Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is A screen protector NEEDED on a notebook computer?

Steve.P.JobsFan

Steve.P.JobsFan

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jan 27, 2010
1,010
613
Columbus
Hello, All!

I'm going to become the proud owner of a 13" MBP around Late-January/Early-Feburary (as I've been constantly saying), and I have to ask this question.

I have the Power Support AntiGlare HD screen protector installed on my 16GB Black Verizon iPhone 4. I've dropped my iPhone a few times, and slammed it onto my desk, and there has been no damage, and there are NO scratches on my iPhone 4's display. I know there are companies that make screen protectors for the MacBook Pro, and other notebook computers. Before I lash out the dough for one, is it really needed?
 
Not really, a phone or tablet screen is 50 times more likely to get scratched. I don't take care of my computers at all and I haven't scratched a laptop screen since I got my first one many years ago.
 
I've never put a screen protector on any of my laptops. Seems unnecessary since whenever you're carying them around the screen will probably be closed. I use mine to watch a lot of tv shows so I wouldn't want the protector to affect the resolution or whatever you would call it
 
If your MacBook Pro is going to be in an environment where scratches to the screen may pose a problem, (such as an office and having co-workers touch your screen) then by all means feel free to purchase one.

If you're going to restrict your MacBook Pro use to the home where it's not likely to get scratched then you probably don't need one.

Ultimately it's up to you. If you think you'll need one, get one.
 
BreakGuy said:
If your MacBook Pro is going to be in an environment where scratches to the screen may pose a problem, (such as an office and having co-workers touch your screen) then by all means feel free to purchase one.

If you're going to restrict your MacBook Pro use to the home where it's not likely to get scratched then you probably don't need one.

Ultimately it's up to you. If you think you'll need one, get one.
Click to expand...

I just want to be careful. You could say I'm OCD over how my Apple products look, but I want them to have good resale value, and just to stay looking downright sexy. I'm going to be traveling to Los Angeles for a week from May 30th to June 9th. Unfortunately, I get to fly out of Detroit-Wayne Metropolitan Airport. Let's just say that TSA there isn't very gentle with your stuff. I'm already getting a Speck SeeThrough SATIN case for my MBP.
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
I just want to be careful. You could say I'm OCD over how my Apple products look, but I want them to have good resale value, and just to stay looking downright sexy. I'm going to be traveling to Los Angeles for a week from May 30th to June 9th. Unfortunately, I get to fly out of Detroit-Wayne Metropolitan Airport. Let's just say that TSA there isn't very gentle with your stuff. I'm already getting a Speck SeeThrough SATIN case for my MBP.
Click to expand...
If you're traveling with it, I'd recommend a notebook sleeve only. A screen protector in this case wouldn't help you.
 
Steve.P.JobsFan said:
I just want to be careful. You could say I'm OCD over how my Apple products look, but I want them to have good resale value, and just to stay looking downright sexy. I'm going to be traveling to Los Angeles for a week from May 30th to June 9th. Unfortunately, I get to fly out of Detroit-Wayne Metropolitan Airport. Let's just say that TSA there isn't very gentle with your stuff. I'm already getting a Speck SeeThrough SATIN case for my MBP.
Click to expand...

The screen on a laptop is very difficult to scratch.

When you carry it around, most likely you close the lid, so it's protected.

The most common damage is when you drop it, so an outer case would be more effective. Also the aluminium case is very scratch prone, you will scratch it with your watch, pulling it in and out of a sleeve or bag, moving it around the desk, etc.

I have never ever scratched a laptop screen, and I am not OCD in any way, on the contrary I have dented / scratched the outer/inner case of almost everyone. But I don't care, I like my stuff when it looks "distressed" as long as it works properly.

A scratch on the screen would bother me, a misaligned lid also, a scratched outer case not at all.
 
I don't think that a screen protector is necessary on a notebook, as you're not constantly touching or fondling the device in your hands coming in contact with the screen.
 
the iPad/iPhone screen protectors are used because that's how people interact with the device, i.e., touch screen.

Laptops do not use touch screens (at least 99% of current laptops) so there's no reason to touch it, meaning there is little risk in scratching the screen.
 
