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MBP - Glossy/Matte?

agojes said:
Wow, I'm amazed... Thanks IEatApples. However, after seeing the link you provided, I'm not sure I'll do it.
Have you tried to do it before? To me it's like operating someone except this one doesn't live. Nevertheless, thanks for this link. I'll surely keep this one.
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No, I haven't tried it yet, but I'm more then willing to do it if I need to, and I actually think I will when I get my new MBP (whenever that is :rolleyes:).

I've heard that the trick is to simply put the original hard disk back inside if you need to send the machine to service, thus they won't know that you've broken the warranty! :D;)
 
If you're just a "regular" user I'll add my vote for glossy.

Have always used matte screens on my Apple laptops but after using the glossy I wouldn't go back.

People on here claim to know which is best for you for one reason or another but at the end of the day it's personal preference. I find the dispersed glare of a matte screen more annoying than the direct glare on a glossy screen. Others think the exact opposite.
 
Looks like the OP has gottent he info he needs.

But, I'll throw in my $.02 anyway.

My girlfriend and I went to an Apple store and compared MBP Glossy vs Matte. Almost immediately we agreed the Glossy looked a ton better.

I've had mine MBP Glossy since September, and have not cleaned the screen ONCE. Given, I probably should - I notice a film of dust when I shut the baby down and close the lid, but thats the only time i see and dust. Also, I have almost no problem with glare at all. I've taken my MBP to school, work, Panera Bread (to do homework), and obviously at home, and have never had a problem with glare disrupting my experience.
 
I recently purchased a 17" MBP with a glossy screen and don't regret it at all! I was getting scared reading others opinions, after I ordered, but once it came all my worries disappeared. The only time I have notice glare is when the screen is off, and even then it isn't bad.

I even checked to see they accidentally install a matte screen, because when it is on there is no glare and the viewing angles are great!

James
 
i say Matte. As the glossy gets finger prints VERY easy. And you can not see for S!@# when you have a bright light source and you can see your self which is a pain in the A@#.


Lukeintosh :apple:
 
I don't know how Apple solved the glossy screen glare problem, but I've never had a problem with it on my laptop. I can't imagine needing matte unless you plan on doing a lot of photo or video editing.

I've heard that Hitachi 7200rpm drives are making it into some MBP's. If that's true, you should notice a difference. I have one in my MacBook and it's saved me several seconds at boot,
 
ViveLeLivre said:
I don't know how Apple solved the glossy screen glare problem, but I've never had a problem with it on my laptop. I can't imagine needing matte unless you plan on doing a lot of photo or video editing.

I've heard that Hitachi 7200rpm drives are making it into some MBP's. If that's true, you should notice a difference. I have one in my MacBook and it's saved me several seconds at boot,
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My MBP arrived two days ago, and has a Hitachi 200GB 7200rpm (16mb cache) drive in it :)
 
I'm thinking of going for a matte MBP with a separate display, and I do a lot of photo editing. You guys are all saying that the matte is better for that -- but I thought the cinema displays were good for professionals. Aren't they glossy?
 
wouldnt the glossy screen offer more protection since it has the thick glass to offer as protection for the screen since the matte screens you can push your finger on them and they 'bleed' a little or smear the colors, do the new LED's do this too?
 
TatsuTerror said:
I'm thinking of going for a matte MBP with a separate display, and I do a lot of photo editing. You guys are all saying that the matte is better for that -- but I thought the cinema displays were good for professionals. Aren't they glossy?
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No - Apple has never made a glossy external display.

Anyway, I got my glossy 15" MBP the other day, and the reflections aren't bad at all, it's really not a problem. It's certainly not as 'glossy' as Vaios etc., and there's not a massive difference between the glossy screen and the matte screen on my Apple Studio Display. It still seems to have a slight matte coating anyway, it's in no way highly reflected.

The only time I notice when it is actually glossy is when the screen is off (as someone else said). I'd say it's half way between matte and glossy, compared with other manufacturers' glossy screens.

Either way, there's no major difference between the two - in colours, or glare. The glossy is probably a bit richer - slightly darker blacks, slightly stronger colours.
 
MarkW19 said:
No - Apple has never made a glossy external display.

Anyway, I got my glossy 15" MBP the other day, and the reflections aren't bad at all, it's really not a problem. It's certainly not as 'glossy' as Vaios etc., and there's not a massive difference between the glossy screen and the matte screen on my Apple Studio Display. It still seems to have a slight matte coating anyway, it's in no way highly reflected.

The only time I notice when it is actually glossy is when the screen is off (as someone else said). I'd say it's half way between matte and glossy, compared with other manufacturers' glossy screens.

Either way, there's no major difference between the two - in colours, or glare. The glossy is probably a bit richer - slightly darker blacks, slightly stronger colours.
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Really? I was looking at identical MBPs at the Apple Store the other day, the only difference being the screen. It's very noticeable, at least in their really bright environment. Maybe that's the key though - having lots of background lighting really brings out the differences. I wasn't bothered as much when I was working with glossy MBPs in more realistic environments. Great, now I'm undecided again lol
 
7even said:
Really? I was looking at identical MBPs at the Apple Store the other day, the only difference being the screen. It's very noticeable, at least in their really bright environment. Maybe that's the key though - having lots of background lighting really brings out the differences. I wasn't bothered as much when I was working with glossy MBPs in more realistic environments. Great, now I'm undecided again lol
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Hehe, sorry! I'd say that the glossy is only a bit better colour/saturation wise.

