And not all people are created the same. Just because a glossy screen doesn't bother you or several others here, doesn't mean it won't bother anyone. Whether or not a glossy screen will be bothersome is an individual matter, not one of fact.
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Glossy Screen Owners - how can you stand the GLARE?
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At the moment, I'm sitting in a brightly-lit office and yes, I can see lights reflected in my MB. Do they bother me? No. I can just look through them to the screen. Which is blindingly bright compared to my old iBook.
That said - some of us just have to put up with the glossy. I would love to have been able to choose between a MB and a MBP when my iBook packed up. Sadly, funds are not unlimited, and a mid-range MB was all I could afford. The MBP wasn't considered, and as such a matte screen wasn't considered.
Would I have had a matte if I could have? Yes, without hesitation. Has it made it harder to use my computer that I have a glossy screen? No. Would I tell someone not to buy a MB because they are glossy? No.
That said - some of us just have to put up with the glossy. I would love to have been able to choose between a MB and a MBP when my iBook packed up. Sadly, funds are not unlimited, and a mid-range MB was all I could afford. The MBP wasn't considered, and as such a matte screen wasn't considered.
Would I have had a matte if I could have? Yes, without hesitation. Has it made it harder to use my computer that I have a glossy screen? No. Would I tell someone not to buy a MB because they are glossy? No.
Yes ... but you'll notice that the balance of people who say that they aren't bothered by the glare on the MB glossy screen are people who actually own a MB, whilst those who are banging on about the glare seem, at least on this thread, to not own a glossy Apple screen and are comparing it with:
1) An opinion that they have formed based on a few minutes under the showroom lighting in a store
2) A glossy screen not supplied by Apple
3) Some photos they found on the internet.
Now, obviously, I appreciate that if you are generally disinclined towards glossy screens, you won't buy one and thus the consumer feedback will be skewed towards the positive, but ...
... But I have never owned any kind of laptop before. I only got a MB because I couldn't afford the MBPro. I was broadly agnostic on the glossy screen - if anything, I was concerned about it based upon feedback from sites like MR and was prepared to return or re-sell the machine if it was a problem, but it absolutely isn't a problem.
And that's as close to an impartial opinion as you're probably likely to get!
Cheers
Jim
I have a glossy Macbook and hate the screen at times. If its sunny its pretty much unusable for something like films.
However, in a dimly lit room with no obvious interference there is nothing better than a glossy screen for films, photos (not editing) and general web browsing.
However, in a dimly lit room with no obvious interference there is nothing better than a glossy screen for films, photos (not editing) and general web browsing.
Turn it up to the brightest setting if you have to. Thats why laptops even have that feature. If you notice it at that point you're trying too hard to notice it because I turned it all the way up when I was in direct sunlight in my backyard. Thanks
I'm not the only one here. Plenty of folks here have the mentality of "gee it works for me so it _must_ work for you, or you're an idiot if it doesn't."
And I am well aware of brightness controls.
I'll just agree to disagree and say no more about it.
And I am well aware of brightness controls.
I'll just agree to disagree and say no more about it.
Except that the only problem with your argument is that you appear to be talking about the glossy screen on your Dell. By all means, make a general point about glossy screens if you will, but when I pointed out that Apple had specifically added an AR coat to theirs precisely because they're prone to reflections, you dismissed that point as if it didn't matter. It does.
Cheers
Jim
I'm just saying maybe you or other people are trying too hard to notice it. If you notice it in normal use then turn up the brightness. The screen is sooooo overly bright at its highest setting that it hurts the eyes. It's made to drown out glare. And why does it work on the Macbooks and Macbook Pro's i've used in the Apple store? Because it works... If you prefer a matte screen then whatever but people talk down on the glossy like the glare is that big of a problem when it is easily remedied
Car finishes are MEANT to shine and reflect everything possible. What a silly comparison.
Well, if someone wants to buy a Mac laptop, but doesn't want to spend over $2,000... there's no choice but to buy a glossy screened laptop -- the Macbook.
