Macbook Pro's Glossy Screen soon to be "phased out"?

[lordthistle]

[...] I, for one, welcome my new glossy screen overlords and look forward to my 17" MBP arriving next month.

Then, when you get it, open a program with a dark background (like iTunes), stay in a controlled-light environment but well lit (with a lot of light) and come back to say how much you enjoy the new experience.

The problem is not glossy vs. matte here. Here we are speaking about a super-glossy, mirrorish display where you can see yourself even against windows with a white background.

I need to open a new discussion with picture depicting what many people, including me, are saying about this new glassy screen.

thistle

 

[Mark2000]

I know for a fact that thats not true. I've seen the glossy 15" in the apple store. The lights are extremely bright there. Its next to a window to the street. I don't even see glare. So, who cares about a few instances of dark screens? I'm looking at a near white screen now and can hardly see details. cyan blending into the white. Matte sucks for some things, glossy sucks for others.

I said it in another thread and I'll say it again. The iPhone screen is fine, even on low brightness in direct sun. The new MBP screens are just as fine. This "phasing out the glossy screen" crap and a few loud "pros" who probably are no such thing are full of FUD. Give me a break, ok?

 

[Ploki]

LMAO - If you work with audo it doesn't matter if you work with or without a glossy screen. Colour accuracy has nothing to do with your profession - so just go with the flow with what Apple tells you to do.

If you 'accidentally' throw mics at a screen, you should be worrying about much more than glossy/matte decision with your oh-so-safe hands lol.

of course, i made a totally bizarre case.
but bunch of guys here yack about "professionals"... be more specific. there are plenty of other professionals using apple laptops that dont give a damn about glossy screens.
and its pointless to work on a laptop screen "professionally".
a graphic designer needs a screen like an audio engineer/producer needs speakers...

 

[lordthistle]

I know for a fact that thats not true. I've seen the glossy 15" in the apple store. The lights are extremely bright there. Its next to a window to the street. I don't even see glare. [...]

You should speak after having used a product, not after looking at it. No one is asking the removal of glossy. Here people ask for an optional matte screen. So, please, get a break and avoid reading these threads, especially if you are going to compare again the iPhone screen with a notebook screen.

If I had seen a picture like the one I posted, I would have refused the new Unibody MBP and kept the defective last-gen MBP.

Comparing the iPhone screen to a notebook screen.. that's almost insane...

And there's again the philosopher with his definition of "professionals", professionals don't use notebooks... again? Why? Do you really think what you wrote here?Against you it's a lost battle. I think even the gods couldn't fight and win against your mind.

 

[MBPDiva]

they said almost everyone who has pre-ordered the new 17" Macbook Pro ordered it with the matte anti-glare screen and that the glossy screen was for teenagers not professionals and was eventually going to be phased out.

Your Thoughts?

Let me guess: he told you that after you told him you wanted to buy a glossy screen? Obviously that store wasn't selling enough matte screens and he tried to dupe you into buying one.

 

[kastenbrust]

Its ok once you've cleaned it a few times with a microfibre cloth, i think when theyre brand new they've got some waxy coating on them that makes them super shiny. Personally doing a lot of graphic design work I need the glossy display so I can see real black and accurate colours, however its personal taste.
I've not however come across a situation where I can see my reflection in the screen, and i sit next t a window all day every day in my office.

 

[MBPDiva]

I know for a fact that thats not true. I've seen the glossy 15" in the apple store. The lights are extremely bright there. Its next to a window to the street. I don't even see glare.

I'm a Professional who owns both a glossy MBP and a PC. I do most of my graphics work on the PC which has glossy glass. The glare does not interfere with my work on either machine. I don't know what these glossy vs. glare threads are about. It's personal preference. If you want sharp, bright, vibrant colors with good contrast (real black), go with glossy. If you want dull, washed out colors, go with matte.

 

[brentsg]

You should speak after having used a product, not after looking at it. No one is asking the removal of glossy. Here people ask for an optional matte screen. So, please, get a break and avoid reading these threads, especially if you are going to compare again the iPhone screen with a notebook screen.

I use one every day for my livelihood and I think the glossy is much better. Honestly I agree with the other poster. If I pay a graphic designer a bunch of money... or a photographer... I hope he's not producing my work in a little laptop screen with a TN panel.

