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iMac glossy display reviews wanted

hologram said:
Also, keep in mind that a lot of people are EXPECTING to see terrible reflections, so they'll be looking for them, and won't ever be able to get past that. That's all they'll be able to focus on.

I'm not saying the new screens are for everyone, but I am saying that, judging by some of the threads and posts here, quite a few people are just incapable of making a decision for themselves and give far too much weight to what other people, who are NEVER satisfied, might have to say.
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I have to say this is unfair. I am an academic who does not professionally deal with color. I walked into the Apple Store wanting to convince myself that I could walk out with an iMac. I couldn't -- the reflections were way too distracting. Now I am hoping that it is just that there are so many bright lights and people at the Apple Store. I am waiting to see them in an environment more like my office because I really want one of these things.

My point is that I am often satisfied and I was not expecting to see terrible reflections and yet, nonetheless, I definitely was quite distracted by the new screens. It makes me kind of sad. IF I end up having to go with a mac mini and a 20" screen it will probably be more expensive for less computer. I am encouraged by people here who find them much better in their homes than at the store -- there is still hope.
 
Prejudiced?

Humm, a lot of comments here sound a bit... err... priggish. Basically people who love everything Mac and can find no fault at all with anything... I love Mac but hey you have to remain objective. :cool:

I received my 24" iMac yesterday, here are some initial thoughts:

The glossy screen does create some issues, depending on what you are looking at. In a lit room, watching dark scenes in a movie makes you see your reflection instead. Even now in the daytime, with the daylight coming through the window 3 metres behind me, I can clearly see reflections. However, whether the reflections bother you, it's really a personal issue. It only bothers me when the reflection is forcing me to change position in order to read or see something more clearly, such as when editing photos. I've had to reposition the screen (push a bit to the left or right) SEVERAL times already to avoid the reflecting glare, again depending on which part of the screen I was looking at.

Now, let's be clear - it's not about having a window, it's how much light comes THROUGH that window and what is outside. For example, on my iMac the reflection on the screen shows me the tall trees outside. When the wind blows, the branches move, so the reflection will cause you to focus on the movement. If your reflection is of a clear blue sky or the wall of the next building, obviously no problem there.

Apart from that, the LCD screen is very bright. Personally I've set it to the lowest setting to avoid tiring my eyes with so much brightness... and for those who wonder, no that is not why I have reflection issues, even at highest brightness settings the same issues are there.

Finally although I have some issues, in the end I don't mind so much pushing the screen left or right, etc. It comes down to how tolerant -or rather, how intolerant you are when it comes to things like this.
 
debrey said:
I have to say this is unfair.
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It would be, if I said everyone did that.

I'm not a rabid fanboy, I just have a hard time with people who expect an answer to a question like "Is the screen too glossy?"

Nobody can answer that question but the person considering purchasing the computer. There must be a whole range of people reading, and posting, on these forums, everyone from nobel laureates to anal retentives with tin-foil hats, and when I see a post that says: "Don't buy it, it's too glossy" I wonder who thinks they're qualified to judge what's good for me.

The only way to answer this question is to GO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF and remember, your desk won't have the same lighting as the apple store.

If you want to know if a particular processor will handle a certain process, that can be answered by someone else. If you want to know if a particular hard drive will offer enough storage for your project, that can be answered by someone else.

If you want to know if the screen is too glossy for your purposes, you're the ONLY one who can answer that, and in my opinion, people who expect someone else to answer it for them (or people who actually try to answer it for them) fall into the categories I described. I know the screen will not be suitable for everyone, but this is a personal decision, it's not something anyone else can (or should) be able to sway your opinion on.

Edit: I think it's fine to ask for advice about it here. I just don't think it's fine to make judgements based on statements saying things like: "Don't buy it" or "It's terrible" or even, "It's the greatest!". It's a personal decision and a lot of people seem to forget that.
 
based on my experience thus far (1 night) the glare is only visible when the screen is black. in a normal working environment, i haven't noticed it at all. i haven't watched a movie on it yet, but so far i've only noticed the glare in front row and when the screen is off.
there are no windows directly behind it and the rooms light source is an overhead bulb.
 
