good choice. I'm sure it'll have a better resale value too. Not to mention, you said you like to work in cafes etc. in a variety of environments with different lighting conditions where you have no control over..the matte/anti-glare screen will be much more versatile and pleasant to work with.
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Glossy or Anti-Glare Macbook Pro for designer? Color depth, quality
- Thread starter macmania82
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good choice. I'm sure it'll have a better resale value too. Not to mention, you said you like to work in cafes etc. in a variety of environments with different lighting conditions where you have no control over..the matte/anti-glare screen will be much more versatile and pleasant to work with.
I bought (july 2009) MacBook Pro 17" with antiglare/matte option.
Its colors are quite good but I am disappointed by its low brightness and contrast. And I am stuck with it because of Apple's No Return policy of its online store (build-to-order).
If I could I would change it for the glossy one..
.. or even change it for the glossy 15" or the 13" for greater portability, and with the big money saved I would get myself a gorgeous desktop LCD, maybe also glossy.
You are better off investing that kind of extra money on controling the light conditions on the room and a better and bigger display.
After all the money I spent on this MacBook 17" now I am looking at its display, and let me tell you, it is NOT confortable, compared to a regular desktop monitor (say 24") hooked up to a Mac Mini or a MacBook 13".
I originally bought it to avoid the glossy screen and I thought I could use it as a desktop replacement.. both wrong assumptions in my case.
Also the silver bezel that surrounds the screen is quite ugly and flimsy.
To make matters worse mine is coming unstuck in one corner due apparently to its defective build design (according to the technical staff who attended me), so I have had to turn it in for repair, although there seems to be no real solution and after repair it may well come unstuck again due to the heat produced by the case in that corner near the mainboard.
So beware of the antiglare option.
Its colors are quite good but I am disappointed by its low brightness and contrast. And I am stuck with it because of Apple's No Return policy of its online store (build-to-order).
If I could I would change it for the glossy one..
.. or even change it for the glossy 15" or the 13" for greater portability, and with the big money saved I would get myself a gorgeous desktop LCD, maybe also glossy.
You are better off investing that kind of extra money on controling the light conditions on the room and a better and bigger display.
After all the money I spent on this MacBook 17" now I am looking at its display, and let me tell you, it is NOT confortable, compared to a regular desktop monitor (say 24") hooked up to a Mac Mini or a MacBook 13".
I originally bought it to avoid the glossy screen and I thought I could use it as a desktop replacement.. both wrong assumptions in my case.
Also the silver bezel that surrounds the screen is quite ugly and flimsy.
To make matters worse mine is coming unstuck in one corner due apparently to its defective build design (according to the technical staff who attended me), so I have had to turn it in for repair, although there seems to be no real solution and after repair it may well come unstuck again due to the heat produced by the case in that corner near the mainboard.
So beware of the antiglare option.
Update- Anti-glare
Hi Everyone! I'm jumping into the discussion a few months after-the-fact but maybe someone will yet benefit if I have anything to contribute.
I've gone through these macs:
12'' powerbook, matte screen
15'' first macbook pro, intel core duo, GLOSSY
13'' macbook air, GLOSSY,
13'' aluminum macbook 2.4ghz, GLOSSY.
And I sold the macbook and am now getting a 15 inch... Anti Glare...
Want to know why?? It's a very complicated reason with tons of physics equations involved
The anti-glare has the silver bezel... Yep. To me, it just looks so much better. I loved my powerbook, first macbook pro, and macbook air with the overall "silver" look. My january 09 aluminum macbook was great- and the black border didn't bother me nearly at all, but gosh, the silver really looks nice to me.
Silly reasons aside, allow me to contribute my experience as a mac-laptop using photographer...
Every screen since my 12'' powerbook (rest in peace little friend) has been GLOSSY, and gee freaking wiz the reflections can be pretty bad. I don't complain about it, and as many of you other photographers have already suggested, when it was really bad, I adjust the position of the screen, move to another coffee corner, or if worse comes to worse ... I take out a C.S. Lewis book and get something else done -
However, SINCE my last several notebooks have been glossy... Actually, I've gotten used to it; I don't hardly notice ridiculous reflections anymore, unless it's REALLY a problem. That said... I'm comfortable going back to the matte display. I think the reason that has the most merit next to horrible reflections, (which I think we can ALL agree are a very REAL and present problem)- is what one of the above posters mentioned in terms of quality, and "reality" of the images:
It's a very subtle difference in the definition and sharpness of the images and their edges, but I actually think the GLOSSY screen can in fact seem "better than real life", it looks SO good, it's better than what actually rolls out on film...
