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Glossy screens on iMacs

L

laserbeam273

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 7, 2010
424
0
Australia
First off, I had a search of the forums using mroogle and couldn't find anything later than 2008, so it was a bit outdated in my opinion.

I've been thinking of getting an iMac for a while, and only yesterday did I go into the store and had a proper look at one. First thing I noticed was that the screen is so glossy... in the apple store, with all the strong lighting, it's honestly like looking into a mirror. I found it sort of ruined the point of having such a massive screen, when you can only see half of it from the reflections.

How do regular users of iMacs find this? Do you adjust? Or is it not as bad when you use your iMac at home, where there aren't floodlights all over the place?

Also what are the odds that Apple will look at releasing antiglare screens for the iMacs?
 
I had a 21.5" but got rid of it because even after putting up new, darker blinds in the room the machine was used the reflections in the middle of the day made it unusable. It basically sat for 9 months untouched. I wasn't going to rearrange an entire room to be able to move my desk into a "better" place. Worst Apple purchase ever.
 
laserbeam273 said:
First off, I had a search of the forums using mroogle and couldn't find anything later than 2008, so it was a bit outdated in my opinion.

I've been thinking of getting an iMac for a while, and only yesterday did I go into the store and had a proper look at one. First thing I noticed was that the screen is so glossy... in the apple store, with all the strong lighting, it's honestly like looking into a mirror. I found it sort of ruined the point of having such a massive screen, when you can only see half of it from the reflections.

How do regular users of iMacs find this? Do you adjust? Or is it not as bad when you use your iMac at home, where there aren't floodlights all over the place?

Also what are the odds that Apple will look at releasing antiglare screens for the iMacs?
Click to expand...

Never had an issue.

Unless you live in a shop? :D

Most of the screens in the shops are slightly tilted up because you're standing so the glare is more obvious.

When you're at home sitting it may not be an issue. I can't say what lighting you have in your place though.
 
MonkeySee.... said:
Never had an issue.

Unless you live in a shop? :D

Most of the screens in the shops are slightly tilted up because you're standing so the glare is more obvious.

When you're at home sitting it may not be an issue. I can't say what lighting you have in your place though.
Click to expand...

like this...

AVN26_TECH_19766f.jpg
 
laserbeam273 said:
First off, I had a search of the forums using mroogle and couldn't find anything later than 2008, so it was a bit outdated in my opinion.

I've been thinking of getting an iMac for a while, and only yesterday did I go into the store and had a proper look at one. First thing I noticed was that the screen is so glossy... in the apple store, with all the strong lighting, it's honestly like looking into a mirror. I found it sort of ruined the point of having such a massive screen, when you can only see half of it from the reflections.

How do regular users of iMacs find this? Do you adjust? Or is it not as bad when you use your iMac at home, where there aren't floodlights all over the place?

Also what are the odds that Apple will look at releasing antiglare screens for the iMacs?
Click to expand...

I use a 21.5" iMac regularly. It helps that most of my lighting is behind the screen, but you can't really notice it. I have a glossy MBP and that tends to be more annoying (would love an AG screen except for that ugly silver bezel...) Also you can tilt the screen which can help.
 
Sounds like a bit of care needs to be taken for lighting arrangement. Maybe I need to just go spend 2 hours at the apple store, kneeling (I'm tall - it's not far from sitting height), and see how I find the reflections. I guess I did gradually ignore them.
 
I think a screen guard will do .....there are some brands,like capdase , who has already lanced such screen guand for imac 27 which will definitely pretect the screen and also anti reflect. Personnaly ,i don't like the glossy screen either, and a 29.5 inch screen guard seems a little huge...apple can reinvente this glossy screen or bto it with a antireflection screen option for imac.
 
I bought my first iMac last year. I really do love it, except for the glossy screen. I want to buy another one for my other computer space, and am awaiting the upcoming release. I really hope they come up with a matte option, although I doubt they will. The company definitely puts form above funtion on their priority list. I may or may not buy another if glossy remains the only option.

In the room where I have it, from my 1 year experience I have learned the following: Fall and Winter are not so bad, spring and summer the reflections all day are almost unbearable. That just relates to how mine sits and how the sun comes in the windows.

