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Deconstructing the Anti-Glare VS Glossy myth. AKA beware of liars.

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errr. there's actually a difference.


the Mac models w/o the glass bezel has a smooth surface unlike the anti glare (config @ apple store) on the MBP's

the anti glare (config @ apple store) on he MBP's has a smooth milky surface ;)

good luck choosing

i think i'll stay with my glass bezel :D
 
Observe and be objective about it if you want to make the right choice.

Brightness: the antiglare is brighter than the glossy in the MBP. Note that the (glossy) MBA 13 is also pretty darned bright, better than the MBP glossy. Probably it helps to not have to shine through an extra layer of glass.

Acuity: Here it really is a case of avoiding the extra panel of glass in front. I'd rank the antiglare tops, very slightly ahead of the MBA 13, with the glossy MBP significantly behind.

Color boldness: definitely the glossy, no doubt — although today's antiglare displays are better than they were (perhaps because they're less aggressively treated for antiglare, more of a "satin" finish than a "matte")

Reflections: In general, the antiglare first, then the MBA, then the MBP glossy. But in some respects both the MBA and MBP glossies have an advantage because a really intense light source can be diffused on the antiglare to the point that contrast is just destroyed, while it's isolated in one annoying spot on a glossy.

Maintenance: Absolutely the MBP glossy. Wipe from corner to corner without getting cleaning fluid or your rag or any dirt stuck in the bezel.

Weight: the antiglare; because you're taking a third of a pound of glass out of the machine.

Now, here's the big point. You see how many subtleties and different factors are involved here? A lot. Which is why people really need to go to the store or have a go with their friends' computers and actually try it out for themselves.
 
maclaptop said:
You're posing as an expert.

It's time you post your verifiable credentials.
Click to expand...

His credibility went out the window as far as I'm concerned once he posted that ridiculous video of himself driving to the store to buy his computer. Just wow.
 
Color accuracy my foot. When uncalibrated, the TN panels in the MBPs aren't capable of accurate color reproduction. Calibrated, they will give you accurate reproduction of a small portion of the colors, but not all.

IMHO it comes down to what you like best. Seriously, they will both sorta suck compared to IPS screens.

</IPS SNOB>
 
JoeG4 said:
Color accuracy my foot. When uncalibrated, the TN panels in the MBPs aren't capable of accurate color reproduction. Calibrated, they will give you accurate reproduction of a small portion of the colors, but not all.

IMHO it comes down to what you like best. Seriously, they will both sorta suck compared to IPS screens.

</IPS SNOB>
Click to expand...

Actually everything sucks compared to my old Sony GDM-FW900. Now THAT was a monitor. When I got my first 24" LCD and I turned it on I said to myself, "Oh, crap. What have I done!"
 
Come on!

Bobby Corwen said:
THE SOUND APPROACH:

GLOSSY
Pros: Enjoyable vibrant beautiful screen in it's true form.
Cons: More Reflective

ANTI-GLARE
Pros: Reduces Glare
Cons: Reduces vibrancy and looks duller.
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Okay - even if we suppose this is true (which might not be a stretch), You totally disregard that these qualitative differences are (neither on a subjective not "objective" level) binary by nature.

In case you did not understand that formulation:
On a personal (subjective level) superiority is decided by which quality you value more based on your preferences, needs and situations.
On a general (objective only in the sense that it summarizes a multitude of individual views) level superiority is decided by how much more "pop" a glossy surface produces compared with how much a the antiglare reduces glare. This sadly is a moot point (if you do not understand why - think).

To have a personal educated opinion of this is valid. To share it is pointless. To try to generalize or convince is futile and idiotic.

Can we stop this debate and concentrate on something, which really matters (Like for instance trying to convince apple to offer antiglare as an CTO option on all models above a given price point)?
 
At the end of the day, its each to whatever preference they have,

Personally i like my screens MATT, glossy screen use for me personally for more than 30mins when trying to do work is a monster migraine summoner.

now, on the other hand, Glossy screens when playing games, or watching video, or dealing with images , where i don't have to read a lot of text, or concentrate on small details that can be under or near reflections, , or where i can sit further from the screen are far superior for these tasks.


