Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Which screen to choose: glossy or matte?
Long time TUAW commenter Arkowi, tracked down my personal blog, shot me an email and said: "I see you are picking up a Macbook for your wife. I am ordering a 15" MBP either today or tomorrow. Still not sure about which way to lean on the glossy screen. At first it seemed like a no brainer...but some of these reviews seem pretty high on the gloss. . . . It seems the glossy screen might give more a TV appearance which I find appealing (I will be using my MBP as a portable HDTV). However, I will be primarily using it for design work
(mostly web based, a few print situations). Just wondered what your take on the gloss was?? Feel free to answer on TUAW if you so desire."
Well, Arkowi (and all the others amongst you wrestling with this decision), having both a matte-finish MacBook Pro and a glossy-screened MacBook in the house, I can sum up my observations of the glossy screen in one short sentence: It ain't too shabby.
The glossy finish is not that horrible super-shine that I've seen on oh so many HP laptops in the local Comp USA or Best Buy. My good friend Randall has a glossy-screened HP laptop that I've been forced to use from time to time, and although he loves it, I've gotten a nasty headache any time I've sat down and used it for any length of time. I've used my wife's MacBook quite a bit so far, especially when I was setting it up, and I've enjoyed it. the screen is slightly brighter than the matte screen on my MacBook Pro and bright enough that the reflections are not distracting in consistent lighting.
However, I'd still pick matte for myself. It's all a matter of taste. Try both out in an Apple Store before you buy, if you can, and make sure you read through Scott's take on this topic.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tony said 10:25AM on 6-05-2006
I find the glossy screen to be more akin to a PSP screen than anything else I’ve seen so far. It’s got the same lustrous depth to it.
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Andrew Eller said 10:34AM on 6-05-2006
I love my glossy Macbook Pro Screen. I ordered it the day the Macbooks came out, and then read all the horrible things people said about glossy screens. I was real worried until it came. But now I love it. I don't notice any glare, and it is VERY bright. It is even usable outdoors, which is a lot more than i can say for my previous iBook.
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Jonathan said 10:39AM on 6-05-2006
Does the glossy screen on the MBPro fix any of the issues with the screen on the early Pro's?
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Tom said 10:43AM on 6-05-2006
I debated about which screen to get, visited the Apple store a couple times and then committed to Glossy for my MBP. After I ordered I worried that I made the wrong choice.
BUT then I got it in the mail and instantly LOVED it. I am so glad I got the glossy. I have not have reflective problems and the picture is so vivid, it is incredible. I do video, photography, and design work. It's awesome. NO regrets.
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Craig said 10:58AM on 6-05-2006
They should make a glossy screen optional on the MB, here's hoping for Rev B!
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arkowi said 10:58AM on 6-05-2006
Thanks for the post and I appreciate the other comments.
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Me said 11:08AM on 6-05-2006
One more comment, having seen this in person just last night. Glossy is more "vivid", but is there is a light anywhere behond you (light bulb, the sun, etc) it will reflect like a mirror - I can't focus on the screen at all when something is lit behind me. No such problems with the matte (which is what I have on my MBP).
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Brad Levinson said 11:15AM on 6-05-2006
I jsut got my MacBook this morning, and am pleasantly surprised by the glossy screen. I actually checked to see if it WAS a glossy screen, because I'm not getting any reflection at all. Had to turn down the brightness -- TOO bright for my matte eyes. I'll definitely come to like this screen.
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Eric Carroll said 11:19AM on 6-05-2006
Yeah, I was totally debating which screen to get on my new MBP, which I should be ordering in the next week or so. I was leaning towards the glossy since a) I liked it on the machines I have managed to play with here at the Apple Store, and b) My desktop is and most likely always will be my 'work horse', so that is the machine I'll be worried about more serious color calibration and so on. Beside I preview all my video editing on an external video playback monitor anyway, so the screen I do the editing on isn't my primary concern...