If you are in a room without windows, I'm sure you would love the screen and get used to the minor reflections. In a room with windows that get any sort of sunlight coming in them, its pretty awful. Do you get used to it? Sure, a little. But if i punched you in the face every morning, you would eventually sort of get used to it also. Doesn't mean it wouldn't be a crappy way to wake up every morning.

Hope that helps you with your decision.
 
I never had an issue with the glossy screen. The colors are brilliant and reflections are not a problem if you position the lights appropriately.
 
My iMac sits facing west and I have a huge window behind it so for most of the day the sun is coming right at it. If I actually look I can notice reflections on the screen but never enough to make it unusable. I prefer the glossy to matte actually. Much richer colors.
 
I use a 27" iMac both at work and at home. In my workshop we have fluorescent lighting (with diffusers) and the glare is minimal, however quite noticeable around the bezel. At home my machine is in a room with a low wattage bulb and I have no issues at night with the lights on or off. Some reflection can be noticed during the day as my machine is about 1ft from the window and sits perpendicular to the glass of the window. The window is south facing though and direct light is rare.

The gloss is most noticeable when the screen is tilted up, reflecting the light from above.
 
laserbeam273 said:
First off, I had a search of the forums using mroogle and couldn't find anything later than 2008, so it was a bit outdated in my opinion.

I've been thinking of getting an iMac for a while, and only yesterday did I go into the store and had a proper look at one. First thing I noticed was that the screen is so glossy... in the apple store, with all the strong lighting, it's honestly like looking into a mirror. I found it sort of ruined the point of having such a massive screen, when you can only see half of it from the reflections.

How do regular users of iMacs find this? Do you adjust? Or is it not as bad when you use your iMac at home, where there aren't floodlights all over the place?

Also what are the odds that Apple will look at releasing antiglare screens for the iMacs?
Click to expand...

The iMac is the only computer I've ever returned due to it's horrible mirror like display. I tried so hard to adapt, I kept it for three weeks. In my home office, no matter how I positioned it, there was no escaping the reflections.
 
Badger^2 said:
again, $40 and you could have kept it.

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

I'm pretty sure everyone understands that if you want to buy a glossy display, then buy a film, and try and do a decent job installing it, you could make the problem better. (although I question the quality of what now appears on your screen)

The guy is asking what people think of the reflections after getting one home.

-You say the reflections are no problem for you.
-I say I really love the imac, but the reflections are pretty god awful and I would love if they offered a matte option. But I am dealing with it.
-Bizzle and Maclaptop both said the reflections were so bad for them they made the computer unusable and returned/got rid of it.

I would go out on a limb and guess that most people don't have a huge desire to spend a few thousand dollars on a computer, then put a 19.99 piece of plastic on the front of it to make it usable.
 
I'm on my second iMac with a glass screen (simply due to refreshing my machine) and can honestly say I've no problem with it at all (and I'm in front of the screen 12+ hours a day at the moment). When the screen is off, there are plenty of reflections but the display is so bright that I don't notice them at all when it's on.
 
I really only notice it when I have the window in my room open, and/or usually when I have a black wallpaper or black page.

Other than that no reflections, and at about 25-30% brightness setting.

Never a nuisance and more than happy. 'Tis an amazing screen.:D

Have a nice light-colored wallpaper to help.
 
I use an iMac at work, and I have to say the glossy screen can be a hindrance in a well lit room. I'm essentially staring at myself in the screen sometimes. Usually I turn off the overhead lights and use a desk lamp to counter this. I guess it'll depend on how lit your room is.

I do hope Apple will offer a matte option in the next iteration of iMacs. Not sure why they don't already when they do so with their MBPs. Are there any significant downsides to matte? Why does Apple insist on glossy? Would the price be too high for a matte option with 21-27 inches of screen real estate to cover?
 
I'm planning on putting my iMac by the big window in the room most of the light comes from it, and all other windows on that side of the room. Using my MBP on that side, I don't even notice a glare and in FaceTime it gives me a good lit profile with dark background.
 
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