-- > And as MUCH as we all enjoy seeing the most gorgeous beautiful pictures as smooth and defined as possible... If that line of reasoning keeps going (if it's more pleasing to my eye, it's better), we are going to end up loving staring only at computer screens rather than actual physical photographs... In my opinion, well, I went for matte, I love the silver bezel (it looks so much nicer to me), and I have ZERO reflections, and comparing it with my previous glossy notebooks, the colors are FINE. I mean they're great, really. You DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY about going with a matte screen and then getting washed out pictures with poor saturation or things like that.
Really though, there's not 1 "best". There's really, 2 "great" options. Go with what you like, and what you can work with. Some people can adjust to reflections, some like no reflections no matter what. Heck, I got used to it for all my glossy macs, and now I'm getting matte primarily because of the silver bezel, and secondly for the reflections.
Hi Everyone! I'm jumping into the discussion a few months after-the-fact but maybe someone will yet benefit if I have anything to contribute.
I've gone through these macs:
12'' powerbook, matte screen
15'' first macbook pro, intel core duo, GLOSSY
13'' macbook air, GLOSSY,
13'' aluminum macbook 2.4ghz, GLOSSY.
And I sold the macbook and am now getting a 15 inch... Anti Glare...
Want to know why?? It's a very complicated reason with tons of physics equations involved
The anti-glare has the silver bezel...
Yep. To me, it just looks so much better. I loved my powerbook, first macbook pro, and macbook air with the overall "silver" look. My january 09 aluminum macbook was great- and the black border didn't bother me nearly at all, but gosh, the silver really looks nice to me.Silly reasons aside, allow me to contribute my experience as a mac-laptop using photographer...
Every screen since my 12'' powerbook (rest in peace little friend) has been GLOSSY, and gee freaking wiz the reflections can be pretty bad. I don't complain about it, and as many of you other photographers have already suggested, when it was really bad, I adjust the position of the screen, move to another coffee corner, or if worse comes to worse ... I take out a C.S. Lewis book and get something else done
- However, SINCE my last several notebooks have been glossy... Actually, I've gotten used to it; I don't hardly notice ridiculous reflections anymore, unless it's REALLY a problem. That said... I'm comfortable going back to the matte display. I think the reason that has the most merit next to horrible reflections, (which I think we can ALL agree are a very REAL and present problem)- is what one of the above posters mentioned in terms of quality, and "reality" of the images:
It's a very subtle difference in the definition and sharpness of the images and their edges, but I actually think the GLOSSY screen can in fact seem "better than real life", it looks SO good, it's better than what actually rolls out on film...
-- > And as MUCH as we all enjoy seeing the most gorgeous beautiful pictures as smooth and defined as possible... If that line of reasoning keeps going (if it's more pleasing to my eye, it's better), we are going to end up loving staring only at computer screens rather than actual physical photographs...
In my opinion, well, I went for matte, I love the silver bezel (it looks so much nicer to me), and I have ZERO reflections, and comparing it with my previous glossy notebooks, the colors are FINE. I mean they're great, really. You DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY about going with a matte screen and then getting washed out pictures with poor saturation or things like that.Really though, there's not 1 "best". There's really, 2 "great" options. Go with what you like, and what you can work with. Some people can adjust to reflections, some like no reflections no matter what. Heck, I got used to it for all my glossy macs, and now I'm getting matte primarily because of the silver bezel, and secondly for the reflections.
To me, colors look richer on the glossy displays, which I enjoy for my own graphic design work. It prevents me from over-saturating on matte displays.
The reflections and glare are not issues for me, seeing as how I'm not doing my work outdoors or opposite a window. Avoiding glare is all about common sense.
The reflections and glare are not issues for me, seeing as how I'm not doing my work outdoors or opposite a window. Avoiding glare is all about common sense.
stuck
I went to the apple store today. I saw the anti-glare for the first time and at first didnt like it. Before I left, I had second thoughts and it grew on me. Now, parents were with me to buy one for me. I was gonna get the high end.
Then a genius comes over and explains everything and asks what im going to do with it.
Im just going to do web browsing, music (iTunes), maybe inDesign and photoshop if i use it for work and starcraft II.
Now, I wanted the high end specifically for starcraft II because its recommended req is a graphics card with 512 mb.
Now, I went home disgruntled bc this genius explained everything in front of my parents. They question my choice now. WHY not a desktop? eh..don't like em anymore. not portable. WHY not a mid line or the low end...eh.....this is where I am stuck at.