I wish Apple's return policy didn't include a re-stocking fee. I'd be happy to buy a Macbook so I can see how good or bad the glossy screen will really be in the window filled room I work in. But there's no way I'm gonna pay a re-stocking fee just to see if the reflections are acceptable to me.
Actually, if Apple had a "no re-stocking fee" policy I'll bet they'd sell a lot more computers. I'm sure there are lots of PC users like myself that would try a Mac if they knew they could return it without paying money. And if Macs really are as great as everyone says, most of those buyers would keep their new Mac computers -- not return them. It would be a win-win for the users and for Apple.
Screen quality and usability has always been subjective, and, as this thread shows, the glossy/matt screen debate is no different. I will offer the following, based on my use of a MB (mostly on the road):
1. Viewing angle is important for the MB glossy screen. I quickly adapted to this, and once I learned the sweet spot I never thought about reflective images again.
2. Outside in direct sunlight, the glossy screen is far easier on your eyes and much more useful than a mat screen. No screens are ideal outside, btw, but there are a lot of outdoor coffee houses on University campuses, and a side-by-side comparison btw glossy and matt has shown me the glossy does better as long as the viewing angle is right.
3. IMHO, it seems that some people are very resistant to the concept of adjusting their notebook computer's screen. In these cases, the glossy screen will probably annoy you. However, I have never owned any portable computer that didn't have a sweet spot/angle for viewing..
1. Viewing angle is important for the MB glossy screen. I quickly adapted to this, and once I learned the sweet spot I never thought about reflective images again.
2. Outside in direct sunlight, the glossy screen is far easier on your eyes and much more useful than a mat screen. No screens are ideal outside, btw, but there are a lot of outdoor coffee houses on University campuses, and a side-by-side comparison btw glossy and matt has shown me the glossy does better as long as the viewing angle is right.
3. IMHO, it seems that some people are very resistant to the concept of adjusting their notebook computer's screen. In these cases, the glossy screen will probably annoy you. However, I have never owned any portable computer that didn't have a sweet spot/angle for viewing..
Do you mean pushing the screen back & forth, or moving the laptop left to right, or ???
You need to be dead on square with it, i.e. looking at it straight on and not at an left/right angle. Then, you need to push the screen back far enough (or bring it forward) to find a good angle. I do this instantly now, but at first it took about a week of tinkering to find the best angle. It is also dependent on where you sit in relationship to the notebook. If you sit up high in relation to the comp, your viewing angle will be slightly different.
it is really easy to find; however, I think some people do not actually want to search for it. I think the viewing angle on the matt screen is more forgiving.
it is really easy to find; however, I think some people do not actually want to search for it. I think the viewing angle on the matt screen is more forgiving.
I can tune out the glare quite easily, and using the glossy screen in the mac store didn't have much glare at all. Thank you non-back lit gameboy!
I have to say I use customers' MacBooks, MBP and every other kind of machine and screen, and glare of any kind bugs the #^$^ out of me. Can't stand the glossy screens. I don't always have the luxury of repositioning a screen to the exact right angle for non-glare, or adjusting the office lighting. Give me a matte screen any day.
I really dislike having to look "through" some manner of interference to see what I am concentrating on. I also can't stand to have a parking receipt on my dashboard reflecting in the windscreen and interfering with my view.
I really dislike having to look "through" some manner of interference to see what I am concentrating on. I also can't stand to have a parking receipt on my dashboard reflecting in the windscreen and interfering with my view.
It was threads like these that made me waffle to a ridiculous amount when looking at the two MBPs side by side in the Apple Store. The glossy really is lush and gorgeous. In the store, I felt the matte was kind of washed out. But I went back and forth and really didn't have a strong preference.
I ended up getting matte. It was the only one they had in stock, but that's not really the issue (I would have waited for glossy). Mainly I decided that as pretty as glossy is, it isn't the glare that would bother me but the fact that I would notice it every time someone walked behind me. That constant motion reflected on my screen when I'm out using my MBP would probably drive me crazy, slowly but surely. So that may also be an issue for some other people.