 

[Kronie]

Yet another "Pro" that prefers the glossy, and any real pro should be using an external calibrated monitor and not a laptop screen.

 

[MagicWok]

I'm a Professional who owns both a glossy MBP and a PC. I do most of my graphics work on the PC which has glossy glass. The glare does not interfere with my work on either machine. I don't know what these glossy vs. glare threads are about. It's personal preference. If you want sharp, bright, vibrant colors with good contrast (real black), go with glossy. If you want dull, washed out colors, go with matte.

If you do graphic work for web and live work - then glossy is ok I suppose. If you do graphics that is print-based artwork, you'd be a fool to use glossy.

Matte does not have dull, washed out colours - it has accurate and clear colours. Glossy have over-saturated and enhanced contrast that is much better for watching movies and screen work, but it just plain sucks for print based work giving false colour representation - and in context of print - awful black levels.

It all depends on what you want to do with the laptop - one decision isn't right or wrong. What is wrong, is claiming matte is dull/washed out. I believe you are the quasi-professional talked about earlier lol. Funny how so many people claim they are 'professional' yet their comments are completely out of sync with their industry...

If you are a "Pro" you won't even be using the main laptop display to do your work, you should be using an external, calibrated, anti-glare display. Here's some research for you:

http://www.eizo.com/products/graphics/index.asp

Come back and tell me how many have glossy displays (hint: 0). These will have more vibrant and accurate rendition and contrast than any Apple glossy display... Though as I said - and as the Apple website says - their glossy displays are great for watching movies on!

 

[drichards]

Everything I have in my studio now is glossy, from the Plasma on the wall to my blackberry and everything sized between.

 

[infernohellion]

Then, when you get it, open a program with a dark background (like iTunes), stay in a controlled-light environment but well lit (with a lot of light) and come back to say how much you enjoy the new experience.

The problem is not glossy vs. matte here. Here we are speaking about a super-glossy, mirrorish display where you can see yourself even against windows with a white background.

I need to open a new discussion with picture depicting what many people, including me, are saying about this new glassy screen.

thistle

It doesn't matter. It's just a personal preference! Some people like it and some don't and that's it. There are people out there who don't mind reflections.

 

[Mark2000]

You should speak after having used a product, not after looking at it. No one is asking the removal of glossy. Here people ask for an optional matte screen. So, please, get a break and avoid reading these threads, especially if you are going to compare again the iPhone screen with a notebook screen.

If I had seen a picture like the one I posted, I would have refused the new Unibody MBP and kept the defective last-gen MBP.

I hate to say this, man. But you have even less right to speak. You reposted a pic someone else took? In conditions we have no idea about? You never seen the product! I have. I think I have more right than you to make a comment. And what do you even do with you're computer besides spread FUD on forums?

Matte does not have dull, washed out colours - it has accurate and clear colours. Glossy have over-saturated and enhanced contrast that is much better for watching movies and screen work, but it just plain sucks for print based work giving false colour representation - and in context of print - awful black levels.

Again, MagicWok, have you seen the product? I see no evidence you have. I don't know what you do for a living either. You talk about "pros" in the third person only.

Color accuracy is not an issue. Black levels are. And the blacks are better on a glossy screen. As for color, any screen can be calibrated to accurate color. Like, you know, glossy, glass CRTs.

Let this be a lesson to the lurkers out there. The people who complain about gloss don't have the product and have never seen it first hand. They also don't do any creative work with machines.

People who actually do photo, publishing, and other work on these machines like them just fine. I'm an illustrator and animator. I make cartoons all day long. I have to deal with color. I like the glossy screens I've used and I can't wait to have another.

 

[lordthistle]

I hate to say this, man. But you have even less right to speak. You reposted a pic someone else took? In conditions we have no idea about? You never seen the product! I have. I think I have more right than you to make a comment. And what do you even do with you're computer besides spread FUD on forums?
[...]

God (or evolution) has endowed you with a brain. It is your duty to use it correctly and as best as you can. You're not doing great, but I am sure you can do much better than this.

