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Returning Hi-Res Antiglare

Get 'Em Both!

Hello, just purchased:

2.3GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x4GB
256GB SSD
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) - Useless (if I need a DVD drive I just use an external).
MacBook Pro 15-inch Hi-Res Antiglare Widescreen Display
Backlit Keyboard (English) & User's Guide
Accessory Kit

I replaced the SuperDrive with a WD 1TB 5400 HD using the kit from OWC so I use all the operating stuff on the SSD and all the storage, audio, video, and photo stuff on the 1TB. Boots in about 14 seconds.

I also purchased an Apple LED Cinema Display (27" GLOSSY flat panel), so now I have both the AG and Glossy. They both look great! Six of one, half-a-dozen of the other.

:)
 
TsuaSai said:
computer vision syndrome google it. You might think your eyes are fine but might be worth getting it checked out.
Click to expand...

Neither that nor the other minor benefits of Anti-Glare outweigh the eye-candy/pleasure that you are losing by going AG. The trade-off is not worth it.

You are giving up beauty and a constantly more enriching experience for the sake of too little.

So if someone makes this decision to go AG it tells me that they are operating from a place of logic that is not sound. In fact, since biologically we are actually genetically attracted to shiny things, (like squirrels who evolved a preference for shiny items which helped them find sources of food to better survive), we are actually going against our very nature to like shiny things, and this gives enough clues that a psychological analysis can be derived from such stances and it can be argued that one probably has insecurity issues for going with AG. Seriously.

If its human nature to like shiny things, you have to be one of those hater types who just has anger in their heart and does things out of hatred for mainstream societal patterns. The cynical mindset. Going against the grain in an aggressive way. Operating mentally from a place of fear, not confidence.

Glossy is about happiness, positivity, confidence. AG is about A to B functionality, and bare survival. Fear. Defense. Worry.

I have never once noticed a glare on my glossy screen even if there is one because I look past the bullshiv and I am absorbed into the screen. My brain works a lot faster than others and I have an immense aptitude for immersion and imagination. Others, who have a less artistic and dynamic mind just stare blankly at this aluminum device and they see it with an unfocused/disengaged mindset so they just see a physical item that has reflections on its screen.

Me? I'm looking through a portal into another world. I'm looking through and past the glare. I don't even feel it.

If you think like me, glossy is waaay better with the portal-like black bezzel and vibrant colors and AG is just depressing and washed out. To people like us, AG is severly lacking when it comes to delivering that "Magic" that Apple products deliver.

You guys are giving up a lot going with AG and the sad thing is your brain isnt even functioning in a way that you can realize and appreciate what you are missing out on, and what the rest of us are deliciously pleasuring ourselves in, so I guess since you cant even tell the difference --its a wash. (like the washed out AG screen)
 
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aznguyen316 said:
But it's not ONLY usable outside. Meaning you don't only take advantage of AG outdoors. Check this out, I'm INDOORS at my desk in an office..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p55VKvxY5Q

You see me? yeah so do I.
Click to expand...

Nice vid.

Naw but see thats what I was trying to say... Its different if you are filming the screen. But when you are looking at it directly you're either focused on the content of the display or the layer that that is defocused which shows the glare. You cant do both. You're either absorbed inside the screen or looking at the physical item. Those are two different POVs. The camera obviously records and is focused on it as a physical item with all the true light reflections.

When you are focused it doesn't look that way to the brain like how it does in your video.
 
Bobby Corwen said:
Nice vid.

Naw but see thats what I was trying to say... Its different if you are filming the screen. But when you are looking at it directly you're either focused on the content of the display or the layer that that is defocused which shows the glare. You cant do both. You're either absorbed inside the screen or looking at the physical item. Those are two different POVs. The camera obviously records and is focused on it as a physical item with all the true light reflections.

When you are focused it doesn't look that way to the brain like how it does in your video.
Click to expand...

Oh I get that point. When I'm playing I'm not really noticing it. But no matter the case, it still bothers me. If you look at my other videos, I like to record gameplay from external cams. It's just something I do for personal fun. And on my M11x, same problem, I can see myself in the glossy display. Did I pay an extra $50 just to not see myself on recordings? Well no, I love high resolutions so this was a must and just really love the look of the AG screens, even the silver bezel =)
 
Bobby Corwen said:
Who are all these people taking out shiny MacBooks outside and using them outdoors?

90% of all computing happens in bed or at a table in your home!

The place that glossy really shines (in the dark) is the place and times you will almost always use it!

?

If you use it 90% inside or in the dark at the end of the day and after work, and the glossy is superior in those conditions.... why would you get something that is only superior outdoors?

Why get something that is better outdoors when most of you will primarily use it indoors at 10 o clock at night when you are getting ready to go to sleep?

