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iMac glossy display reviews wanted
- Thread starter daveslc
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yea ive heard some of those new imacs have a funny refraction in the glass that actually focuses the light(sort of like a laser) and burns out your retinas
I stumbled across some of the new 20 inch imac's today. All I can say is WOW. The store was brightly lit, and I could see no reflection at all with a basic white screen, with black you might be able to see some reflection, but not much.
It's a wonder to me why people hate it
It's a wonder to me why people hate it
I was hesitant at first but now that I have an Alu 24" iMac, I can say that if I had to choose again and there was an option between matte or glossy, I would choose glossy.
I have a 24, 2.8, bought 1gb, put 2gb additional ramjet in it.
What do you think of the glossy screen?
If given a choice, I'd buy matte. But I like matte anything. Even getting pictures developed, I order matte. That said, I was worried about the glossy screen because it sucks in the store. In my office, no problem at all. Love it.
If you own one, have you gotten used to it?
Yeah.
Are you happy with the display?
Yeah. But given the choice, I'd buy matte.
What sort of room/lighting/screen situations does it work/not work in?
My office has window behind me, wood shutters, morning light. Even in the morning, it's fine. If I opened the blinds, probably not so fine. At night it's flat out incredible.
What do you think of the glossy screen?
If given a choice, I'd buy matte. But I like matte anything. Even getting pictures developed, I order matte. That said, I was worried about the glossy screen because it sucks in the store. In my office, no problem at all. Love it.
If you own one, have you gotten used to it?
Yeah.
Are you happy with the display?
Yeah. But given the choice, I'd buy matte.
What sort of room/lighting/screen situations does it work/not work in?
My office has window behind me, wood shutters, morning light. Even in the morning, it's fine. If I opened the blinds, probably not so fine. At night it's flat out incredible.
I have had the 24" iMac for a few weeks now and if I'm not careful, i.e. set well back, my eyes are blood shot by the end of the day. After the first day, I had headaches, sore eyes the works.... really not good. I have dimmed the screen as much as I can and sit back as far as possible and that seems to help. I have a 23" cinema screen along side it and that is no problem at all, very smooth and does not kill my eyes. I have actually resorted to using the 23" dispay as the primary and the iMac (24") as the 'one off the side' that I use for secondary projects, programs (Finder, email etc.).
So yes there is a problem, but my eyes are perhaps sensitive after I spent 6 months writing a book glued to a 17" Dell CRT monitor (18 hours a day... and yes I know that's excessive... dead line). I needed to wear glasses after that.
Apart from that......... I love the screen!
Pete
so far so good. im happy with it.
perhaps someone doing high end graphics or art work would think otherwise (where precise color matching is a matter of life and death), but thats not my case.
works fine for me so far.
perhaps someone doing high end graphics or art work would think otherwise (where precise color matching is a matter of life and death), but thats not my case.
works fine for me so far.
I have both the 23" Cinema Display and the new 24" iMac and I experience no more eyestrain on the iMac against the Cinema Display. For me it's a pleasure using the glossy. The only issue I wish Apple would address is having more control on lowering the brightness on the iMac. Thank goodness for Brightness Control app.
First thing I did was reduce the screen brightness to minimum as it very bright (probably so that it can be used as a TV). Having doen this I don't have any problems with eye strain at all and certainly no blood-shot eyes. Are you sure you've not been doing some welding?
Like one of the poster's above, I think if I had a choice next time between glossy and matte then I'd probably go for glossy.
Cheers,
Craig.
First thing I did was reduce the screen brightness to minimum as it very bright (probably so that it can be used as a TV). Having doen this I don't have any problems with eye strain at all and certainly no blood-shot eyes. Are you sure you've not been doing some welding?
Like one of the poster's above, I think if I had a choice next time between glossy and matte then I'd probably go for glossy.
Cheers,
Craig.
Too right, and I've done that in the past....tho I have to say 'arc eye' was a lot worse, felt like a bucket of sand was in your eyes... never again.
I did try lower the brightness, and uploaded the brightness, one of the previous posters mentioned. Unfortunately that messes with the second monitor... I'll get there.... thanks for the tips!
Pete
Initial thoughts
I *just* unboxed my new 24" iMac today and immediatley I thought glare was going to be a problem. I sit at a desk with a south facing window (high up in a downtown building) behind me. Before I turned the thing on, it was almost like looking in a miorror.