I *own* a Unibody MBP, I work on it for 12 hours a day. And that picture was taken by me, the ugly thing you see on the wonderful glass of the glassy screen is me. I posted it *twice* on this forum (that's the "previously"). What a mess you did.

Ah... zealotness...

thistle

 

[mstout]

Man there are some mean people on this site. I have used the glossy screen, love it. People who love matte, I say rock on. To each his own. I may have to stop checking this site for all the petty, angry, small comments a few seem to love to make. To the rest of you nice Mac people, I salute you.

 

[kastenbrust]

Yet another "Pro" that prefers the glossy, and any real pro should be using an external calibrated monitor and not a laptop screen.

Thats ridiculous
My monitor is calibrated, and theres not much difference between my Laptop and my Desktop one.
Some of us have to work on the move you know?

The matte screen gives me a headache when i use it now anyway.

 

[MagicWok]

Color accuracy is not an issue. Black levels are. And the blacks are better on a glossy screen. As for color, any screen can be calibrated to accurate color. Like, you know, glossy, glass CRTs.

Let this be a lesson to the lurkers out there. The people who complain about gloss don't have the product and have never seen it first hand. They also don't do any creative work with machines.

People who actually do photo, publishing, and other work on these machines like them just fine. I'm an illustrator and animator. I make cartoons all day long. I have to deal with color. I like the glossy screens I've used and I can't wait to have another.

Oh dear, oh dear... The blacks seem better, because they appear better on glossy displays, not because they are.

"About glossy and antiglare
Choose the glossy widescreen display to make your graphics, photos, and videos appear with richer colours and deeper blacks — great for watching DVD movies." - From Apple themselves

Sweeping statements regarding people who don't like glossy displays is just pure fantasy. Don't do creative work - wow, you made that up all by yourself did ya?

If you like glossy, fine for you. If you're an actual graphic designer, like myself, I work off two Eizo industry standard displays. They only come in matte... Colour and picture rendition is just more accurate with matte displays, even if you won't/can't understand that - and that is what is needed for pre-press work. If I was just watching cartoons, animations or movies on the display solely, I'd go for the glossy option. Though Kuro's have matte displays, and they have greater contrast and deeper blacks than any glossy display. And oddly - that's the type of equipment you should be designing for...

What is more annoying is Apple believing that they know better than those who use their products to make and earn a living. Only giving in on the 17" MBP because it caused such a huge stir. I don't care if one person thinks glossy is better - I just believe Apple should give users a choice and let each individual choose based on it's merits. That's what annoys me...

 

[MBPDiva]

Yet another "Pro" that prefers the glossy, and any real pro should be using an external calibrated monitor and not a laptop screen.

I agree. The pros that i know, the ones making more than 100K per year, would never use a MacBook or LCD screen. We use only CRT screens until they come up with an LCD screen that can be calibrated accurately.

 

[Abstract]

Apple pays close attention to the buying trend. the fact that matte has been added as an option to the 17" mbp means something - that there is considerable buying power in offering that option.

I don't know about the rest of your post, but I agree with what was bolded above. If people weren't requesting a matte screen left and right, they wouldn't have added the option for the 17" MBP. They would have just gone with the glossy glass screen and told the 2 or 3 matte screen lovers to feck off. But no. Apple, who usually doesn't change their mind unless enough people make a big stink about it, did give us back the option of choosing a matte screen. They probably got enough complaints, and read enough forum posts to realize that enough people do like the matte for it to be a part of their product line.


So congratulations to all the people who complained about not having a matte screen. Apple probably heard you.

 

[lordthistle]

What many people need to understand IMO is that discussions like this are not only a way to complain and let the vapor go out of your brain. They are the sign of a more basic problem.

Many people, especially Professionals, choose a platform and invest on it. They buy the "correct" hardware, they buy software, they get used to specific software programs.

Can people like these professionals stay with apple? Should we stop using this platform and move to something else? Apple decided to abandon Firewire, fine. Apple decided that the MINI display port is the new standard, fine. Apple decided that glass in front of the screen is perfect, fine. Apple decided that the trackpad can be buttonless and noisy, fine. Apple decided to ship notebooks with lousy graphics drivers, fine. Apple decided to ship notebooks that need hours for a complete charge, fine. Fine? No. We are not speaking about using a graphics card instead of another. Or a disk instead of another one.