If you're going to be using your MBP in different environments where you think the light may be an issue, then I'd go matte.

I like the way the glossy sort of brings the screen to life a bit, but if I had to make the choice again, I think I'd go with matte - for the only reason that there isn't as big a difference as I thought there'd be.
 
MarkW19 said:
Hehe, sorry! I'd say that the glossy is only a bit better colour/saturation wise.

If you're going to be using your MBP in different environments where you think the light may be an issue, then I'd go matte.

I like the way the glossy sort of brings the screen to life a bit, but if I had to make the choice again, I think I'd go with matte - for the only reason that there isn't as big a difference as I thought there'd be.
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If there isn't much of a difference then why downgrade to a slightly duller screen with slightly worse viewing angles? :D I was leaning towards the matte, but I don't have many issues with Apple's version of "Glossy".. Mainly just afraid of sacrificing visibility with the backlight turned down for better battery life. However, the glossy screen is so gorgeous compared to my previous 15" laptop LCD experience that I probably wouldn't turn the backlight down often :p

How's the visibility in typical office (or weaker) lighting with the backlight at 2/3rds or 1/2 power?
 
7even said:
If there isn't much of a difference then why downgrade to a slightly duller screen with slightly worse viewing angles? :D I was leaning towards the matte, but I don't have many issues with Apple's version of "Glossy".. Mainly just afraid of sacrificing visibility with the backlight turned down for better battery life. However, the glossy screen is so gorgeous compared to my previous 15" laptop LCD experience that I probably wouldn't turn the backlight down often :p

How's the visibility in typical office (or weaker) lighting with the backlight at 2/3rds or 1/2 power?
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I just tried it directly in front of a bright window, sort of half-sunny inside. You can definitely see a lot of reflections, and at 1/2 brightness they're very noticeable, but at full brightness, while still there, they pose little problem. The backlight level makes a BIG difference to the visibility in "bad" lighting conditions on this screen. It also attracts dust, and shows fingerprints, a bit more. That is the only time I've noticed ANY reflections, and I've been in "typical office lighting" since I got my MBP, in various positions - I even had to check I actually had a glossy screen at times. But, sitting in front of the window (ie. very bright lighting) did confirm this.

I actually like the way the glossy has more reflections, even though it does affect the visibility a bit, I like the shiney-ness and the way the screen looks "alive", but I would assume I'm in the minority there. Most would prefer the extra visibility.

When compared to my Apple TFT Studio Display (not even as good as the Cinema Display), I'd say the glossy makes a slight difference (improvement) in colour/saturation (deeper blacks, crisper whites, SLIGHTLY richer colours).

In all honesty - I would recommend you go for matte. Better visibility in a lot more situations, you can probably have your backlight lower more of the time, saving power/increasing battery life, and the glossy isn't as much of a difference to warrant the inflexibility of having to be careful where you sit, etc.

So, unless you're slightly perverse like me, go for the matte :)
 
MarkW19 said:
In all honesty - I would recommend you go for matte. Better visibility in a lot more situations, you can probably have your backlight lower more of the time, saving power/increasing battery life, and the glossy isn't as much of a difference to warrant the inflexibility of having to be careful where you sit, etc.

So, unless you're slightly perverse like me, go for the matte :)
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Thank you so much for all your advise & testing! :)

I think it's gonna be much easier for me to choose the matte now! Thanks! :)
 
TatsuTerror said:
I'm thinking of going for a matte MBP with a separate display, and I do a lot of photo editing. You guys are all saying that the matte is better for that -- but I thought the cinema displays were good for professionals. Aren't they glossy?
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The non glossy colors change a lot based on the angle, not good for photo/video if you ask me. Things go from warm to cool with a tilt of your head or moving the screen.

It's also very dark compared to the glossy screen...but the glossy definately picks up reflections...so its a tough call, but i will get glossy.
 
Matte...

if you do any level of serious photo editing and calibrate your monitor glossy screens do not calibrate that well.
 
MarkW19 said:
So, unless you're slightly perverse like me, go for the matte :)
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Awesome, thanks for the detailed analysis :) I'm leaning towards the matte, though before making the final choice I'll do another side-by-side comparison at the Apple Store to double-check the viewing angles / color distortion from off angles.
 
Went to store yesterday to check out matte vs glossy. I was checking out the iMacs and then the Macbooks (no MBP glossy's were on display) then I came to the MBP and I was really loving the matte for some reason. Being one who doesn't require exact colors to show up on screen, it still made me lean towards matte.

BUT the store is extremely extremely lit, so I think matte has the advantage there because there are no spotlights shining down on the laptop.

And did someone mention how the Glossy's have a layer covering the screen making it a little safer? (true / false ?)
 
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