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Eye strain is one of the reasons for me. I'm not denying everything looks fantastic on glossy - it really does look gorgeous.

But the reflections/glare and eye strain were the reasons behind me selling my glossy uMBP for the matte model when Apple announced them. I'm much happier - no reflections and the screen is still fantastic.

I had no issues on the previous generations of MBP with matte being the default option.

Whatever you like best go for it. I just prefer matte - easier on the eyes.
 
Eye strain is one of the reasons for me. I'm not denying everything looks fantastic on glossy - it really does look gorgeous.

But the reflections/glare and eye strain were the reasons behind me selling my glossy uMBP for the matte model when Apple announced them. I'm much happier - no reflections and the screen is still fantastic.

I had no issues on the previous generations of MBP with matte being the default option.

Whatever you like best go for it. I just prefer matte - easier on the eyes.

Yep, that pretty much sums up my views :) *hugs matte MBP*
 
Eye strain is one of the reasons for me. I'm not denying everything looks fantastic on glossy - it really does look gorgeous.

But the reflections/glare and eye strain were the reasons behind me selling my glossy uMBP for the matte model when Apple announced them. I'm much happier - no reflections and the screen is still fantastic.

I had no issues on the previous generations of MBP with matte being the default option.

Whatever you like best go for it. I just prefer matte - easier on the eyes.

Hmm....that is interesting, I have experienced eye strain a little on my glossy iMac.....

As humans, we get used to change over a certain amount of time. In this situation, going from glossy to matte, how long did it take you to get used to the "duller" picture? What about the pixels you usually see on a matte display, do those go away after a while?
 
My two cents

I have a nice (glossy) MBP and I also have a nice MB Air.

They are both very nice

But there's a subtle thing with the MBP. You don't really see the reflections in normal lighting when it's on but there is some eye strain nevertheless as the reflections are still there they are just overpowered by the transmitted light, with is much greater.

It's a physical thing and is not going to make you go blind, I would imagine ,but is noticeable.

Mind you, these backlit screens are probably bad for your eyes under optimal conditions let alone adding irritation (like reflections)

I avoid using them for reading at length because of this and prefer using the non-backlight e-readers.


This whole glossy thing is very strange in my opinion.
I thought for sure it was just a fad and would blow over but it hasn't (thanks to the Apple )
 
Oh, oh, oh!
Focus on what you're doing....

*facepalm*

Thank you! I now realize my preference is due to my complete lack of focus and not to the fact that it is merely my preference.

Also, do we really need another thread about this?

Lol its OK if we have another thread about this, because some people want it. You don't have to post in it or look at it or read it if you don't want to:cool:
 
As humans, we get used to change over a certain amount of time. In this situation, going from glossy to matte, how long did it take you to get used to the "duller" picture? What about the pixels you usually see on a matte display, do those go away after a while?

There is no "grain" on the display. I know previous gen MBP's had quite bad grainy displays, as do some of the proper Cinema Displays. Also, the picture isn't that much duller - colours aren't as "poppy" but still great.

I must say, first thing I noticed when I used my matte MBP was everything just seemed far easier for my eyes to focus on. I said this in my review - this isn't really just to do with not having a glossy panel, but the fact there is no glass on top of the glossy panel.

When I helped my mate update the hard drive in his aluminium iMac, we booted up the iMac without the glass panel on just to make sure everything was working right. It was strange - everything just seemed much easier to look at.

I really dislike the glass panel - I wish Johnny Ive would realise glass isn't really the best thing to put on top of a display (whether it matte or glossy). It just makes it harder for your eyes to focus on things. Anyone who doesn't get what I'm saying - take the glass panel off the front of your iMac (it's only held in by magnets and pops off and on really easily) and use it.

Maybe if Apple offered a glossy MBP in the enclosure of the matte MBP I might actually prefer it.. the glass is what kills it for me.
 
There is no "grain" on the display. I know previous gen MBP's had quite bad grainy displays, as do some of the proper Cinema Displays. Also, the picture isn't that much duller - colours aren't as "poppy" but still great.

I must say, first thing I noticed when I used my matte MBP was everything just seemed far easier for my eyes to focus on. I said this in my review - this isn't really just to do with not having a glossy panel, but the fact there is no glass on top of the glossy panel.

When I helped my mate update the hard drive in his aluminium iMac, we booted up the iMac without the glass panel on just to make sure everything was working right. It was strange - everything just seemed much easier to look at.

I really dislike the glass panel - I wish Johnny Ive would realise glass isn't really the best thing to put on top of a display (whether it matte or glossy). It just makes it harder for your eyes to focus on things. Anyone who doesn't get what I'm saying - take the glass panel off the front of your iMac (it's only held in by magnets and pops off and on really easily) and use it.