New Screens: Candy with a Catch

I've used an iMac G5 for the past two years, so I am fairy familiar with nuances of the old plastic matte screen. As an avid iMac fan, I went straight to the Apple store post haste once the recent revision was finally released. Today, I am really of two minds concerning the iMac screen. When the rumour mongers said an all brushed metal enclosure, I envisioned an ALL brushed metal enclosure. Instead, apple opted for a black plastic back with aluminum wrapping around to the front. It also has an obnoxious black apple, which makes the unit look decidedly evil when compared to its predecessors.

Now all of this makes a bit more sense when contrasted with the new screen's thick black border, which completely abhor. It's absolutely hideous and distracting to the point of irritation. I know it black boarders create superficial contrast, which is evident when staring at the iMac's new screen, but it feels like Apple's gone over the top. Perhaps if the boarder was a bit thinner it would be conscionable - if you look very closely the old iMac, you'll see a teensy
black boarder around it's screen. The new one, however, is about 100 times that size. As a girl once told me concerning her feeling about Star Wars, "Just no." I loathe with the fury of 1000 suns and seriously doubt I would buy another iMac while it remained. I just could not stand looking at that border every day knowing that it was once a non-factor in my computing universe.

The bugger of this debacle is the flip side of the screen. Once you get past the vast stretch of tarmac encircling your data, it's absolutely gorgeous. The contrast, as I said, is stunning and all the graphics seem very well rendered. It makes makes the screen of my beloved G5 seem like a cheep knock off. (No offense, little buddy.) I really didn't notice a lot of reflection; although, in fairness, the unit I tested was in a corner an perhaps not subjected to the ambient scrutiny of the store's interior. Nevertheless, it is truly a delight to behold - so long as your eyes don't stray from the center.

So that's the double-edged sword of the new iMac, as I see it. Quite frankly, I find this industrial design quite less than striking. I would have utilized current the brushed aluminum exterior with the glossy white of the previous generation, rather than the matte black that Apple chose. Or, if they really want the customers to heart them, they could simply offer different color configurations, as they did with the original iMac. Accordingly, if they would simply toss (or even reduce) the black boarder and run the visible pixels to the edge of the screen, it would be just about perfect.

The end.
 
I have the new 24" iMac and 99% of the time I don't even notice the glass. The only time I see a reflection is if my GF or I leave the kitchen door open and it's a sunny morning. I have my Mac in our study facing a window, the kitchen is behind it. It's an easy fix, I just close the kitchen door.

Right now I can't see a single reflection on the screen at all. I'm extremely happy with my iMac. I really like the new design, and I love the 24" glossy screen. The only thing I don't like is the lack of any indication that the machine is sleeping, or has been powered on.
 
The viewing angle on the 24" is fantastic. 178' (both vertical and horizontal) according to the specs. This is exactly the same as the Apple Cinema Displays.

The 20" on the other hand is not as good at 160' (both vertical and horizontal).
 
The Stig said:
What about viewing angle? Is that good? I can't see it being anywheres as good as a matte screen.

The Stig
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The 20inch screen is pathetic. The viewing angle on the one I got is not even close to 160. In addition, there is DIRT underneath the screen and specks of dirt (or dead pixels) in the lower right corner. Someone standing over me can't even see the screen. I also have a 20 inch iMac (previous model), and the screen is absolutely beautiful. Why did Apple take a major step backwards? WARNING: iMac 20" screen in the newer models are INFERIOR and are assembled in China in a dirty environment.

Lesson: DO NOT BUY FROM THE APPLE STORE ONLINE! Now I'm going to have to pay to ship this piece of junk back to Apple. Maybe they think the viewing angle is acceptable and charge me a 10% restocking fee. I'd recommend sticking with the previous models if possible.
 
There is no getting away from the fact that the new imac screen does reflect when the screen is black. However, how you feel about it and how much it bothers you will depend entirely on your room and your usage.

For me the reflection is noticeable if the screen has large portions of black but this is outweighed by the fact that the media presented on it looks better for the glossy screen . . . IMO.

In a normal desktop setting mostly blue, grey and white i can't notice any reflections on the 24" model.

Overall I would say the screen is one of the best things about the new imac and this is in-spite of noticing a few dead pixels.
 
I don't really notice the reflections at all. If I look for them I see them, however, if I'm just concentrating on my work I don't notice any reflections.

I hope this helps.
 