Its kind of the E-Paper Vs LCD argument the e-readers went through all over again, each has its merits and flaws, and its up to the user to decide which is best for them, which is sadly why , as much as i want one, ill never own an iMac, unless they offer a MATT option, so my choices are, stick with my MATT early 08 MBP, buy a woefully underpowered mac mini and a separate screen , or go PC and lose my OS of choice and my apps of choice (a PowerMac is WAY out of my price range sadly, and ill not buy another MBP to use as a desktop and watch the battery self destruct because its always plugged in and never used as a portable.)


A MATT screen iMac would be a nice option.
 
Stuff like this reminds me of sub sects within a religion. : )

Catholic - Protestant

Crunchy Skippy - Creamy Skippy

:D
 
I personally think about it this way, and this is just me, but it's the same way I would enjoy having a shiny car presented to me when I go to a car dealership. Go to any car dealership in the country and they will have their showroom cars shiny with glossy paint. To me it's the same principle as far as looks. The black bezel also adds to the theatrical aspect of it all so for example if I am watching a music video its more immersive. I am semi-young and I enjoy bright lights, shiny things, loud music, eye candy, and over-all cool things like that. The black bezel, like the iPhone, makes it so much more immersive. There are people who don't like that. For example some people would be more Tai Chi than UFC, more classical music than dub-step. So, I am not saying people who choose anti-glare are soft, but what I am saying is that the two screens cater to different sensibilities. I'm definitely part of the glossy generation. If you think about it, cars back in the days didn't really have shiny paint jobs.
 
Wow, touchy subject.

Like anything else, it comes down to personal preference. I like glossy. Why? I don't think I could begin to explain... it's just what I like.
 
JTToft said:
The color argument is irrelevant since with a glossy screen you will often have so many reflections you won't be able to see its nicer colors.

But in a completely dark room the glossy screen is no doubt awesome.
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im so tired of hearing people say this.

THE GLOSSY SCREEN IS NOT THAT BAD. i use it EVERDAY. and if you have it on at least 80% brightness there is practically NO GLARE. i use it in rooms with literally hundreds of fluorescent lamps in my college classrooms and have no PROBLEMS seeing the screen, what you are saying is exactly what this thread is talking about.

and yes having your computer at full brightness does work the battery but i still get about 3-4 hours out of it, and thats plenty for a school day.
 
i love my AG and i had the glossy before and exchanged it within the 14days period. Friend of mine which is in same courses @ university has the glossy still because he thought he can live with the reflections ^^

haha now he has a anti-glare folio over his glossy screen :p

if you aren't a premium designer which works a lot on photo-editing (which if you really are that premium you wouldn't work on a MBP...) well nvm... if you have light in the room it WILL reflect, the only question is... will you notice it?

well have fun with your glossy screen, i'll stay with mine :p

ah and bobby... how about new threads for the CPU discussion, the GPU discussion, the HD size discussion etc?

i really like your trollin' ^^
 
Bobby Corwen said:
THE SOUND APPROACH:


Let me make this clear for everyone, you do NOT get away with having anti-glare AND keeping the same color vibrancy and sharpness. It's either or.
Click to expand...

Don't mistaken the reflections and shine with producing better color. This is like attributing a speaker with the sound that it gets in a gym vs the sound in an anechoic chamber. Just like printing a picture on gloss vs matte, the shine alters the result but understand that it is artificial and an environmental contribution.

-C
 
leman said:
Under direkt sun, no computer monitor, be it glossy or anti-glare (e-ink aside) will work. The trick is to find a shadow and position your laptop in a way that the reflections are minimized.
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That is complete nonsense.
I am sitting just now next to a lake in the gras. The sun behind me and I can read stuff perfectly well on the screen. Yes it could use more brightness but it is more than enough. 100 nits less and it would still work. The biggest problem with the 15" AG is actually that the sliver bezel blinds one at certain positions too much. Like if the suns reflection is close to the edge. The screen has no problems blocking out all the reflections at full brigthness except for the reflection of the sun itself of course.
Owning a glossy you have to hide in the shade but with the AG you can truly work at pretty much any place as long as you have fairly bright content. Dark content is still a problem but with glossy it gets a problem with normal lighting and impossible when it starts to be a little too dark in bright sunlight with an AG.

