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It does get dirty very easily (I don't see that as a big problem), but the reflections aren't a problem at all. Never had any problem with it actually, because the backlight can be so bright.

The only problem with a glossy screen is with colours. You won't notice it when you're just a regular user. Movies and pictures look even far better on a glossy screen. But when you are a webdesigner you have to be able to see minor colour differences, count pixels and see how they differ from eachother.

I find myself using my new glossy MacBook Pro while doing both. Enjoying movies, showing pictures to friends, just stare at the amazing screen. But at work, I'm a real pixelf***er (that's how I like to call myself :cool:). I am a webdesigner, and sometimes I have to notice small diferences in colours, and I do believe that's goes a whole lot better with a matte screen.
 
My last PC laptop was a Dell Inspiron with a 17" glossy screen. LOVED the screen.

My MacBook has a glossy screen (obviously). LOVED the screen.

My new MacBook Pro has been specifically ordered with the glossy screen option. LOVE the screen.

Glossy all the way for me...
I'm confused. Do you like the glossy screen -- or not?



:p
 
I was hesitant when getting my glossy screen, but now I wouldn't use anything else. Whenever I see my friend's matte screen, it looks faded and dusty. The glossy screen's colors are much more vibrant, and it's not annoying like Sony or Dell's glossy screens. My dad's Vaio is absolutely horrible. So I'd say glossy screen, no doubt about it.
 
The truth is that there isn't that much difference between the current matte and glossy displays on the 15.4" SR MBP. I spent considerable time evaluating them side by side and I've actually owned both. The glossy has slightly more contrast under ideal conditions. That's about it. The matte doesn't look at all dull by comparison. Both are very bright, very vibrant displays.

The reason I've owned both is because I originally bought the glossy and had to return it as defective. All the store had in-stock at the time were matte. I have no regrets about the exchange. My matte is every bit as bright and beautiful as my glossy was before it died.

Also, if you look carefully at the coatings on these new displays, you'll see that the glossy isn't as glossy as the previous generation and the matte is actually sort of semi-glossy. I'm sure this is what narrows the gap between the two options.
 
Also, if you look carefully at the coatings on these new displays, you'll see that the glossy isn't as glossy as the previous generation and the matte is actually sort of semi-glossy. I'm sure this is what narrows the gap between the two options.
Sounds like they're very similar.

So, if you had to buy one today -- which would you choose, and why?
 
So, if you had to buy one today -- which would you choose, and why?

Now that I've had actual experience with both, I'd probably choose matte. To me it looks just as good and has less trouble with glare.

The previous MBP revision would be another story. I didn't like the matte display on that one at all. It was too fuzzy/grainy for my taste.
 
If I had a chance to choose again, I would still choose the glossy display. I think if all the people that claim glare problems on glossy display Mac had actually ever used one for any period of time they would be singing a different tune. I get the feeling that a good portion of the people that say "glossy = glare" haven't ever even seen one in use and are just spewing out what they've heard as personal opinion.

I work the majority of the time with my back to a very bright, multi-bulb light fixture and I really have no problems with glare unless I purposefully tilt my screen at an angle perpendicular to the light (which I never need to do, uncomfortable viewing angle). Any laptop LCD is going to be dimmer outdoors if that's what you're concerned about; that's just how LCD displays are, if you brought a desktop display outdoors for some reason it would be the same way.

In the end, it comes down to this: which do you like better? That's it. If you like the vibrant colors of a glossy screen, get a glossy screen. If you prefer the calmer colors of a matte screen, get a matte screen. That's really all that matters; which do your prefer aesthetically and/or which one fits your needs more?
 
I think if all the people that claim glare problems on glossy display Mac had actually ever used one for any period of time they would be singing a different tune.
That may be true. The problem is that we can't use one for any period of time without buying one first. If we were allowed to try one at home for a week we might have a lot more glossy owners. But of course we can't do that. :)

In the end, it comes down to this: which do you like better? That's it.
Sort of, but not exactly. In my case, for example, I've got windows behind me. I can't duplicate that in a store, so there's no way for me to know how bad (or good?) the glare will really be.
 
