Wait for a 13" MacBook Pro matte screen option

[HLdan]

So my chances for a handy 13" MacBook with a matte screen are close to 0%, eh?

There are companys ripping out the glossy screen and installing a matte screen instead.
But I wasn't able to find something like this for 13" MBP. Is there a service like this for 13"?

What do you think in general about that procedger? Any knowledge about the screen quality?
Is there something in the european union? Shipping my MBP to the US and back just to pay 200$ for ripping out a screen would be overkill I guess...

Is it really worth going that through that much trouble and spending all that money? Just buy one of these and be done with it. Very low cost, very reputable company and you can keep it or remove it any time.



http://www.radtech.us/Products/ClearCal-Displays.aspx

 

[iPostpone]

If you're really bothered by it that much, why don't you just try an anti-glare film like this one, for only $35?

http://www.powersupportusa.com/power-support/macbook-pro-13/anti-glare-film.html

Some people seem to like it.

 

[fuchstronaut]

I just heard bad things about all that glare reducing films.
I'll be working ~60h/week in front of that screen, so I don't want to risk buying a MBP and then having trouble with the screen.

I guess there's nothing left for me than taking a look at acers, sonys and dells alternatives.
It is not that easy to find a 13" matte, speedy and persistent notebook.
I think if it comes to quality theres nothing that can beat an alucase.

As you can see I really would die for a MacBook but simply cant live the glossy.
Even a plastic MacBook would do the trick for me, but theres no black colored anymore and the new ones are delivered with the same glossy screen as the MBP.

Sad

 

[alust2013]

Actually the plastic MBs aren't the same glass screen as MBP. They still are glossyish, but they aren't glass type glossy. Perhaps you could buy the last revision of the blackbook? although it has a pretty weak GPU.

 

[elpmas]

I say by next year they will have it. If not, by the following year they will. 13" will definitely be popular if you're able to get matte on it...!

 

[macpluslaptop]

My iPad, which I like in most ways, also has a reflective screen. This makes it almost impossible to avoid annoying reflections without turning off most of the lights. I recognize that a glossy display probably provides slightly more "snap" to the picture than a matte screen does but a glossy screen still gives away more than it gives back, it seems to me. Color me frustrated.

There's an easy fix for the glossy iPad problem. Get an anti- glare screen protector. I use Power Support. Changed my iPad life.

 

[UTclassof89]

If you want it, be sure to let Apple know:

www.apple.com/feedback/

(they made it available on the 15" because thousands of people asked for it!)

 

[gwsat]

There's an easy fix for the glossy iPad problem. Get an anti- glare screen protector. I use Power Support. Changed my iPad life.

I tried one, didn't like it, and removed it. For me, it's a real matte screen or nothing, alas.

 

[wattage]

Now is the time to innovate in those directions, lightness, supper thin light, antiglare glass like the iPhone 4s. Boy I only just got this iPad and already it feels like an outdated model. Old tech , no gyroscope, limited ram, no face time, no supper thin stainless steel and supper thin glass

Obviously Apple introduced the iPad before iPhone 4 for a really good reason. With iP4 we got a preview of what is to come on iPad 2! I want to get my wife a notebook cause we are tired of sharing the Rev A 15" MBP, 13"MBP would be PERFECT, except no Matte option! The screen is THE deciding factor for her, so it looks like 15".

 

[Mark.W]

I always never understood this as to why people say that the glossy has more "pop" as to the matte displays.

I think especially with the led backlit technology, the matte displays these days are so much more colorful and detailed as the glossy screens.

I like my 13" macbook pro but sometimes I really hate the glossy screen. It took me about 3 weeks to get used to it now and at times I'm still not 100% used to it as I still think it looks less detailed in showing pictures and has a less pop as to a matte display. For some reason led + matte display produces real life paper like displays that looks very vivid and actually in most cases brighter than glossy displays too.

I'm using my 2010 13" MBP with an external 24" Samsung LED display with 1080P resolution and there is no doubt that the glossy MBP display produces more "color pop" than the Samsung (although given the choice, I would trade "color pop" for less reflectivity any day of the week).

All else being equal, a glossy display would ALWAYS produce better image quality than its anti-glare counterpart. It simple physics. Your display screen is a window through which light emitted by the LEDs has to pass. The rough surface of the matte screen inherently reduces contrast and brightness because it allows less light to penetrate.

 

[Sefk]

I seriously doubt it would ever happen. Apple made a clear decision to switch to glossy, and doesn't expect many users to chose the anti-glare option where it's available.

Personally, I don't see why there are so many complaints. I have a 13 MBP and sometimes use my parents new iMac, glare has never been a problem for me. I admit you do notice it, but for me it seems the brightness of the screen eliminates most reflections. Just avoid having your computer set up with it's screen facing a window

Have you ever thought about using your laptop outside?

 

[qawes]

I'm curious, how exactly can an AG film affect the display?

 

[Warbitrary]

TechRestore

As you can see I really would die for a MacBook but simply cant live the glossy.

If you live in the US or Canada, TechRestore offers a glossy to matte screen replacement service for 200$. I think it's a good deal if you hate glossy, considering the base 15" is 600$ more than the base 13".

http://www.techrestore.com/mac/mbp-unibody-repair.shtml
Scroll down to Macbook and MacBook Pro LCD Screen & Glass Replacement + Matte Finish Screen Services

 

[uplusd]

I just got my 13" MBP back from TechRestore after doing the matte screen replacement. I have to say it is amazing and I wish I had done it earlier instead of living with that horrid glare all this time. Here is a picture which shows some custom sticker work I did

 

[aznguyen316]

nice! How much did that set you back?