Glossy is the children/girl toy. AG is for those that actually want a notebook to use it not to own some shiny trendy Apple notebook.
 
Bobby Corwen said:
I personally think about it this way, and this is just me, but it's the same way I would enjoy having a shiny car presented to me when I go to a car dealership. Go to any car dealership in the country and they will have their showroom cars shiny with glossy paint. To me it's the same principle as far as looks. The black bezel also adds to the theatrical aspect of it all so for example if I am watching a music video its more immersive. I am semi-young and I enjoy bright lights, shiny things, loud music, eye candy, and over-all cool things like that. The black bezel, like the iPhone, makes it so much more immersive. There are people who don't like that. For example some people would be more Tai Chi than UFC, more classical music than dub-step. So, I am not saying people who choose anti-glare are soft, but what I am saying is that the two screens cater to different sensibilities. I'm definitely part of the glossy generation. If you think about it, cars back in the days didn't really have shiny paint jobs.
Click to expand...

Comparing the paint of a new car to a computer screen is asinine.
 
dusk007 said:
That is complete nonsense.
I am sitting just now next to a lake in the gras. The sun behind me and I can read stuff perfectly well on the screen. Yes it could use more brightness but it is more than enough. 100 nits less and it would still work. The biggest problem with the 15" AG is actually that the sliver bezel blinds one at certain positions too much. Like if the suns reflection is close to the edge. The screen has no problems blocking out all the reflections at full brigthness except for the reflection of the sun itself of course.
Owning a glossy you have to hide in the shade but with the AG you can truly work at pretty much any place as long as you have fairly bright content. Dark content is still a problem but with glossy it gets a problem with normal lighting and impossible when it starts to be a little too dark in bright sunlight with an AG.

Glossy is the children/girl toy. AG is for those that actually want a notebook to use it not to own some shiny trendy Apple notebook.
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!!!

AND THATS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THIS THREAD FOLKS!

It took seven pages for the truth to come out straight out of a proverbial "horses' mouth" but there it is, the true root topic. The exact thing all the biased folks I am criticizing (yes admittedly in a petty way) are thinking, and there it is!

Utility > Pleasure
Pleasure > Utility

This is not a debate about displays! Thats the problem! Its about too much more!

Therefore, the people with this life outlook, based on that hidden agenda, give out aggressively misleading advice on a communal scale. Just like my father got mad at me for getting something for fun instead of for service.

Well you cant fool everybody all of the time and we are here in this thread to set the record straight and even up the playing field; to give people the opportunity to understand both sides of the decision and to give them the to tools and fully disclosed information to make the correct choice for themselves based on their own priorities which are just as valid as anyone else's.

Dont assume everyone has the same life outlook as you and the same priorities. This is OK to have different priorities, but its not OK to act like we should all be like you. Then you veil your true intentions and dish advice that is favorably weighted towards your hidden agenda (such as leaving out the downsides of AG, or exaggerating the downsides of Glossy.)

Let's look at the word ANTI-glare for a moment. I find it very allegorical because the very people who support AG are actually Anti-Glossy, not just pro-AG. Their very position exists as a inverse dependency on something positive. They don't get what they get cuz they liked what they got, they got it because they hate what you got. They HATE glossy so they get AG. They don't "just get the AG." They hate what it stands for and represents, they hate the bright colors and the loudness. So its not a matter of being neutral, but rather anti-positive. Anti-Glare. Against the grain.

For example how Android users hate us even though we have leaps and bounds better designs. They have that super fueled anti-Apple-pride. Why? Same principle. "Anti."

Or how some kids listen to underground music and hate mainstream just to impress girls.

Or how people from small towns hate people from big cities and their habits and behaviors.

Anti-glare, the cynical mans' choice.
 
I'm used to looking past the reflections. Doesn't bother me unless the sun is directly shining on my screen.
 
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