Is MBP glossy glare as bad as it looks in Apple stores?

[bigiffo]

I am "working" on my Macbook Pro at the moment and a friend of mine has a glossy vesion. However when he is in a lot of light all you can see is the fingerprints on the surface! I on the other hand have a vibrant and bright GLOSSY screen. I have hardly ever had a problem with the light!

 

[dongmin]

Someone mentioned color accuracy. Am I correct in assuming that a MATTE LCD screen will always be more accurate? I do some basic color-correcting in photoshop and I'd like to have some predictability in the output.

 

[bigiffo]

Is the glossy screen on the 15" MBP LED?

For all new ones, yes.

 

[bruf]

You thought it looked bad? Go with the matte screen.

I previously owned 4 mac laptops with matte screen and was seriously looking at the white macbook this winter. Everyone was happy with the glossy screen, so why not me?

Just like you, I was underwhelmed by the screen, so I choose the MBP with matte screen. Both MBP screens are fantastic compared to most laptop brands out there, colors/contrast are great. It's really a matter of personal taste/preference.

Enjoy your new MBP.

 

[bigiffo]

Glossy!

The viewing angle in my opinion is much better with the glossy screen. Great for those late night get-togethers!

 

[CalBoy]

I have no idea what the hell is wrong with the mac stores, but seriously their lighting conditions makes the glossy screen look terrible giving off so much reflection and glare.

Actually, the Apple stores are not as bad as FRYS. I first saw a glossy MBP at FRYS, and the glossy looked like a mirror. The overhead lighting was horrible. On the other hand, when I went to the Apple store, the glossy didn't look nearly as bad. Ultimately, I went with the matte because the color reproduction wasn't as important as a glare-free screen. I can say that I whole-heartedly recommend the matte to anyone who's on the fence about it.

 

[Wolfpup]

Actually, the Apple stores are not as bad as FRYS. I first saw a glossy MBP at FRYS, and the glossy looked like a mirror. The overhead lighting was horrible. On the other hand, when I went to the Apple store, the glossy didn't look nearly as bad. Ultimately, I went with the matte because the color reproduction wasn't as important as a glare-free screen. I can say that I whole-heartedly recommend the matte to anyone who's on the fence about it.

Yeah, I've never heard anyone regret getting matte, but so-called "glossy" on the other hand.

Color reproduction is more accurate on matte screens.

There are some situations where matte gets a bad rap, just because the matte screen is lower quality than the "glossy" screen used. Like Dell has a bunch of configurations where the matte screen just is a lower quality screen all around than the glossy option-but people think it's better because it's glossy, where really it's DESPITE being glossy.

I really wish these gimmicky screens would go away. I can't imagine if they start trying to push them on TVs or monitors.

 

[CalBoy]

I really wish these gimmicky screens would go away. I can't imagine if they start trying to push them on TVs or monitors.

I think I saw an LG or Samsung ad showing an hdtv with a glossy screen. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure. It's expanding....AHHH!

 

[Wolfpup]

I think I saw an LG or Samsung ad showing an hdtv with a glossy screen. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure. It's expanding....AHHH!

Yeah, I just watched Cnet's Tivo thing during lunch...and they showed off a Samsung LCD TV with it

Glossy is so retarded. I can't imagine what stupid thing they're going to do next-mount it so you can only watch it upside down? Change the viewing angles so you can ONLY watch it from the side?

 

[A Pittarelli]

personally i would go for the matte

 

[ebouwman]

Someone mentioned color accuracy. Am I correct in assuming that a MATTE LCD screen will always be more accurate? I do some basic color-correcting in photoshop and I'd like to have some predictability in the output.

If you correct it in photoshop then it should be fine **i think**

 

[daneoni]

Glossy FTW, Apple store lighting doesn't do it justice at all. Glossy is also way better for outdoor viewing. Modern Glossy displays in general are pretty darn good. IMHO only Professionals dealing in photography and maybe video need apply for the matte option

 

[Genghis Khan]

my glossy macbook is great...never had a problem with the screen

of course i am comparing it to my last laptop (a 5 yr old compaq), and i think that means that all who complain about the screen are just nit-picking...go for it if you want

 

[SirCrumpet]

I've had NO problem whatsoever with my new Glossy 15" SR Macbook Pro. Having used a Matte 17" 2.33 MBP in the past, I have to say the glossy screen is MUCH nicer - might have to do with the LED backligting, but the point is I've never had problems with glare when the machine is turned on and in use.