Well, its glass, it doesn't scratch easily anyway. I never used a screen protector, neither on my computers nor on the iPhone/iPad. The iPhone still looks completely new, despite me carrying it around in my pocket and generally being very careless.
 
On an MBP, unless you are doing anything out of the ordinary with it, you won't need one. Besides, there is no flex whatsoever with the whole body being made from aluminium and the display being made from glass - Powerbooks of old used to get tons of marks from the keyboard on their displays!
 
snazzyiphoneguy said:
sounds like u got OCD issues so yes it is necessary
Click to expand...

Please don't insult me. That isn't the purpose of MacRumors. I was only asking because I'm eventually going to sell or trade it in 5 years from now, to get a new MBP. If your products are in poor condition, you won't get much, will you?
 
lamboman said:
On an MBP, unless you are doing anything out of the ordinary with it, you won't need one. Besides, there is no flex whatsoever with the whole body being made from aluminium and the display being made from glass - Powerbooks of old used to get tons of marks from the keyboard on their displays!
Click to expand...

I know! I was only a kid when the PowerBook series launched, but I used one a few years ago. There were so many scratches on that screen from the KB, it was almost unusable!

This is what I said to the guy who owned the Powerbook about the keyboard scratching.

[URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuo0IZ9QxQM"]Click to see what I said![/URL]
 
In five years a few scratches are going to be the least of your problems. The battery, if not already replaced a couple of times, will be sketchy. The hard drive will be suspect. And it'll be worth a third of what you're paying now, at best, if current trends continue.

Anyone buying one of those isn't going to be worried about a little wear and tear, and a screen protector isn't going to protect you from the big stuff anyway. Just get a good bag for it appropriate to your usage and forget anything on the screen.

Rob
 
I don't use screen protectors on anything, and wouldn't say say they're needed for anything either. So no.
 
The old Mac portables I had like the Pismo, Tibook, and Aluminum Powerbook have this tendency of flex it lid and rub against the keyboard. Its pretty much documented in old old articles and forum posts.

The current unibody Macbook Pros seem to have a very scratch resistant glass and the chassis is much stiffer then its older siblings - so I don't think scuffing is a concern. However oil and dirt from the keyboard do somehow get to your screen. What I do, and have always done is to get a soft thin microfiber cloth and put it between the keyboard and screen when I close it and carry it around. No need for those expensive film protectors.
 
Last edited:
Some years ago, Steve Jobs decided to silently deprive us of the excellent anti-glare displays that were standard on all Apple notebooks since the PowerBook 100 series in 1991.

Instead he shipped all notebooks with the highly reflective glass panel. In his mind everyone desired his choice in response to Dell, & other PC notebook makers glossy plastic front panels they offered in addition to anti-glare.

The problem for many of us computer professionals, and those regular personal computer users, was the glass which is far more reflective than glossy plastic.

Having no choice and not willing to give up using my favorite Mac laptops, I bought one. It was dreadful, yet that's just my personal preference. Fortunately a third party company responded to those of us who just couldn't live without anti-glare. They offered a service which removed the shiny glass & replaced it with an anti-glare glass panel. While it added $300 to the price of the computer, at least it was useable again.

Finally many months later, Apple responded to all the complaints and consumer push back. Silently and without a formal announcement the anti-glare was put back.

Yet, it's a shame they scammed us by making it an option, charging extra for what once was standard.

It was an example of Steve Jobs "I'll show you" attitude and outright refusal to take responsibility and admit he was wrong.

I remember when Steve was a great guy. Yet the minute he became successful and acquired power, it went to his head.
 
I don't think that a screen protector on a notebook is really necessary as you're not constantly coming into contact with the screen like on an iPhone or an iPad.
 
He was indeed a great guy but he was always consistently arrogant. His "I know whats best" worked when it counted but bombed sometimes too. This glassy screen is one such bomb.
 
I've never used one, the only reason I'd get one is if I had little kids that kept trying to touch the screen. Other than that they aren't easy to scratch.
 
I personally don't see the need for a screen protector on any laptop... it almost seems redundant. Adding to what others have already mentioned, screen protection may be warranted if you have young children who are attracted to your electronics, or you work with your laptop in some sort of industrial/construction environment. Other than that, it's fairly unnecessary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back