So, I'm thinking if my parents don't want me to get high end anymore..I could move to the mid-end one anti-glare high res. Of course this is a gift and I should be grateful for whatever I get but I want to be able to use it for years! Course my parents don't think i will use for more than what the genius said "5-10" years of use.
Is it worth to middle-end high res anti-glare for web-browsing (possible multiple windows open), music and starcraft II when it comes out? Thanks for any input.
I went to the apple store today. I saw the anti-glare for the first time and at first didnt like it. Before I left, I had second thoughts and it grew on me. Now, parents were with me to buy one for me. I was gonna get the high end.
Then a genius comes over and explains everything and asks what im going to do with it.
Im just going to do web browsing, music (iTunes), maybe inDesign and photoshop if i use it for work and starcraft II.
Now, I wanted the high end specifically for starcraft II because its recommended req is a graphics card with 512 mb.
Now, I went home disgruntled bc this genius explained everything in front of my parents. They question my choice now. WHY not a desktop? eh..don't like em anymore. not portable. WHY not a mid line or the low end...eh.....this is where I am stuck at.
So, I'm thinking if my parents don't want me to get high end anymore..I could move to the mid-end one anti-glare high res. Of course this is a gift and I should be grateful for whatever I get but I want to be able to use it for years! Course my parents don't think i will use for more than what the genius said "5-10" years of use.
Is it worth to middle-end high res anti-glare for web-browsing (possible multiple windows open), music and starcraft II when it comes out? Thanks for any input.
Why not just get the best and then give your parents $ to pay for the difference?
i would love to see images from different angles (camera and sceen). no one ever shows these and i have been looking for months. i have only seen the glare in person and at some angles i can say it's not that bad it can be done, but i want to see the quality and comparison in both from many angles and close ups of different screens (movies, internet, itunes etc etc).
I hope someone is still viewing this and can steer me in a direction where there are many pictures of the anti glare vs glare screen. i don't want opinions on which is better... i can do that myself. but since i am deployed right now and can't go to an apple store or even a wal-mart (i know... how horrible... no wal-marts in afghanistan? pfft) I am trying to make a choice my youtube videos and pictures.
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i think when it comes to anti-glare vs glare its all personal and whatever you decide is better. both have obvious ups and downs so i hate the posts where people say which one is better for this or that.. this is not one of those posts.
however, i would recommend getting at least the 15" 2.2/17" 2.2. both can be upgraded to 2.3, have SSD's installed, as well as give the anti-glare option. personally i am tore between anti glare or glare and have never seen both in person. I am deployed right now so it makes this impossible.
The options i can argue are the ones based off the itunes online store. I think the 17" will be great for you playing SCII. or even the 15". I personally plan on going with the 17" 2.3 with a 256GB SSD, and have no clue on the screen option at this moment but am leaning more towards anti-glare.
How old are you? I understand you want a great laptop but you also want to put your parents investment (good, not spoiled! way to go!) to good use. that right there as a parent would make me go all out! the best! haha. either way you decide i hope you post again and share with us all. happy hunting!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_P8A1INFds&NR=1
it is like mirror!
Image
why put a link to a private video?
Being a designer myself and being around 2 major design studios, I absolutely hate the glossy screens.
Antiglare the way to go with design. Colours are good, better colour accuracy (what you see is what you get with my printers) compared to glossy screens.
Antiglare the way to go with design. Colours are good, better colour accuracy (what you see is what you get with my printers) compared to glossy screens.
Hi @Abstract, thanks for some detailed info
I also heard that when you work long hours with glossy screen, it makes your eyes tired and even giving you headache. Maybe it is just a silly rumor : ) do yo guys know anything about that. As a freelance I have many looooong working days-nights...
You're probably right, but that also depends on what you work on/with. I work with text and images on a matt 17" MBP in the office. Basically I'm doing copy and using a software that has small boxes/windows that can't be largened nor reduced and the text in that boxes is rather small - the font is about 10 points. So after a whole day of writing and reading (checking) my eyes are killing me. Fortunately I'm not in pain, but my eyes feel "drunk", it's hard focus. Glossy would probably be the same or maybe worse (though I have a twilighted workplace), but what I'm getting at is that working 8 hours (or 6,7 in real time
on anything that requires focusing your eyes on, like the details of the photo or the layout or a text will wear your eyes. Some have headaches, some don't, but the wear will probably come regardless of the screen. Taking breaks help but only to a point, at least for me.