These glowing comments have pretty much sold me on the GLossy. I think a lot of GAMES will look great on it...
Not to negative, but has anyone gotten a MacBook, or a MBP with the optional GLossy screen and regretted it?
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Iain said 11:27AM on 6-05-2006
The glossy screen haunted me from the day Apple announced the new MacBook's. I have been happy with my matte Dell LCD's and I did not relish the thought of a reflective screen. That being said I pulled the trigger and bought a black MacBook. I must say that the screen looks awesome! The display is very rich and smooth. I don't have any issues with glare or reflection even in a brightly lit office environment.
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Wendell said 12:07PM on 6-05-2006
Hey guys, I just got my 17" MacBook Pro Glossy in last week, and I can say that it's been a pleasure. I've been using it everyday in different environments and I have to say i don't see that much glare, it really is beautiful, my pictures pop out real nice when I view them in iPhoto. I wish I can post up pictures, and watching movies on it is a blast!
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iFelix said 12:39PM on 6-05-2006
I like glossy screens, the ones on my VAIOs are superb.
But then again the matt screen on the MBP is also nice, but I think I prefer the glossy ones.
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david said 12:52PM on 6-05-2006
I’m currently sitting in my comfy chair in a room that has indirect lighting. I have the brightness setting at one bar (for best battery life) and the display is better than what I got out of my alBook with the brightness cranked up half way.
In the office I have a window behind me and horrible overhead fluorescent lighting. There I’m using the power adapter so I turn brightness up between ⅓ and ½ to block out the reflections. In the afternoon I have to turn the computer just a bit to the right to keep of the glare, just as I did with the alBook.
In short, the glossy screen is a non-issue for me. And when I show it off at full brightness it is just stunningly beautiful.
If you’ve seen an HP notebook with the glossy screen don’t think that’s what the MacBook has. It doesn’t - there’s less shine to it than the HP.
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Ben said 12:54PM on 6-05-2006
I'm keen to swap my ibook for a new imac but I've always liked the glossy screens, what do people think are we likely to get a glossy option on the imacs as well anytime soon?
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Thor said 1:04PM on 6-05-2006
Well I think you got the headache from using Windows, not the HP junk ;-)
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arkowi said 1:23PM on 6-05-2006
wow lots of responses...
i went to my university bookstore and checked out the macbook and the mbp.
1. i will go glossy for sure...it just looked too good to pass up.
2. if macbooks did not have integrated graphics...i would be ordering one right now. i liked them better than the macbook pro. the size is PERFECT.
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Thomas said 3:30PM on 6-05-2006
I was more curious about the comment RE: the PB as a portable HD? I'm typing on a 2.16 and my max resolution is 1440 x 900. Am I missing something? I can play HDTV on my screen?
Thanks,
Thomas
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John Manzione said 3:35PM on 6-05-2006
I just received my 17" MBP with a glossy screen and it is extraordinary. The author is correct, it is not the same glassly screen some PC laptops are using, these are much more subtle, yet with deep rich colors. I bought this for photography as I have an additional 17" PowerBook for design work and a matte finish MBP 15" for everyday use. As a photographer since 1973 I can tell you that the only way to see fine detail in a print is to have a glossy finish, which was my reasoning for getting a glossy finish on the MBP17.
If you are going to watch TV, movie, or edit and view photographs the glossy screen is an excellent choice.
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Jonathan Wilson Jr. said 4:36PM on 6-05-2006
i agree with #17 and some of the others, I also have used the glossy MacBook and its not the same as the PC glossy, screens it is more subtle but in my opinion better then the matte screens i cant wait to get one a lil later this year i do photography work and my photos looked fine on the MB screen just as they do on my late 05 iBook 12"
A lot of the negative remark on the glossy apple screens are from people who have never even used them, or at least not in normal circumstances.
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jbelkin said 4:46PM on 6-05-2006
One advantage to the macbooks is the hinge allows you to push it down & back - that tends to eliminate the glare if you are looking down towards it.
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