So far, I've found that I'm starting to get used to it. As I type this message for example, I find myself focusing on the task at hand. If I allow my mind to wander to the thoughts of what is going on behind me, I am bothered by the glare.
I'm optimistic that this trend will continue and I'll be able to enjoy the machine in it's currently placement. I'm grumpy with apple for dropping the matte screen option on the iMac line, but I think this thing will treat me well.. once I get used to it.
I'll post again if I change my mind.
I *just* unboxed my new 24" iMac today and immediatley I thought glare was going to be a problem. I sit at a desk with a south facing window (high up in a downtown building) behind me. Before I turned the thing on, it was almost like looking in a miorror.
So far, I've found that I'm starting to get used to it. As I type this message for example, I find myself focusing on the task at hand. If I allow my mind to wander to the thoughts of what is going on behind me, I am bothered by the glare.
I'm optimistic that this trend will continue and I'll be able to enjoy the machine in it's currently placement. I'm grumpy with apple for dropping the matte screen option on the iMac line, but I think this thing will treat me well.. once I get used to it.
I'll post again if I change my mind.
It's all in where you place it. I have absolutely no problem with glare issues, I love the screen SO much.
This is where I have my iMac placed, you can see a window to the left, it's a non issue.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1394323413&context=set-72157602014245144&size=l
This is where I have my iMac placed, you can see a window to the left, it's a non issue.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1394323413&context=set-72157602014245144&size=l
24" iMAC Purchased
Ok, I posted the original call on this thread for display reviews. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I bought a new 24" a couple of weeks ago. It's really cool.
The glossy display is not an issue. I only notice it with dark websites and when the computer is asleep. The computer is awesome (esp. compared to the 533 DA/G4 running 10.3.9 that it is replacing). I bought a custom config with 1 gb of memory and upgraded that from macsales.com. That works perfectly and speeded the computer up a great deal. It was kind of bogging with only 1 gb (and for that matter with 2 gb that I borrowed from a friend). 4gb is the only way to go. I tend to run 15 or so programs at once - hence lots of windows open. I think that the graphics card could have more memory...
There is one dead pixel/stuck pixel - a red dot in not too great a spot.
The front row stuff is cool, but the remote is not remote enough -- needs more juice from down the stairs (in a direct line).
Oh yeah, and the screen - no problems at all. I hardly ever notice reflection. It's set up in a windowed room, with one overhead light. The light is at an angle relative to the screen that I don't see it's reflection.
A 24" screen is a delightful upgrade from a crappy 19" CRT.
I do get the spinning beachball a bit -- probably from running so many programs and having so many windows open (graphics, itunes, etc). Not sure if this is caused by the processor, graphics card, or access to the hard drive.
Anyway I give it a thumbs up.
I give the Apple Store a Thumbs down for not constructing an appropriate display that would minimize the overkill overhead lighting that makes the screen seem unusable in the store.
Ok, I posted the original call on this thread for display reviews. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I bought a new 24" a couple of weeks ago. It's really cool.
The glossy display is not an issue. I only notice it with dark websites and when the computer is asleep. The computer is awesome (esp. compared to the 533 DA/G4 running 10.3.9 that it is replacing). I bought a custom config with 1 gb of memory and upgraded that from macsales.com. That works perfectly and speeded the computer up a great deal. It was kind of bogging with only 1 gb (and for that matter with 2 gb that I borrowed from a friend). 4gb is the only way to go. I tend to run 15 or so programs at once - hence lots of windows open. I think that the graphics card could have more memory...
There is one dead pixel/stuck pixel - a red dot in not too great a spot.
The front row stuff is cool, but the remote is not remote enough -- needs more juice from down the stairs (in a direct line).
Oh yeah, and the screen - no problems at all. I hardly ever notice reflection. It's set up in a windowed room, with one overhead light. The light is at an angle relative to the screen that I don't see it's reflection.
A 24" screen is a delightful upgrade from a crappy 19" CRT.
I do get the spinning beachball a bit -- probably from running so many programs and having so many windows open (graphics, itunes, etc). Not sure if this is caused by the processor, graphics card, or access to the hard drive.
Anyway I give it a thumbs up.
I give the Apple Store a Thumbs down for not constructing an appropriate display that would minimize the overkill overhead lighting that makes the screen seem unusable in the store.
