glossy? does the color look better on the glossy? wc3 ftw btw
I personally like the AG better. Certain things are better about the glossy though. It looks more festive overall with richer colors, like someone previously mentioned, it has more "wow factor" to it. The contrast seems to be better, and it loks less "grainy".
As for the design aspect of the silver bezel, I think it only looks good because the majority of MBPs have black bezels (that BTW look awesome IMHO). Kinda like a special edition in a way (makes you feel like a connosseur or a "pro" for going with it
). At work, most colleagues have glossy MBPs (except a couple of previous generation machines) and my AG/silver bezel looks different next to them.I think that it would be boring if all MBPs were black-bezel, or matte only, or glossy only. It's nice to have variety and options and being able to cutsomize things when you order a new computer. I hope that
will keep it that way, or maybe even make its future MBPs more customizable.I needed a laptop while on the road and quickly so I got the normal glossy 15" version as it was all the shop had. I am a lifetime matte user and had planned on buying one of the matte screen protectors but after a week I am finding I don't mind the glossy as much as I thought I would...and before the purchase I kind of had myself worked up over how much I was going to hate glossy. Yeah when my back is to an open window there are reflections but to me it's not more annoying than the washout I got with my old matte PC when in direct sun.
I might still try the cover to see if I prefer it but I find Apple's matte version ugly because of the black gasket and seemingly "after the fact" look of it. I guess I figure I can always have matte with one of the protectors but if I found I like the glossy better I can't go that way easily.
I can say overall I love the machine and I love the OS...the "switching pains" only lasted a couple days. I did get a wonky AirPort Express but even though he couldn't get it working the tech was cool and it was one of the easiest service calls I have ever made (he even spoke native English and clearly wasn't just reading a script). I can't say I am going to start wearing black turtle necks and say "but it doesn't get viruses" to everyone I see but so far I am enjoying the dark side. I just have to keep myself from reading forums and talking myself into "looking" for problems like noisy space bars etc. You guys are fraying my nerves with that kind of stuff
I might still try the cover to see if I prefer it but I find Apple's matte version ugly because of the black gasket and seemingly "after the fact" look of it. I guess I figure I can always have matte with one of the protectors but if I found I like the glossy better I can't go that way easily.
I can say overall I love the machine and I love the OS...the "switching pains" only lasted a couple days. I did get a wonky AirPort Express but even though he couldn't get it working the tech was cool and it was one of the easiest service calls I have ever made (he even spoke native English and clearly wasn't just reading a script). I can't say I am going to start wearing black turtle necks and say "but it doesn't get viruses" to everyone I see but so far I am enjoying the dark side. I just have to keep myself from reading forums and talking myself into "looking" for problems like noisy space bars etc. You guys are fraying my nerves with that kind of stuff
These discussions always make me laugh. I feel as though every other thread on the forum has turned into this debate. This thread is my favorite, however, because it hasn't turned into a giant shouting match. So bravo to the posters so far who have remained civilized.
I've had 2 black Mac laptops, a 5300cs and a Powerbook G3 Pismo.
And talk about afterthoughts, the Pismo was black with a transparent brown keyboard. I have no idea what apple was thinking when they threw that in. The version before had a black keyboard. It's not like anything was gained by making the keyboard clear, since this was pre-backlight IIRC.
The "gasket" that everyone is freaking out about was actually a very good idea. It keeps the display elevated above the keyboard when the MBP is shut, and it seems to work better than 2 or 4 rubber feet on the display would.
Why a black rubber o-ring above a black keyboard suddenly makes some folks think the anti-glare MBP is "hideous" I'll never understand. But then again, I have a matte black hard case on my MBP.
Mine was kind of an impulse buy too, after my Powerbook G4 was clearly on it's last legs. I was a little apprehensive, but I like it better than the matte screens on all of my previous laptops. It's easier for me to see outdoors as well.
Different strokes for different folks. There's a good reason Apple offers options!
I looked at it this way. If I absolutely hated the glossy after a while I could use an anti glare film for 20-30 usd or I could get TechRestore's matte screen conversion for 200usd and it even comes with a black bezel!! Both of those options seem to look good as an end result.
If the matte version in the OP was the only 15" they made and I had it in front of me I am sure I would be fine with it as well. I do like the black bezel better but that alone wouldn't be a deal breaker.
Both of those options seem to look good as an end result.If the matte version in the OP was the only 15" they made and I had it in front of me I am sure I would be fine with it as well. I do like the black bezel better but that alone wouldn't be a deal breaker.
I'm afraid it's too early to say
I still like the looks of the glossy MBP better though.
Can you go into more detail about what problems developed that took a while? Eyestrain? I have been on it a lot since I bought it and so far it hasn't bothered me more than any other laptop I have stared at way too long but I do find myself dimming it in the evenings as it seems too bright when the sun goes down or in a dark room.
One of the demos in the shop had an antiglare film on it and I was going to get one as it seemed to do a good job of cutting the glare but keeping the screen's quality intact when side by side with the glossy, but they were out of stock and I was traveling so mail order is a pain. I will probably try it anyway as it's cheap.
I still have my 1400c and my 2300c. I actually liked the goldish transparent keyboards on the Pismo/Wallstreet.
I never said the gasket was a mistake as I fully appreciate what it does. What I said was that it looks like an afterthough. A black bezel and a black gasket looks like a design choice; a grey bezel and a grey gasket looks like a design choice, while a grey bezel and a black gasket looks like an afterthought.
I personally think it looks great; the perfect, low-profile offset to the black keyboard, instead of a thick, distracting black border around my colorful pictures.
I bought mine before the mattes came out - and before my need for discrete graphics was as great - and now I regret it, because they are just gorgeous machines. I drool over the anti-glare versions every time I'm at the Apple Store.
Actually, the black border probably aids with perceived black-level and contrast to the eye.
People argue similar issues over TVs (and film, for those that still use film) all the time. "I like my colors to pop." "Well, I like them to be accurate." There really isn't one answer that is correct for everyone. Being accurate would logically be the best answer, but some people really don't care.
I'd hazard a guess that WELL over 90% of all TVs and computer screens (laptop or not) are not set up very well at all for color, contrast, etc.
It looks great IMO, by giving the MBP a 'unified' aluminium feel. The aluminium bezel also makes the MBP more unique compared to all the other black bezeled ones out there.
OP: I just got the exact same MBP (2.4GHz) with the antiglare high-res screen option, and it's amazing.
It's better, blacker.
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the 15 ag mbp has been my favorite macbook. i have a hard time recommending it now. i think the mbp is in of a major airline redesign. i just don't like buying products before a major refresh (i.e. power pc-intel)
I bought the High-end, early 2011, 15" MBP Anti-glare with the standard Apple SDD 128GB and recently upgraded the RAM to 8GB and the thing is a beast!
I personally think the silver bezel makes the macbook pro look like a proper pro laptop while the glass sort gives it that sort of everyday look.
I guess it depends on your personal taste on what you want
I personally think the silver bezel makes the macbook pro look like a proper pro laptop while the glass sort gives it that sort of everyday look.
I guess it depends on your personal taste on what you want