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Glossy vs. Matte - let's settle it w/a vote!

Glossy vs Matte

  • Glossy

    Votes: 309 40.5%

  • Matte

    Votes: 360 47.2%

  • Can't decide/don't care.

    Votes: 53 6.9%

  • Haven't seen one/both of them--so I don't know!

    Votes: 40 5.2%
  • Total voters
    763
Something one of the Apple employees showed me was holding CTRL+ALT+APPLE BUTTON + either comma or period will adjust the contrast. I have seemed to notice from lowest to highest, there are 20 settings.

This little tidbit actually helped finalize my decision on picking Matte over Glossy. I thought the colors looked more dull on the Matte, but as soon as I changed the contrast, it looked MUCH better than the glossy.

Especially since I could change my viewing angle without adjusting the laptop.
 
SonicRage said:
Good, I'm not crazy! I noticed the new matte displays have a bit more "gloss" this time around too. Just take a look at this picture from the ars technica review that shows a picture of a new MBP (with a matte screen):

[snip]

Definitely more reflective than last model's display. Anyone else notice this too? Also, from what I hear, the new glossy displays are a little less reflective than before. Sounds like Apple narrowed the gap between the two display options.
Click to expand...

There's no way that's matte.
 
The point is, some people are more susceptible to eyestrain than others. So you cannot make a blanket statement like "gloss screens don't cause eye strain". That is why Apple should bring back the matte screen on the iMac and MacBook Pro. Steve Jobs says the majority of people want gloss screens, but the macpolls.com survey shows that 44% of people want matte screens. Sure, that's a minority, but it takes a bully to shaft 44% of customers, and enforce the glossy screen on them. This current poll is running at more than 40%. Steve Jobs, you're a bully, and you're getting worse as Apple's success and marketshare increase. You're enforcing your personal preference on a large portion of your faithful Mac users. You're doing it to make more money by simplifying your inventory. Steve Jobs, I challange you to state publicly the percentage that Apple's surveys have found regarding matte vs gloss. Don't just say "majority". The local Apple store said it was 50-50 for matte and gloss, and this current survey bears that out.
 
Brendon Bauer said:
but I haven't seen the new MBP's just yet.
Click to expand...


If you haven't seen the new MBPs, then this poll isn't that useful. The issue at hand is not matte vs the old glossy; it's matte vs the current "glossy" which is best said to be "glassy."

So if some of your voters for glossy are, like you, voting based on past glossy mbp screens, it doesn't address the current state which is only one choice -

glassy.

katewes said:
Steve Jobs says the majority of people want gloss screens, but the macpolls.com survey shows that 44% of people want matte screens. Sure, that's a minority, but it takes a bully to shaft 44% of customers, and enforce the glossy screen on them.
The local Apple store said it was 50-50 for matte and gloss, and this current survey bears that out.
Click to expand...

I agree with you. Although let's point out something - that macpoll is a couple of years old. If we did it today, after the new glassy screen has come out, we might get an even higher number. Also, the glossy vote was something like 32%, so matte was the majority even back then.

We need to let Apple know we want the matte option back.
 
bushbaby said:
We need to let Apple know we want the matte option back.
Click to expand...

One of the most effective ways to get through to a corporation is through not supporting them financially. What does this mean? Want matte - don't settle with glossy, just don't buy unless it is a necessity.
 
benjs said:
One of the most effective ways to get through to a corporation is through not supporting them financially. What does this mean? Want matte - don't settle with glossy, just don't buy unless it is a necessity.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

I will not be buying another Apple notebook unless there is a Matte option on the one I am looking at (whether it's a MB or MBP).
 
I had a matte display for a few months and recently switched to the glossy version (not the new unibody MBPs - this is a 2.5ghz classic). Verdict is I prefer the glossy version. To me its been easier on the eyes and more enjoyable experience in normal computer use. I don't do any professional work that would warrant the need for a matte display, I simply followed everyone's hype the matte was better. But, in fact, the glossy is nicer to me.
 
There are times when I prefer the glossy and there are times when I prefer the matte (mostly when I'm viewing dark images on the screen). In the future there should be a feature where you can alternate between glossy and matte with the press of a button - that way everyone is happy.
 
I'd love to know sales figures for matte versus glossy and why the decision was made to axe matte. If this poll were indicative of larger buying trends through the last gen when the choice still existed, then it would appear to have been a bad decision.
 
there should be separate options for glass.

I like glossy, but I'm not a big fan of the glass display on the unibody's (even though I own one). I think there are others that share the same sentiments.

so for me:

glossy > matte > glass
 
I really don't care. I like the glass, it's sturdier than having a plastic top case. Glossy is great, matte would be optimal, but it doesn't matter for me that much.
 
six.four said:
there should be separate options for glass.

I like glossy, but I'm not a big fan of the glass display on the unibody's (even though I own one). I think there are others that share the same sentiments.

so for me:

glossy > matte > glass
Click to expand...
Interesting. I'm in the camp that finds that the glass really enhances the glossiness. I love it, and I can't imagine ever going back to a plastic glossy screen.
 
i just picked up my first mac ever a few days ago for 1200 through ucsd's wonderful academic pricing :-D.. a 2.5 penryn matte screen and i effing love it. If matte doesn't look good enugh for you, you need some help!
 
Brendon Bauer said:
You can discuss it if you like, but I'm sure most of us have heard all the pros and cons of both. Just vote and lets tally up a count of what is most preferred :D. They both have their strongpoints and both will be defended to the death, no doubt :p

I personally can't decide between the two, but I haven't seen the new MBP's just yet.
Click to expand...

Matte is going to win because people are voluntarily responding and usually it is going to people with strong positive views toward matte since they are the angriest compared to glossy people.

AP Statistics class. :)
 
Beric said:
I will not be buying another Apple notebook unless there is a Matte option on the one I am looking at (whether it's a MB or MBP).
Click to expand...
Likewise.

SJ is alienating loyal customers.

Reminds me of the 90's when Apple almost died.

Personally, I will be looking at a Windows laptop for a replacement unless Apple offers a matte screen option. Would prefer not to do this, but have no option as it stands now.
 
I think that the poll is missing an entry. I have played around with the old glossy and matte displays and have a new MBP with the glass display. I don't think that the glass display is the same as the old glossy--glass should be its own category. I was apprehensive about getting the glass display because all of my old laptops had matte displays, but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. I don't notice reflections unless I am looking at the display when it is off, in which case I don't care if there are reflections.

Note: I am not a "professional" user as most of you guys define it, even though I use my laptop for work.
 
I have the glossy on my MB and had matte on my PB, both were good but I prefer the glossy, took a little getting used to but now, 8 months on, I'm not looking back.
 
Back in July when this thread was started and we had an option between the two, Matte was ahead 2 to 1. Since the Unibody MBP with no option the Glossy gap is catching up.
 
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