Despite being in the camp that is disappointed in the lack of a matte-screen choice, I am genuinely happy you like your new iMac...that is, after all, the point of all this discussion.
Have you tried any software fixes for the stuck pixel? If it's red and not white there's a good chance you can fix it. There are several options, but I know a guy who had success with PixelFix:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/20962
Surely any PRO out there who'd be interested in buying one of these glossy screens would make damn sure they create the perfect working environment for whatever screen related work they do.
Why do you think real photo labs have hoods to protect from glare? Apple have made a decision here to revert back to the old CRT glass screen ways, thinking that the overall benifits outway the negatives (how often do you see old white tft iMac's with finger marks causing blotches of disolouration? The glass will protect from this).
The main problem though, comes with the black border due to Apples obsession with *bling bling* design, where the reflectons are mirror-like (this can at most only be a distraction as the actual image lies within that border).
However with all problems come solutions, and opportunities. So then why doesn't Apple design an elegant hood for real PROS and their glossy screens?
For me the glossy screen is no problem. If i really cared about my graphic accuracy i'd make my enviroment more suitable, which should be a priority for any studio.
over & out.
Why do you think real photo labs have hoods to protect from glare? Apple have made a decision here to revert back to the old CRT glass screen ways, thinking that the overall benifits outway the negatives (how often do you see old white tft iMac's with finger marks causing blotches of disolouration? The glass will protect from this).
The main problem though, comes with the black border due to Apples obsession with *bling bling* design, where the reflectons are mirror-like (this can at most only be a distraction as the actual image lies within that border).
However with all problems come solutions, and opportunities. So then why doesn't Apple design an elegant hood for real PROS and their glossy screens?
For me the glossy screen is no problem. If i really cared about my graphic accuracy i'd make my enviroment more suitable, which should be a priority for any studio.
over & out.
I was just wondering how many of you fans of matte screens have voiced your opinion to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ ?
I have let them know that I would prefer a non-glossy screen. Maybe if we make enough noise they might make matte an option in future models.
R
I have let them know that I would prefer a non-glossy screen. Maybe if we make enough noise they might make matte an option in future models.
R
I'd have to agree with this.
I think the complaints are just human nature, people have a natural tendency to resist change.
I have had my 24" glossy for about a month and love it. It is used in a relatively small room with incandescent lighting.
Not if you're dealing with sites/designs/images that are predominantly black. The screen then looks like a mirror.
Ive used the 24" iMac in the store and its beautiful. If I had the disposable income, I would definitely get one.
I can see where that might be an issue, as I have seen that here. What I did to resolve that issue was *change* the room ambient lighting and dynamics.
To be completely honest I saw this BEFORE I ever had the 24" iMac, saw it on several monitors over time. I just learned how to set things up to minimize any negative effects.
I was just wondering how many of you fans of matte screens have voiced your opinion to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ ?
I have let them know that I would prefer a non-glossy screen. Maybe if we make enough noise they might make matte an option in future models.
R
Great idea - I have just done this. I would order an iMac today if there was a matte screen option. Is it worth starting a thread for people waiting for a matte screen option on the iMac in the hope that it might be noticed by someone at Apple?
Here's a protest website:
http://bringbackmatteimac.blogsome.com/
petition here to bring back the matte iMac
http://bringbackmatteimac.blogsome.com/
petition here to bring back the matte iMac
I hated the glossy screens in the Apple store. There is a lot of overhead lighting that makes it look worse than it really is. No amount of time in the Apple store will get you used to them. However at home I don't notice any reflection at all unless the screen is displaying a lot of black (very dark scene in a movie). Its important to not have a window directly behind you. Images looks "crisper" on the glossy screen and now I prefer it.
love it so far along with the black borders. then again, I have a plasma hdtv and love it, lol hell, I'm just full of love, lol. I do wish there were a few more holes in the back to let more heat out.
See I like em both.
The glossy is amazing, especially when doing photo work. I would stare at my 24" glossy screen constantly and it was always like candy to the eye.
The Matte screen is nice just because you CAN stare at it forever, and not have your eyes be dead, haha.
They're both so good, yet only for certain things.
The glossy is amazing, especially when doing photo work. I would stare at my 24" glossy screen constantly and it was always like candy to the eye.
The Matte screen is nice just because you CAN stare at it forever, and not have your eyes be dead, haha.
They're both so good, yet only for certain things.