If I had a chance to choose again, I would still choose the glossy display. I think if all the people that claim glare problems on glossy display Mac had actually ever used one for any period of time they would be singing a different tune. I get the feeling that a good portion of the people that say "glossy = glare" haven't ever even seen one in use and are just spewing out what they've heard as personal opinion.

Not true in my case. I've used both. I had the glossy for 13 days before it died. There were a few instances where I noticed the glare (mainly on a predominantly black screen in a room with strong ambient lighting). But I do agree it's not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be.

In the end, it comes down to this: which do you like better? That's it. If you like the vibrant colors of a glossy screen, get a glossy screen. If you prefer the calmer colors of a matte screen, get a matte screen. That's really all that matters; which do your prefer aesthetically and/or which one fits your needs more?

I agree. It's a preference. Personally, I could be happy with either one, but I'm more than satisfied with the matte.
 
I'm convinced some people make the eye-strain phenomena out to be worse than it is. I wear glasses off and on during LONG computer use as well, and I've never experienced eye strain on a glossy notebook screen. The last time I worried about that was while using a CRT.
 
Glare on my Black macBook rarely even seems noticeable to me, and my office even has a window behind me (wife's art desk faces the window). The only thing that gets remotely annoying is the smudges it seem to miraculously pick up (even though I am convinced that I never touch the screen. But I keep a microfiber cloth nearby to wipe it clean every now and then.

In summation, I like the glossy screen much more than the matte screen on my old iBook.
 
I like my glossy, I don't notice a glare. I turned the brightness down a bit because it glowed, very bright. The screen just looks better to me, but I am working on 3 PCs matte screens (cheapo gov computers) and my other :apple: is matte. I think I like the glossy more...
 
I love my glossy MacBook screen. I recommend keeping a microfiber cloth on hand to keep it all clean. :)
 
Well, unfortunately I don't have a mac portable (yet). But I have an aging Inspiron 700m w/ a glossy screen and I'm not too crazy about it now (it's a bit over 2 years old). It gets dusty very easily and smudges up. My next laptop will probably have a matte screen.
 
I love my glossy screen!

I have a BMB and i love my screen, if i could change screens on my MB i would def stay with the glossy!

The only prob it the smudges on it, but its easy to clean!

Def get a glossy it rocks!
 
I've got the glossy on my MBP and its great. Having said that I'm used to the glossy with my dell. Really brings out the colours. But I hardly use my laptop outside. If I did I would consider the matte, but otherwise glossy all the way :D
 
Have a 1st gen Macbook for over a year now, and I love it's glossy screen. 2.4Ghz SR MBP I ordered is also with a glossy screen, no doubt whatsoever if I should've taken the normal screen...
 
i love it, its nice n clear and easy to read...its also very easy on the eye.

at max brightness relfections really dont come into it, but on occasion when im sat infront of the TV with it on my lap in the evening and i have brightness down to conserve some battery, the window behind me does tend to obscure stuff on the screen.

add to that the retina burning brightness of the samsung 40" HDTV we have in our back room and things get a little uncomfortable lol

its not bad though, i definately glad i got the glossy over the matte. it seems to make the most of what in reality is a pretty mediocre TFT panel

smudges are so easy to get off its unreal... one good microfibre cloth and your set. i used the one that came with my sammy 40incher (also glossy) and it just picks of the figner prints in one wipe....its magic
 
I use a glossy screen on my MBP which is used primarily for audio editing. Love it!! Great contrast, bright, sharp, crisp colours. No problems using it for extended editing sessions (2+hours).

Great when watching movies.

I've used a matte screen as well and I prefer glossy.

You won't be disappointed with a glossy.

Sopranino
 
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