I dont get it...

Nobody can tell me that the glossy doesn't have more contrast because that is a fact. It has better colors and feels better. So assuming that that is established as a fact, the next step in the logical chain is that you are giving up that superiority for what? What are you downgrading your experience (ever so slightly) for!???

"...Um...so I can use it outside..."

BUT YOU HARDLY EVER USE IT OUTSIDE!
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As someone who owns a 13" macbook with glossy screen, I can personally attest that you don't have to be outside to be annoyed by the the screen. Inside sitting anywhere near a window, using it in a car or on a bus during commute, etc. I just bought a 2010 MBP and went for the anti-glare specifically because of my experience with the glossy screen. Everyone's different, but to me the constant reflection was really annoying. If it was only noticeable outdoors then I don't think Apple would even sell an anti-glare.
 
8CoreWhore said:
The way anti-glare works is - it diffuses the light that hits it and scatters it so it doesn't cause a mirror. The problem though is that the light coming through it (from the source, your image, text, etc) is also diffused. This is why colors are nicer on glossy than matte. And why text may be sharper.

It's not that glossy "makes" the colors deeper, the blacks blacker - it's just that the clear glass does nothing to it - what you want. The source comes through as intended.

But with matte, the source and its light get diffused.

The goal of a photo editor is to calibrate their display with their printer so that what you see on the screen is what you will get on the print. If your matte screen is causing the colors to dull, you will compensate for that on-screen, but then they will be too saturated in the print.

The same is true if your output is a web page. If you design it on a matte screen, your client will see something else on their glossy (clear glass) screen.

Remember back in the day you' would see monitors with hoods on them (still do in many pro set ups) and the room ambient light is controlled so as not to fall on the screen and affect what your eyes see.

So nowadays I hear more guys complain about "glossy" as being bad for editing because of the reflected light. Well, you're not supposed to be editing color sensitive work without the ambient light controlled. If it's controlled, there is no glare.

They also erroneously state that glossy "causes" the colors to be too saturated. Wrong. It's simply the opposite.

For color editing - get clear glass - otherwise known as "glossy" - and control the light so there is no glare. Done.
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Oh snap, just noticed this post ^
 
Returned it

Just took the antiglare back, got credit, and bought the 2.2 standard one. In spite of its beautiful screen, I just couldn't adjust to the antiglare. Perhaps the main problem was the small size of text -- but even when I zoomed in on windows in Safari, I found them hard to read. I'm using the regular glossy screen now and so far do not feel any of the issues I encountered with the AG. I also saved $400 -- I'm very pleased that Apple has stopped charging a restocking fee.
 
glhiii said:
Just took the antiglare back, got credit, and bought the 2.2 standard one. In spite of its beautiful screen, I just couldn't adjust to the antiglare. Perhaps the main problem was the small size of text -- but even when I zoomed in on windows in Safari, I found them hard to read. I'm using the regular glossy screen now and so far do not feel any of the issues I encountered with the AG. I also saved $400 -- I'm very pleased that Apple has stopped charging a restocking fee.
Click to expand...

I think that is what I'm on the verge of doing. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to pick one up now. lol.
 
You need reading glasses, I think. Ot turn the brightness down. I never wanted antiglare, which
by it very nature has to degrade sharpness imo.
 
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skye12 said:
You need reading glasses, I think. Ot turn the brightness down. I never wanted antiglare, which
by it very nature has to degrade sharpness imo.
Click to expand...

Exactly, the very science of it's function tells you that anti glare degrades the vibrancy and sharpness.

You don't get the benefit of AG without the downside You have to pay for that AG ability with a reduced viewing experience. You get anti glare but its also a crappier experience.

--that is what a lot of people championing AG ignore. They completely ignore the downside.

I would only use an Anti Glare screen on Easter because it goes with the theme of washed out pastel colors lol.
 
I'm 49 and my eyes have gone south since about 40. I often wear reading glasses, but never yet with my new glossy MBP15 hi rez screen.

I had a matte screen 17" white imac and a glossy 21.5 imac as well as a glossy macbook air. I love the glossy colors. I'm a semi-pro photographer and every one says I'm supposed to hate the glossy, but I love it.

On web pages, I simply use the 2 finger reverse pinch and everything gets nice and big.

I have noticed that screen brightness causes eye strain for me.

The other tool I use is the screen enlarge by holding down the control key and sliding two fingers up. I don't use it very often, but it's a great tool when I encounter some really tiny text somewhere.

I'm sorry you're having issues. I'd try the glossy one first. I love the extra pixels for my work as I have multiple windows open at once quite often. Gives me a tiny bit more real estate.

Alternatively, just head down to Best buy or the apple store and check out the "standard" low rez screen. Might be just what the doc ordered. I agree that lowering the screen rez on this high rez screen just doesn't look right. Not focused, too fuzzy.
 