In response to the post above, I love the matt black rear of the machine. I didn't realise it was plastic and I'm still not sure if it's aluminium or plastic. Either way I think it is beautiful. As for the apple logo on the front I think it is quite pretty too and the black border around the screen increases the impact of the screen, especially when viewing photographs.

I've gotta say, I think the G5 iMac looks quite cheap compared to the G6 machine. Opinions will vary of course but that's mine.

Cheers,
Craig.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
I don't really notice the reflections at all. If I look for them I see them, however, if I'm just concentrating on my work I don't notice any reflections.
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That's pretty much my experience. I don't notice them when I am working because you focus past them. It's kind of like a really short depth of field and your eye is drawn to the sharpness of the screen. They don't bother me at all.

Also, I have a fairly dark work space (I use three 40 watt light globes) and no direct sunlight or room lights reflecting on the screen so that probably helps.

Other than that I love it - it is rich and appealing.
 
daveslc said:
Please post your review only if you have actually used the new iMac display (either your own or in the store).

What do you think of the glossy screen?

If you own one, have you gotten used to it?

Are you happy with the display?

What sort of room/lighting/screen situations does it work/not work in?

*****


I tried one at the apple store for about 45 minutes.

The store was well lit and hence there was a lot of reflection.

When using word and indesign, the reflection wasn't too bad - the initial distraction went down with time. However, anytime I looked away and back, my eyes followed the reflections, not what was being displayed.

The mirror effect is worst when viewing anything in black/dark colors (i.e. the coen bros. movie trailer they had pre-loaded or the black and white desktop picture option). In this situation, I found that my beautiful mug would appear as a ghostly apparition on my screen.

At a distance (10 feet back), the mirror effect was worse. This would be a problem for watching movies.

The mirror effect didn't disappear when tilting the screen forward or back.

The black border is just plain dumb. It is always black and always reflects and always distracts.

The mirror effect seems to be much stronger than the glossy MacBook Pro, probably b/c of the thicker glass.

I'm still thinking of buying one, but the screen (and whether I could get used to it) is the deciding factor. I'll be using it mostly with indesign, web, and email. The cost is about right (the macpro is too much for my budget), and it's plenty powerful to run CS3.
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Well...

It's superb: can't say much more...
Nothing can be better than this...

ENJOY!!!
 
Too Glossy?

After reading some positive comments, I took a second look.
I left even more disappointed. The Gloss is a serious issue and why should you have to worry about where you position it, what lights to leave on etc... so you can deal with the reflection. Also no where for the remote and the black Apple does look strange. Should have been dark grey I think. They have to introduce a matte screen soon I would think or sales will suffer. Seems to be an issue with everyone I talk too. Third party designers are likely developing screen shields. Then you will have 2 sheets of glass over your screen? Ridiculous.
Get a White Mac before their all gone then wait for the next generation in a couple years.
 
Alloye said:
The complaints about the glossy display are pure drama. The LCD transmits more than enough light to cancel any glare. I adjusted to it in about five seconds.
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Sorry mate, normal office lighting etc. Got my new iMac, the reflections are distracting.... My MacBook, Not a problem, but the glass on the iMac makes the reflections very very prominent. I see myself WAY too much, even with white pages.

Talk about glare, I love my iMac, but my god, you can't have it on full brightness and edit images, your eyes will water with the glare. The only comfortable way to sit in front of it all day is to have it on lower brightness, hence the reflections.

A definite downgrade from my old 20' Cinema display. Shame, cos it is a lovely looking machine.
 
craig1410 said:
In response to the post above, I love the matt black rear of the machine. I didn't realise it was plastic and I'm still not sure if it's aluminium or plastic. Either way I think it is beautiful. As for the apple logo on the front I think it is quite pretty too and the black border around the screen increases the impact of the screen, especially when viewing photographs.

I've gotta say, I think the G5 iMac looks quite cheap compared to the G6 machine. Opinions will vary of course but that's mine.

Cheers,
Craig.
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Do you not get distracted by the logo though? I do, Look at the keyboard, there it is screaming for attention, look at the screen, there it is again. Too prominent I find.... Miss the chrome from my old Cinema display.... Never noticed anything that wasn't on the screen.
 
iMac 20" Display; Overall Pretty Good

I've had the new 20" iMac for three days now. I only saw the 24" iMac inside the Apple Store for 5 minutes prior to buying the 20".

