Apple store is almost the worst possible place...

[snouter]

to display glossy screens.

The way the screens look and reflect in the store is nothing like what it is like at home.

If you think you are going to the hate glossy screen, know that the glare problems are not that bad at home where you have control over the lights.

Big windows would cause a problem from the side or back of you, coffee shops are still not likely to be ideal, and outside would be pretty grim, but if your main use will be at home or work, or some other controlled environment it more than likely it won't be all that bad.

I went in pretty dead set on the matte screen and left with a base 17" glossy and am not regretting as of yet.

The matte just did not seem as bright, whites seemed more grey, text popped less and the screen seemed like it had a coating type effect, so the images were a little more blurred looking. I don't mean blurred really, but, somehow not as crisp and def not as saturated as the glossy. Not a total fail by any means, and the matte did an awesome of being anti-glare even in the apple store.

 

[eawmp1]

____X____ is almost the worst possible place...to display _____Y_____.

X=
paint store
furniture store
electronic store
nursery
bar

Y=
paint colors
furniture layout
televisions, audio equipment
landscaping arrangements
future mate

Obviously the Apples Store is designed to make its products look great and sell. But they are not the only outlet to do this. Yes, glossy screens are more victim to poor lighting condition. That's design professionals spend more time controlling their environment to optimize color reproduction. No screen design is going to look good under the infinite number of lighting options out there. Matte screens will reduce glare, but will still appear different in various lighting conditions.

Besides, life in general appears less perfect than it does inside the Apple Store.