Maybe if Apple offered a glossy MBP in the enclosure of the matte MBP I might actually prefer it.. the glass is what kills it for me.

ahhhh, thats a good reply....I guess the matte display seems dull cuz I am on a glossy, I am sure that feeling of dullness will go away after a week or two......
I have been doing some photoshop lately which ends up being printed so matte may need to happen....I don't know :confused::confused::confused:
 
ahhhh, thats a good reply....I guess the matte display seems dull cuz I am on a glossy, I am sure that feeling of dullness will go away after a week or two......
I have been doing some photoshop lately which ends up being printed so matte may need to happen....I don't know :confused::confused::confused:

First off, don't sweat it. A friend of mine said it best: if you can't decide between matte and glossy then it's really not an issue, go ahead and get glossy.

I have matte on my MacBook Pro and have two 20" Apple Displays that are matte -- I definitely prefer matte. But my reasons are two fold: I do a lot of web and photoshop work (though I know pros who use glossy screens); and I prefer matte on a laptop because of glare and am thrilled that Apple has brought it back as an option.

But if these situations don't apply then get glossy. Many people prefer the way movies look on a glossy screen (probably because most televisions are glossy), and they can control the reflections. Matte users are definitely a minority, but they are pretty firm in their beliefs (as you've probably seen when reading this forum).

It's always a personal preference, and like I said, if you can't decide then its really not an issue.

The only REAL decision is "do I buy this Mac, or do I buy that Mac?"
 
...because they don't have pretty faces. :D

No, I prefer matte simply because I don't want to need to use my computer in a freaking light box just so I can ONLY see what my computer is showing me.

Glossy is rather gorgeous, though, and colors REALLY do 'pop' better, so I can comprise when it comes to laptops, because it really improves the overall look of the machine. But my external monitors are always matte; it's just easier.
 
Does resolution affect matte vs. glossy debate?

I have the impression that matte on the 17" MBP looks
very nice, but on the matte 15" (with significantly lower resolution
than the 17"), I have the impression I'm more aware of
the lower resolution than on the glossy 15".

Matte vs glossy has been beaten to death, but i'm more
concerned about the resolution -- I want the size of the 15",
but the resolution of the 17". Does matte vs glossy affect
the effect of these resolution differences?
 
For some reason in this argument it always seems that the glossy folks say "it's personal preference I like it better" and the matte folks say "matte is better and if you don't agree with me you are wrong".
Spot on. I have used both screen types from a variety of manufacturers over quite a few years and I prefer glossy - so that's what I ordered. I don't care if other people have a complex about it. I like it and frankly that's all that matters. It's just a preference.
 
There is nothing superior about a matte display, it's all down to personal preference.

And the "true to colour" argument is bs. When light hits a matte display it refracts across the screen making it washed out. Glossy displays reflect the light right back, which whilst annoying, does not distort the picture. Both displays are useless for any professional work in brightly lit rooms. Not only that but glossy displays have no coating like matte displays, if you think you a glossy display makes a picture more vibrant than it should be, it's because the matte display was dulling it the hell out in the first place.

Oh and any TN laptop panel is useless for colour accurate work. If you're using one for anything serious, you fail.
 
The ones at my school aren't, and they were the base model, standard everything:confused::confused::confused:

They are probably iBooks then.


There is nothing superior about a matte display, it's all down to personal preference.

And the "true to colour" argument is bs. When light hits a matte display it refracts across the screen making it washed out. Glossy displays reflect the light right back, which whilst annoying, does not distort the picture. Both displays are useless for any professional work in brightly lit rooms. Not only that but glossy displays have no coating like matte displays, if you think you a glossy display makes a picture more vibrant than it should be, it's because the matte display was dulling it the hell out in the first place.

Oh and any TN laptop panel is useless for colour accurate work. If you're using one for anything serious, you fail.

While I agree with what you say about TN panels being useless for colour accurate work - the light diffusion on a matte display isn't as bad as people make out. If I sat behind a window with sun pouring through, I probably wouldn't be able to see anything at all, nor would I be able to on a glossy display.

But in normal conditions, there is no light diffusion over the matte screen, however glossy still has reflections/glare from the slightest bit of light.

Matte screens aren't "dulling the hell out of pictures" either - colours are quite vibrant from a matte screen. Just not "poppy" like glossy screens, which do tend to oversaturate colours anyway.
 
I seriously don't experience this 'eye strain' that so many anti-glare people experience. I've been using glossy for a year now and it's been smooth sailing for me. The only issue I've ever had was sitting with a window behind me and the solution was to increase brightness by two notches. Great trade off for better aesthetics.
 
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