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Glossy vs Anti-Glare
- Thread starter MultiMediaWill
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Please lets not start this one again?? The thread will remain endlessly on the front page as people endlessly argue personal preference or requirements and fail to see neither is better then the other...
I'm with you on this one. For regular usage and heavy reading, the standard display is my choice. The high res display makes things a tad too small for me. I can see why some people that do heavy graphics editing would like the extra screen real estate, though. That's why Apple gives us the choice!
I used a 2005 PowerBook G4, so I was very used to the anti-glare screen. Personally, I loved it. When I finally decided to buy a 2011 MBP, I went to the store to check both the screens out and the anti-glare looked way, way, way better. It wasn't even close. Something about the glossy just seemed cheap and off, and it was actually hard for me to look at for long periods of time. And I really liked how the anti-glare seemed like a "solid painting" that you were looking at, almost as if it was something painted onto the screen, rather than just something blasting light into your eyes. I made up my mind in about 30 seconds and went with the AR.
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While I use an anti glare MBP it isn't a huge issue on screens 15in and smaller. Now moving up to an iMac is a different story and it seems the bigger the glass screen the worse the reflection/glare issue becomes.
I also suggest going to a store and seeing for yourself as others suggested.
While I use an anti glare MBP it isn't a huge issue on screens 15in and smaller. Now moving up to an iMac is a different story and it seems the bigger the glass screen the worse the reflection/glare issue becomes.
I also suggest going to a store and seeing for yourself as others suggested.
I find that when working outside, the anti-glare can be hard to read, too. I bought an anti-glare but don't really do much graphic-intensive work involving precision color correcting nor am I really in the sun that much. Would have enjoyed the more "fun" and "eye candy" perks of the glossy.
As "anti-glare" is so named, it does in fact stop much of the reflections you would normally see on the screen. The problem (and what your image doesn't show) is that it takes all the same light that would have been reflected from a single point and diffuses it across a larger part of the screen. To me, this is much worse. Try reading both types of screens outdoors and you'll see what I mean - the AG is much harder to use.
Wrong
a.) really try them. The AG is never a problem, the glossy is from impossible to really inconvenient.
b.) Maybe you should read a little about AR coatings. Hardly any AG screen is "only" Anti Glare they usually all sport an AR coating that reduces the reflected light by a certain %. It is possible to around 60%. Thus you actually get less reflected light. These coatings are really thin and would work on a glossy screen too. Sony uses them but Apple does not on its mirror which is why it is such an incredibly terrible glossy screen.
You can test this when sitting out side the sun opposite you and (if you are Caucasian with your bear chest) or a bright T-Shirt. AR screens will suffer a little but still work. Glas glossy are impossible to read anything. AR coated glossy can sometimes still be read a little bit at least, compared next to each other one can clearly see the difference.
If all the reflections where simply spread out you wouldn't see a much at all kind of like you tell it.
lol @ glossy people trying to justify their purchase ahead of the AG.
the AG works very well. it diffuses the light but not enough to ever really make much of a difference. you need A LOT of light to do that. you don't need a lot of light to do that to a glossy.
and dark colors such as blacks and dark browns are simply really horrible on the glossy because you're just staring at your own reflection. if i want to see what i look like, i'll go to a mirror or open up photo booth. lol
my two friends own glossy and they prefer my AG but find the cost a bit steep (standard red to high rez).
both are nice though. if u can handle the reflections, get the glossy because you save money or if you only work with light colors on your screen.
the AG works very well. it diffuses the light but not enough to ever really make much of a difference. you need A LOT of light to do that. you don't need a lot of light to do that to a glossy.
and dark colors such as blacks and dark browns are simply really horrible on the glossy because you're just staring at your own reflection. if i want to see what i look like, i'll go to a mirror or open up photo booth. lol
my two friends own glossy and they prefer my AG but find the cost a bit steep (standard red to high rez).
both are nice though. if u can handle the reflections, get the glossy because you save money or if you only work with light colors on your screen.
I've owned both and overall find glossy better in more situations. As each technology is different, of course you can find some situation where AG is much better, such as "sun opposite you with no shirt on if you're Caucasian". Flip the picture around so the sun is behind you, and AG is much worse. Keep in mind that with any screen, light will be reflected. It's only a matter of how much and from where. I don't believe that there's any magical coating that absorbs 60% of incoming light.
Everyone has their preference, it has nothing to do with justifying a purchase. I spend over $2500 on a laptop - another $50 wouldn't be a problem if I'd wanted AG. Like I said above, I've owned both and prefer glossy as it's more useable in more situations.
im sorry but i've used my MBP in a lot of situations along with my friends recently and versatility wise, AG wins EASILY.
his glossy on the train he couldn't use until we went into a tunnel. as soon as we were out of a tunnel, his reflection was right there due to the sunlight. i however was fine. we were in similar positions.
even when the AG can't absorb the light and that tint or w/e it is shows up, its way better than a massive reflection which is disgusting personally.
working with dark colours on the glossy is horrible too. literally i turn it up to full brightness and i still see my reflection CLEARLY.
his glossy on the train he couldn't use until we went into a tunnel. as soon as we were out of a tunnel, his reflection was right there due to the sunlight. i however was fine. we were in similar positions.
even when the AG can't absorb the light and that tint or w/e it is shows up, its way better than a massive reflection which is disgusting personally.
working with dark colours on the glossy is horrible too. literally i turn it up to full brightness and i still see my reflection CLEARLY.
AG is getting better ... has less of that milky cloudy look. Best thing to do is a side by side comparison. The Apple Store is a pretty good place to do an evaluation as they have light coming from all directions, probably the worst indoor situation you'd be in. I found the glossy to be more enjoyable to look at, and since I'd using my MBP indoors 99.5% of the time I went with glossy.
No doubt there are situations outdoors where glossy is not even usable, but with AG you could get work done. You could get work done, but it wouldn't be good. I have noticed the AGs are getting better so for my next MBP, I would re-evaluate.
Not mentioned is that the glossy is easier to clean since it's one smooth glass on top of the screen, whereas on the AG you have to be careful when wiping not to get whatever small junk that was on the screen not to go in between the screen frame and screen, also not to damage the somewhat delicate gooey AG screen. Probably not an issue for some, as I have seen some dirty not well-maintained MBPs, so dirty I felt bad for the geniuses who have to touch and fix it.
No doubt there are situations outdoors where glossy is not even usable, but with AG you could get work done. You could get work done, but it wouldn't be good. I have noticed the AGs are getting better so for my next MBP, I would re-evaluate.
Not mentioned is that the glossy is easier to clean since it's one smooth glass on top of the screen, whereas on the AG you have to be careful when wiping not to get whatever small junk that was on the screen not to go in between the screen frame and screen, also not to damage the somewhat delicate gooey AG screen. Probably not an issue for some, as I have seen some dirty not well-maintained MBPs, so dirty I felt bad for the geniuses who have to touch and fix it.
Me too. But I have a week left to change my mind. Have a standard res screen. I really like it for over all usage and for my vision. I spent 2 hours on the high res matte at the store and ended up taking the standard. Must stay away from these forums though..They keep me thinking.
Really simple solution to have the best of both worlds.... get a MBP with glossy screen and invest in a simple antiglare screen cover! Then you have the bright vibrant colours of the glossy (which I think overall looks better) but outside or in a place with a lot of back lighting behind you, attach the anti glare screen cover! (We have them at work actually... they are for desktop monitors but you can also get laptop sized ones)
I really enjoy my glossy screen. The colors are vibrant and i have no glare issues. (at all) i do not intend on taking it outside. That may be a different story.