I just picked up the standard res Macbook Pro. I cannot attest to the eye strain issue because I haven't opened it yet, but I do feel optimistic that this will be the computer for me.

I am a bit reluctant to get the hi-res glossy because as many people in this thread mentioned: no matter what kind of screen I get, it is going to be the resolution that will be the problem, not the type of screen. If anyone has had experience otherwise, I will be glad to hear it. As I mentioned before, I would really like to keep the hi-res resolution if possible.
 
I think this thread title has been very misleading and focus is blurred... its not an anti-glare s glossy debate... its more of a "high resolution vs standard res" problem... note that the switch is to a STANDARD res glossy... not high res glossy.

Personally despite being staunch glossy, the matte display has improved significantly to in any sort of glare conditions look just as good in colors and sharpness and can even look better than the glossy in cases with any glare (minus popping effect and slight saturation)

However, I think the real argument in this thread is not glossy vs anti-glare, but high res vs standard res.

On that case... high res I feel is something that should not be a problem for anyone that is young, though there are exceptions. Most love as much space as possible.

If the problems were with reading AG high res....and wanting to switch to Glossy high res.... ok... glossy vs antiglare talk makes sense... but this hasnt been the case so far. The OP and others are not seeking a "Return my AG for a glossy display"... but its more of a "return my high-res for a standard display".

In short, stuff people are complaining about in this thread is more of a high res vs low res issue and not an anti-glare vs glossy issue. I feel even with a glossy high res... the same individuals having problems would still have problems and this thread could just be named as "Returning High-res Glossy"

Just took the antiglare back, got credit, and bought the 2.2 standard one. In spite of its beautiful screen, I just couldn't adjust to the antiglare.
Click to expand...
No, you couldnt adjust to the high-res, not the AG. Otherwise, you and others would have picked up a high-res glossy.
 
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I was thinking that ^^ I mean, I've heard of people having trouble with the screen resolution. I've heard of glossy hurting people's eyes though b/c of the brightness/reflections etc but yeah I think it was more of a hi-res issue of most of the people in this thread.
 
Sorry for noob question but I"m a bit confused. Higher resolution screen means smaller text and smaller everything?
 
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Bobby Corwen said:
Neither that nor the other minor benefits of Anti-Glare outweigh the eye-candy/pleasure that you are losing by going AG. The trade-off is not worth it.

You are giving up beauty and a constantly more enriching experience for the sake of too little.

So if someone makes this decision to go AG it tells me that they are operating from a place of logic that is not sound. In fact, since biologically we are actually genetically attracted to shiny things, (like squirrels who evolved a preference for shiny items which helped them find sources of food to better survive), we are actually going against our very nature to like shiny things, and this gives enough clues that a psychological analysis can be derived from such stances and it can be argued that one probably has insecurity issues for going with AG. Seriously.

If its human nature to like shiny things, you have to be one of those hater types who just has anger in their heart and does things out of hatred for mainstream societal patterns. The cynical mindset. Going against the grain in an aggressive way. Operating mentally from a place of fear, not confidence.

Glossy is about happiness, positivity, confidence. AG is about A to B functionality, and bare survival. Fear. Defense. Worry.

I have never once noticed a glare on my glossy screen even if there is one because I look past the bullshiv and I am absorbed into the screen. My brain works a lot faster than others and I have an immense aptitude for immersion and imagination. Others, who have a less artistic and dynamic mind just stare blankly at this aluminum device and they see it with an unfocused/disengaged mindset so they just see a physical item that has reflections on its screen.

Me? I'm looking through a portal into another world. I'm looking through and past the glare. I don't even feel it.

If you think like me, glossy is waaay better with the portal-like black bezzel and vibrant colors and AG is just depressing and washed out. To people like us, AG is severly lacking when it comes to delivering that "Magic" that Apple products deliver.

You guys are giving up a lot going with AG and the sad thing is your brain isnt even functioning in a way that you can realize and appreciate what you are missing out on, and what the rest of us are deliciously pleasuring ourselves in, so I guess since you cant even tell the difference --its a wash. (like the washed out AG screen)
Click to expand...
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. You try and work on the machine on the left.

zl6hvp.jpg
 
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digitalfrog said:
This is a discussion about laptops ...

do you suggest people to use theirs only with a hood around the screen and not carry them around because they won't be in a light controlled environment anymore ?
Click to expand...

I'm directly answering to those who claim to do professional work on it. Professional work cannot be done on matte for reasons stated in my post, wether it be a laptop or not. If you're serving a client, use clear glass and control the ambient light or you will be doing a disservice to the client.