Some choices are simply wrong. They are not wrong in absolute sense: they are wrong because they cause problems to the users. Apple behaviour with this new computers and screens is arrogant: they know people cannot switch easily due to the software. I did not spend much on software licenses, but I spent enough to make think twice before going to windows or linux. And they can be arrogant because there is no choice in the hardware.

But what is even more disturbing are zealots who don't accept critiques to apple products and try to convince the world (and themselves) that everything is perfect.

In this thread (and not only here) I have read several times: there is NO glare on my unibody screen. That is impossible, if it were true you would have a matte screen. No one even commented on my picture (except a clever one who told me I did not take the picture) which is a clear proof that you cannot work on these screens.

Let people speak. Let people looking for information read the dark side of the apple world. Go, read and write in discussions where everyone is masturbating looking at the dark, reflective border and at the great glass pane which make this computer unique and wonderful... design-wise.

 

[semiotic]

^
seriously, i looked at your picture, then at my mpb which i've worked on everyday since i got it, and i've never ever seen it that reflective. reflections are there if you're not in control of your environment, but the glossy is still a step up in quality from the matte. and while you definitely can't do color grading for print on it, well, you can't do that on any other laptop screen either, be it matte, glossy, or whatever.

 

[Kronie]

The only reason that a glossy screen works for me is because my laptop is basically stays in one spot in my office where I can control the light. If I had to haul it all over creation and use it in harsh lighting then glossy would totally suck and I would want matte.

As others have stated, its really just a preference and how you use the laptop.

 

[fil3333]

hi,
i know some professional photographers and filmmakers who are doing most of their work on a mbp including color correction and graphics because they are on the road most of the time. they almost never sit in their studios (if they have one) to work with their eizo(s). the argument a pro would never color correct on a notebook lcd might has some truth but doesnt count if he wants to be MOBILE! moreover most of the time a pro wouldnt use a notebook for any work at all if he is working in a studio...
btw apple is promoting the new 17" 'the ultimate mobile creative studio with a high-resolution LED-backlit display with a 60 percent greater color gamut' and from my own experience: MATTE SCREENS ARE BETTER FOR THAT PURPOSE!
and i understand lordhistle.... the current screens are superglossy however (im writing this post on my girlfriends unibody mb) it isnt that big issue like i expected before. im waiting for the new 17" myself and im clearly leaning toward matte screen because im occasionally doing graphics on the road.
however i would be interested in what apple actually does when they make the screen antiglare? does it mean they just leave out the glass? so does it make the screen more instable and what about the seamless enclosure?
because i need stability as well would be nice if someone could clarify
thanks
fil

 

[DHagan4755]

does it mean they just leave out the glass?

My understanding is that Apple removes the glass. In its place, Apple replaces the bezel around the screen with an aluminum frame that is just like the MacBook Air. As far as the display goes, it's the same panel used in the models with the glassy glossy treatment.

 

[Chappiesan]

PowerBook Professionals

People who work in the real world of graphic arts - photographers, graphic designers, print professionals... any one who needs to accurately reproduce color in a meaningful way needs to have the option of choosing an "antiglare" display (please Apple, why do I have to pay extra). Having super saturated colors and rich blacks, while looking very good on a monitor, have NO CORRELATION to how an image or design will look at its final output. A real world example is the client who sends you an RGB image that is super saturated in color, but whose final destination is going to be as a printed CMYK image. A lot will be lost in the translation.

A lot of professionals work on both a tower and a laptop. I have both, and both are color calibrated to each other. I am able to visit clients with my laptop and work with them at their studio. The color work that I do on that laptop is accurate and represents the final proof, and therefore the final printed piece.

As for people who say that the CRT monitors that we had had a glare, and we were fine with that.... Well, we weren't o.k. with the glare from CRTs, it annoyed us to no end. As I remember, all of the monitors in high-end print shops and design studios came with a hood so we could block the glare. A selling point of the (then) new flat screen monitors was... NO GLARE!

My final worry is that the new generation of designers creating really super rich and colorful images will be sorely disappointed when they get their contract proofs back, and as they look at them they will cry - THIS ISN'T HOW IT LOOKED ON MY SCREEN!