The glossy screen doesn't bother me at all; in fact, it really does enhance the colour and makes everything pop. Even with the ambient light from my window off to the side, there aren't many distracting reflections. Admittedly, the window light is very soft and diffused; I can see how the reflections would bother people if the iMac was in a harshly lit and contrasty room.

Again, as many people probably pointed out, it depends on a person's preference. Though in this case, I think Apple should have given people a choice between matte and glossy.

For the color profile, I recently switched to Adobe RGB, as someone suggested in this forum. I find that it's easier on the eyes and a bit more contrasty. I'll try it out for a couple of days to see how it compares. I think too, that if you are working with Photoshop, that it's best to use Adobe RGB. I'll have to double check that though.

As for the viewing angle, it is best viewed straight on. Naturally, there are some colour shifts when viewed from the side, or looking up. The colour shifts more dramatically as you move farther off from the center.

It is a bit disappointed to see colour shifts, because as one poster pointed out, friends and family members will be gather around the screen to have a look at videos and pics. I don't think it's a deal-breaker, but it's something to consider.

Comparing it to my old 17" Apple Display Monitor (with the now-discontinued ADC connector), I find the new iMac much brighter and sharper. It may be because my old Apple Display is over three years old and has faded.

Overall, for most practical purposes, I think the monitor is excellent. For professional use, a second Apple display might be appropriate. I'm considering getting one of the newer ones.
 
Well, having thoroughly read all the reviews on this thread I visited the New York Soho Apple store today with the intention of buying a 24" iMac. I realized that the glossy screen was going to be an issue so was prepared for some reflections but I was willing to give it the benefit of doubt and went with an open mind. I managed to get to a machine in the far corner at the back of the store as this was the area with the least light. I'm afraid to say I was very disappointed. Even when displaying the Apple website which is almost completely white I could see a very clear reflection. I then tried a page that was almost completely black. This was awful. It was like looking in a mirror and after using the machine for 10 minutes I could feel my eyes straining.
I can understand the argument that the glossy screens offer more vibrant colors but this is redundant if the user is unable to focus on the information being displayed. I realize that the Apple store isn't the perfect environment to test these screens but I am not willing to take that risk of purchasing one and being disappointed. Why can't Apple set up a 'home office' environment in their stores so users get a better understanding of how the displays react to background lighting?
Anyway, that was my experience, I thought I would share it with you. I am sure many of you will be happy with the glossy screens but it's something that has put me off making a purchase. I guess I will just wait for the updated MacPro's when they finally appear.

Rich
 
glass

I put a clear glass over my matte lcd screen to see how the reflections are in my room. Even without direct light hitting the screen I can see reflections especially in darker parts in photos. Will the new iMac be about the same, or is there some coating on the iMac's glass that will make it less bad?
 
rediffusion said:
Well, having thoroughly read all the reviews on this thread I visited the New York Soho Apple store today with the intention of buying a 24" iMac. I realized that the glossy screen was going to be an issue so was prepared for some reflections but I was willing to give it the benefit of doubt and went with an open mind. I managed to get to a machine in the far corner at the back of the store as this was the area with the least light. I'm afraid to say I was very disappointed. Even when displaying the Apple website which is almost completely white I could see a very clear reflection. I then tried a page that was almost completely black. This was awful. It was like looking in a mirror and after using the machine for 10 minutes I could feel my eyes straining.
I can understand the argument that the glossy screens offer more vibrant colors but this is redundant if the user is unable to focus on the information being displayed. I realize that the Apple store isn't the perfect environment to test these screens but I am not willing to take that risk of purchasing one and being disappointed. Why can't Apple set up a 'home office' environment in their stores so users get a better understanding of how the displays react to background lighting?
Anyway, that was my experience, I thought I would share it with you. I am sure many of you will be happy with the glossy screens but it's something that has put me off making a purchase. I guess I will just wait for the updated MacPro's when they finally appear.

Rich
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Interesting how everyone has a different point of view on this stuff. I went into the Apple Store in Regents Street fearing the worst about these screens and then walked out wondering what all the fuss was about. For me, the screens were great, especially in the highly lit Apple Store! I think they're great!
 
Pictures: Amazing
Movies: Amazing
Games: Amazing
Windows XP Installer: Stunning! :eek:

Your eyes focus on the screen, not the reflections, so you hardly notice any reflections at all.

BTW, I actually own an iMac, I haven't just used on in store.
 
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