Oh, and once I got my MBP home the first thing I did was turn up the gamma and it no longer looked washed out.
I ended up getting matte. It was the only one they had in stock, but that's not really the issue (I would have waited for glossy). Mainly I decided that as pretty as glossy is, it isn't the glare that would bother me but the fact that I would notice it every time someone walked behind me. That constant motion reflected on my screen when I'm out using my MBP would probably drive me crazy, slowly but surely. So that may also be an issue for some other people.
Oh, and once I got my MBP home the first thing I did was turn up the gamma and it no longer looked washed out.
I am currently sitting outside, drinking beer and surfing the net with an overcast sky and the there is no glare but a bit of reflection. It is not too bothersome at this point, but I'm sure if the sun was beating directly on the screen, it wouldn't matter what screen you have.
Regardless, as stated earlier, it depends on the person. I use MBP for professional video editing and it's usually hooked up to an ACD anyway
Regardless, as stated earlier, it depends on the person. I use MBP for professional video editing and it's usually hooked up to an ACD anyway
I've had my MacBook since February and haven't had any specific issues with the glossy screen. I never even think about it unless I read about other people's problems with it - which I can clearly acknowledge because one person's pro might be another's con.
both very helpful to me cause i'm the exact same way and I have been bouncing back between glossy/matte and MBP/MB. now, i'm 99.9% sure i'll be getting the base 15 MBP with matte...thanx guys
Size of screen matters
I have a Macbook and a 17" matte MBP. It seems to me that glossy works better with a small screen -- I used the Macbook on a long trip without any problem. On the other hand, I've looked at the 17" glossy MBP's in the store and feel that with such a big screen, glossy would create more reflections and be harder on the eyes. Imagine what a 23" glossy screen would be like.
I have a Macbook and a 17" matte MBP. It seems to me that glossy works better with a small screen -- I used the Macbook on a long trip without any problem. On the other hand, I've looked at the 17" glossy MBP's in the store and feel that with such a big screen, glossy would create more reflections and be harder on the eyes. Imagine what a 23" glossy screen would be like.
I hear ya. I'm the same way.
And that probably sums it up, right there. Some people can't help but notice things like this. They just can't. They see it plain as day. Other people don't see it at all, literally.
The same seems to hold true for screens. Some people constantly see a glare and can't get it out of their mind the entire time they're looking at the screen. Other people don't see any glare at all, or it just doesn't bother them if they do.
There's no right or wrong answer here. Either the glossy screen bugs the cr@p out of you -- or not.
ABSOLUTELY. Thread after thread of this debate and the answer is always the same.Some people can't help but notice things like this. They just can't. They see it plain as day. Other people don't see it at all, literally.
The same seems to hold true for screens. Some people constantly see a glare and can't get it out of their mind the entire time they're looking at the screen. Other people don't see any glare at all, or it just doesn't bother them if they do.
There's no right or wrong answer here. Either the glossy screen bugs the cr@p out of you -- or not.
The sooner people acknowledge the truth in the above statement, the sooner we can get back to lovin' one another (am I right?
)."That screen finish is BREAKING THIS FAMILY APART!"
There's no right or wrong answer here. Either the glossy screen bugs the cr@p out of you -- or not.
Unfortunately, that's something you'll find out more in your working environment than in the store.
It doesnt look like that picture at all. if you are looking straight on, there is no glare unless you are directly behind the sun, in which case, a matte screen would also have terrible glare. I have had a CRT for years (glossy, remember?) sitting right next to my matte laptop, and there is a window next to them. If there is glare on the CRT, the glare on the laptop is just as bad. I have also used a glossy laptop in the same location and there is no glare. The only time I can see glare on the glossy when I cannot on a matte screen, is when the screens are off. Who uses their computer with the screen off?