 

[Miss Terri]

Actually the plastic MBs aren't the same glass screen as MBP. They still are glossyish, but they aren't glass type glossy. Perhaps you could buy the last revision of the blackbook? although it has a pretty weak GPU.

I don't think that is accurate. Before buying I did a lot of specs comparing between the current (December 2010) plastic Macbook and the MBP and they use the exact same screen. The MBP bezel is black, but the screens are the same.

I just got my 13" MBP back from TechRestore after doing the matte screen replacement.... Here is a picture which shows some custom sticker work I did

Niiiice

MT
(Who also wishes there were options for an AG 13" and an AG standard res 15")

 

[SPEEDwithJJ]

I just got my 13" MBP back from TechRestore after doing the matte screen replacement. I have to say it is amazing and I wish I had done it earlier instead of living with that horrid glare all this time. Here is a picture which shows some custom sticker work I did

That's awesome. Do you have more photos to share with us?

 

[datniceguy]

If you live in the US or Canada, TechRestore offers a glossy to matte screen replacement service for 200$. I think it's a good deal if you hate glossy, considering the base 15" is 600$ more than the base 13".

http://www.techrestore.com/mac/mbp-unibody-repair.shtml
Scroll down to Macbook and MacBook Pro LCD Screen & Glass Replacement + Matte Finish Screen Services

Oh wow. That's a really good deal. Plus labor, too...

And I was going to reply to the OP, I'm a CS major who just purchased a 13" MBP. As long as there's not a big window behind me, I rarely see my reflection (or just can't seem to be distracted by it). But after seeing that website for techrestore.com, I'm enticed. +1

EDIT: http://www.macworld.com/article/138137/mattescreen.html - Some MacWorld press about techrestore.com. They seem to be legit. The only question is, will the matte screen retain the HD webcam? That's a kicker right there.

 

[TxdoHawk]

This is really just another bullet point on why the 13-inch Macbook Pro is the abused little brother of Apple laptops. I don't understand why, either...a lot of people want their laptops to be (gasp!) light enough and small enough so that they can carry it around easily.

It'd be interesting to see what the overall sales breakdown of MBP's are by screen size...if 13-inchers aren't the most sold, I'd bet they are nipping at the heels of the 15-inch MBP's.

 

[nebulos]

not sure if it was said already, but ...

option 1: (future) white macbook. the macbook screen is not matte, but it MUCH less glossy than the pro, and i personally find it otherwise MUCH more readable than the 13 MBP; still has the regrettable 1280x800, but somehow the screen is easier on the eyes. of course, at this point, you'd prob want to wait for a sandy bridge macbook, which could/should happen soon, ... or could never happen??? if it is updated, in traditional fashion, it will be just as powerful as the 13 pro.

option 2: (future) macbook air. alternatively, you might wait for a sandy bridge macbook air. those screens aren't matte either, but they are relatively almost glare free. these might/should come out much sooner than the next MBP refresh.

option 3: refurb 15/17. for ex, you can pick up the 2010 2.4 i5 with high res matte screen for $1400. you just have to wait for it to show up.


i REALLY, REALLY wanted a high res 2011 13. (i'm undecided on glossy vs matte; i think they both have their strengths and weaknesses.) unfortunately, i was also disappointed. i will be one of those spending much more than anticipated for a 15 instead, (though i will be putting the extra power to use).

 

[nebulos]

I don't think that is accurate. Before buying I did a lot of specs comparing between the current (December 2010) plastic Macbook and the MBP and they use the exact same screen. The MBP bezel is black, but the screens are the same.

i don't think the screens are the same. for one, i'm almost positive the color gamut specs are explicitly different. either way, aside from the bezel, the MBP has a sheet of GLASS over it, the MB does not; this makes all the difference in the world.

 

[nebulos]

I just got my 13" MBP back from TechRestore after doing the matte screen replacement.

it looks higher res. am i crazy? is that in windows?

i like the logo!

 

[Miss Terri]

i don't think the screens are the same. for one, i'm almost positive the color gamut specs are explicitly different. either way, aside from the bezel, the MBP has a sheet of GLASS over it, the MB does not; this makes all the difference in the world.

Well, two things:

1) I just realized that this was a bit of a thread dredge (albeit a pleasant one), and so when the person I quoted originally wrote, the screens may have been different - in fact I think they were.

2) I think the current MB does have a glass covered screen, and also the same screen behind the glass. I owned both a 2010 MB and 2010 MBP at the same time, and believe they have the same screen, with glass (but different bezels). I did a lot of comparing of their various features before deciding which one to keep.

From Apple's website today:

 

[Prodo123]

Glossy > AG
But, if you want to get an AG screen for MBP 13" get a matte screen protector.

 

[PurpleMarmalade]

2) I think the current MB does have a glass covered screen, and also the same screen behind the glass. I owned both a 2010 MB and 2010 MBP at the same time, and believe they have the same screen, with glass (but different bezels). I did a lot of comparing of their various features before deciding which one to keep.

You're wrong, I'm afraid; the current white MB has a glossy screen, but it does not have a glass enclosure. The overall 'glossiness' of the white MB is more similar to that of the current MBA, rather than the current MBP. All of them are glossy, but only the MBP is glossy and glassy.