 

[booksacool1]

I've found that glossy doesn't look that great in some apple stores. Somehow those bright white fluros seem to reflect on the screen, as do the white ipod-style counters etc.

So yeah the Glossy looks much better in person than at the apple store. I'd recommend glossy over matt as it simply looks much when its not surrounded by bright white lights.

 

[CalBoy]

So yeah the Glossy looks much better in person than at the apple store. I'd recommend glossy over matt as it simply looks much when its not surrounded by bright white lights.

It doesn't have to be just white lights. Any kind of lighting that is bright enough, or that produces a decent amount of contrast, will be a distraction. My PC laptop was glossy, and I'm so glad i went matte with my mbp. In fact, it was one of the factors which drove me to abandon the mb.

 

[killerrobot]

If you correct it in photoshop then it should be fine **i think**

Umm... no. You can correct it where ever you want to (in photoshop, calibrate the monitor etc.) but the print is never going to reflect the screen. The glossy oversaturates absolutely everything (yeah it looks pretty. I like it.), but you're gonna be messing with settings forever, and ever, and ever just trying to print one photo. Not to mention if you share the file with anyone else, they'll not see the same colors you do.

 

[booksacool1]

It doesn't have to be just white lights. Any kind of lighting that is bright enough, or that produces a decent amount of contrast, will be a distraction. My PC laptop was glossy, and I'm so glad i went matte with my mbp. In fact, it was one of the factors which drove me to abandon the mb.

I dunno, I've only really noticed it on the bright white fluro lights. I don't live in a lab, so I'm very glad I went glossy (on my dell 9300 2 years ago).

Having said that I don't really care. I use my computer inside and away from sunlight so reflections aren't a problem, unshaded windows are normally too dark to reflect. If your an outdoorsy kind of person, you could consider a matt lcd. But otherwise, whats the point.

 

[jklps]

I am considering a Macbook Pro 15" base model with upgraded HD to 160gb 5400rpm(a change from my current sig below)..I was in an Apple store yesterday and asked one of the workers a few questions to compare the matte vs. glossy, and came across a very important thing to some.

I asked them which ones had to be cleaned more, matte vs. glossy. They said they clean all of the screens every night, but have to put a lot more effort into the glossy ones. In addition the guy believed that the mattes could be cleaned once a week vs. the glossy ones should be done every day.

Obviously hundreds of different people won't be touching our own computers everyday and we wouldn't touch the screen, but the difference to me on the cleaning seems important.

Yes the glossy ones do look better with a video on, but if you get a Matte one didn't have a glossy one at home to compare it to would you really know much of difference?

 

[ebouwman]

Umm... no. You can correct it where ever you want to (in photoshop, calibrate the monitor etc.) but the print is never going to reflect the screen. The glossy oversaturates absolutely everything (yeah it looks pretty. I like it.), but you're gonna be messing with settings forever, and ever, and ever just trying to print one photo. Not to mention if you share the file with anyone else, they'll not see the same colors you do.

mac displays DEsaturate the color
and i compared a print i have, and the same picture on my MacBook (not color-corected) and the picture on my screen is desaturated and makes the faces in the picture look pale.

 

[Alloye]

There is no correct answer here. It's a subjective issue. Sorta like going to a stereo forum and asking, "silk or aluminum tweeters?" All you'll get are opinions.

For me, glossy won after a fairly intense side-by-side comparison in the store. I simply preferred the extra clarity. All the claims that matte is better for color accuracy seem a bit dubious to me. These are not color-accurate displays to begin with. Other than a slight bit of extra saturation, my eyes couldn't detect any major difference in color rendering between the two finishes.

Bottom line: Go with what your eyes tell you look best.

 

[CalBoy]

I dunno, I've only really noticed it on the bright white fluro lights. I don't live in a lab, so I'm very glad I went glossy (on my dell 9300 2 years ago).

Having said that I don't really care. I use my computer inside and away from sunlight so reflections aren't a problem, unshaded windows are normally too dark to reflect. If your an outdoorsy kind of person, you could consider a matt lcd. But otherwise, whats the point.

Even at dusk, with a window fifteen feet behind me, I could see a clear reflection of the glass. It's a mirror, plain and simple. Any kind of light will show up a little. The only way it won't is if the lighting is perfectly even, which it never is. If you can live with it, good for you. I just think that buyers should take their time with this important issue.