If you're not doing professional work, that's different.
 
nikhsub1 said:
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. You try and work on the machine on the left.

zl6hvp.jpg
Click to expand...

Every time I see a photo demoing the reflective properties of the non-matte screen, it's usually like this one... at an angle no one uses or with lighting that is uncommon and making no attempt to adjust the screen 2mm so it no longer glares.

With glare, steps can be taken to deal with the potential problem, with matte, there is nothing you can do to change the fact that the anti-glare coating is diffusing the light, and thus the image, coming from the source - and giving you a washed out image.

With clear glass you can take steps, with matte you can't.

I'm not saying one is better then... I'm saying an individual needs to understand this and then make the decision that works best for him.
 
nikhsub1 said:
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. You try and work on the machine on the left'
Click to expand...

Honestly neither would be workable if that's what they really looked like.

It's a well staged picture that shows 2 different displays in an arrangement that wouldn't ever happen.
 
So I went ahead and opened up the standard-res Macbook Pro, and overall my eyes are happy campers. I really do miss the matte as I do now realize the benefits of the anti-glare. At first I didn't realize the reflections when I was working with on a 13, but once I went to matte, and then went back to standard res, now I realize that thing is a mirror! I guess once you go matte, you can't go back :p
 
Using my high-res glossy now, in my well-lit livingroom, and am trying to make it reflect. Can't see a reflection unless I aim my screen towards the lamp, which I would never do. Very happy with it.
 
8CoreWhore said:
Every time I see a photo demoing the reflective properties of the non-matte screen, it's usually like this one... at an angle no one uses or with lighting that is uncommon and making no attempt to adjust the screen 2mm so it no longer glares.

With glare, steps can be taken to deal with the potential problem, with matte, there is nothing you can do to change the fact that the anti-glare coating is diffusing the light, and thus the image, coming from the source - and giving you a washed out image.

With clear glass you can take steps, with matte you can't.

I'm not saying one is better then... I'm saying an individual needs to understand this and then make the decision that works best for him.
Click to expand...

Really? Who are you trying to convince, us or yourself?

Matte doesn't wash out colours at all, in fact, glossy just makes them more vibrant then they actually are. Which is why photographers and the likes aren't supposed to use glossy screens.

I personally am planning to get a 15" HD AG MBP, but for the past while I've had a Thinkpad 15" HD AG screen that is a beauty, after previewing the glossy models in store, there is absolutely NO WAY I can switch from HD AG.
 
nikhsub1 said:
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. You try and work on the machine on the left.

zl6hvp.jpg
Click to expand...

Dude,

Even the tree in the reflection on the glossy has more vibrancy than the matte screen. Matter of fact You can see on the glossy screen where it's not reflecting that the purple fades to black way more beautifully than that dull purple and black on the AG. The image on the right looks so flat and the colors are so dull. On the left it's pure eye candy.

I can just imagine walking closer up to it and immersing myself in the screen and the reflection not even being noticeable.

As for the one on the right? I cant even stand to look at that picture. It makes me want to throw up on my knee.

All you guys getting the glossy really don't have a taste for style and fashion and eye candy and beauty. You are really missing out and destroying the full experience when going matte. It defeats the purpose of the Mac IMO. The diffusion is just too big of a sloppy filter.

It's like wearing a condom, its just not the same. Its an extra layer of protection with good intentions, but it simply makes the experience less delicious.
 
Bobby Corwen said:
Dude,

Even the tree in the reflection on the glossy has more vibrancy than the matte screen. Matter of fact You can see on the glossy screen where it's not reflecting that the purple fades to black way more beautifully than that dull purple and black on the AG. The image on the right looks so flat and the colors are so dull. On the left it's pure eye candy.

I can just imagine walking closer up to it and immersing myself in the screen and the reflection not even being noticeable.

As for the one on the right? I cant even stand to look at that picture. It makes me want to throw up on my knee.

All you guys getting the glossy really don't have a taste for style and fashion and eye candy and beauty. You are really missing out and destroying the full experience when going matte. It defeats the purpose of the Mac IMO. The diffusion is just too big of a sloppy filter.

It's like wearing a condom, its just not the same. Its an extra layer of protection with good intentions, but it simply makes the experience less delicious.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree, having owned a Thinkpad 15" HD AG screen (identical to MBP HD AG screens) I have to say the colours are not in ANYway reduced. Only in extreme lighting conditions (as shown in that picture) are the colours faded.

Let's get this straight:
Glossy: Pros: Vibrant colours, true black, w/e w/e w/e
Cons: very reflective, might be hard to see for some/most

Anti-glare: Pros: No reflections
Cons: not as vibrant colours

But for both: colours are equally as crisp in ideal conditions.
In non-ideal conditions one is hard to see, the other is very faded.

Not to mention improved viewing angle on the AG.
 
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