Is the screen glossy or matte?

[Westyfield2]

'evening guys.

I haven't made it to an Apple shop since the new MacBook Air was announced, so I haven't seen them in real life yet . Yes I know I should be more committed, but meh I have a life too !

One simple question really; is the screen glossy or matte?


I notice that there is not an option to chose whether it's glossy or matte when configuring online . My MacBook Pro is a 2007 C2D one (one of the last with the silver screen bezel) and I had them both side-by-side in the store and chose matte. I know that these days Apple call it "AntiGlare" and charge you for the privilege (and it's not just the screen that's glossy, the whole surround is black glass), but I'm definitely gonna pay the extra for it on my next MacBook Pro .

But for the MacBook Air without having an option.... I've got a bad feeling that I'm gonna order it online and then when it comes find that it's got a stupid ****ing glossy screen and all I can see when using it outside is my ugly mug in the reflection .


So yeah, on a scale of AntiGlare MacBook Pro to Glossy MacBook Pro where would you put the new MacBook Air's screen?

 

[ingramLee]

Glossy

 

[re2st]

Glossy, but with no glass panel, so it's somewhat more bearable than the glossy MBP.

 

[gwsat]

The MBA's screen is a hybrid. It is not a true matte screen like those used on the anti-glare MBPs but it causes dramatically fewer reflection problems than the glass covered screens on standard MBPs and iPads do.

 

[rubberwheels]

It's glossy without the black bezel. which i kinda miss lol.

 

[Westyfield2]

Glossy

Dear Apple;

Why did you have to cripple it with a gimpy screen? If you'd put a proper screen on it you could have £1,509.02 of my fine English pounds for one.

Hugs and Kisses,
Ed.

The MBA's screen is a hybrid. It is not a true matte screen like those used on the anti-glare MBPs but it causes dramatically fewer reflection problems than the glass covered screens on standard MBPs and iPads do.

Hmmm, I'll get to a store and have look at one I think .

After choosing the Matte screen on my MacBook Pro I've since got an iPad. Stupid glass screen on it is just unusable on a sunny day outside! Good job we don't get many days like that here in the UK then .

 

[Bluemeanie1976]

The mba screen is nowhere near as reflective as the MBP, or iPad. I bought the matt screen protector for ipad, and it is superb. Makes a world of difference, plus fingerprints are a world of difference. This olephobic coating is a load of tosh.

 

[Westyfield2]

I'm liking all these comments that it's not as bad as the MBPs / iPad. There is hope for me yet!

This olephobic coating is a load of tosh.

I reckon I managed to wear through the olephobic coating on my first 3GS, so my seconds 3GS and iPhone4 and iPad I've been very wary of cleaning!

Though yeah, I just glanced over at my iPad and the screen is hideous full of fingerprints ! Meh, I just keep it on max brightness to hide them .

 

[M87]

It depends on how heavy you breathe and whether you exhale from your nose or mouth.

 

[rhinosrcool]

Compared to my 15" mbp, the screen is less glaring. However, I used to hate glossy screens, but now I kind of like my mbp's glossy screen. For me, that's a big surprise. My previous laptop was a Thinkpad T60 with a great flexview matte screen (the best laptop screen to date). My only regret is the getting the Hi-Res (out of my budget,then). Anyway, the mba's screens are good.

 

[wirelessmacuser]

Here's my take on it, based on a side by side comparison of my three current Mac Laptops.

1) 2010 13" MBP Glossy... it's like a mirror.

Full of reflections and glare. Ladies could use it as a makeup mirror.


2) 2010 13" MBA Glossy... it's so much less reflective (no glass cover).

Quite usable, a substantial improvement over the mirrored MBP's.


3) 2010 15" MBP Anti-Glare Hi-Res _The Very Best_

NO annoying reflections. Just a great colorful hi-resolution display. I can work in front of this one for hours, no problem.


Cheers...

 

[Westyfield2]

Here's my take on it, based on a side by side comparison of my three current Mac Laptops.

1) 2010 13" MBP Glossy... it's like a mirror.

Full of reflections and glare. Ladies could use it as a makeup mirror.


2) 2010 13" MBA Glossy... it's so much less reflective (no glass cover).

Quite usable, a substantial improvement over the mirrored MBP's.


3) 2010 15" MBP Anti-Glare Hi-Res _The Very Best_

NO annoying reflections. Just a great colorful hi-resolution display. I can work in front of this one for hours, no problem.


Cheers...

Thanks, that's really useful .

I'm gonna go to the Apple Store after lectures tomorrow, but obviously that's just one set of lighting conditions but asking here is great as I get to hear opinions of people that are actually living with them!

 

[animatedude]

glossy without the black bezel=fail.

 

[gwsat]

Hmmm, I'll get to a store and have look at one I think .

After choosing the Matte screen on my MacBook Pro I've since got an iPad. Stupid glass screen on it is just unusable on a sunny day outside! Good job we don't get many days like that here in the UK then .

To repeat what I said in the post to which you responded, the new MBA's screen has none of the horrible reflection problems the iPad suffers from and is aso superior in that regard to the glass covered screens on the MBP. I routinely use my computers in brightly lit rooms so I am going to see the reflection problems any truly glossy screen suffers from. After having used my 13 inch MBA for 5 days, I will flatly represent that its screen is as immune to reflection problem as my MBP's matte screen ever was.

The only difference I have seen between my MBA's screen and a true matte scree is that, if I look, I can find an angle with my MBA that will reflect the recessed ceiling lights. Its not a practical problem, though, because when the MBA's screen is placed at an optimal angle to give me the best view of the image possible, there are no reflections whatever. Good luck with that on an iPad.

 

[Scottsdale]

It's definitely glossy but no glass like MBPs.

Let's touch base about something more important since we're talking new display in the MBA. It is NOT the same display that was in it before (not just in terms of resolution), as it doesn't have the dreaded lines, AND it has a greater color gamut just like the anti-glare 15/17" MBPs with matte. Okay, note that I am talking color gamut of the displays not the anti-glare factor.

Basically, these are really nice displays. I love the 13" MBA's display right now. In my opinion*, these are the best displays ever in Mac notebooks.

* Please note that my statements are my opinion only, and I am not speaking for others. Our opinions may vary, and if the opinion does vary from yours it's not intended or implied as a personal attack in any way, shape, or form.

 

[Westyfield2]

Went to the Apple store after lectures today...

@Scottsdale: Yeah know what you mean. I've got cash here waiting for whoever puts an IPS screen in a laptop! Heck I'd even sway from MBPs to get IPS in a laptop!


Epicly long post below.... congratulations to anyone that reads all of it!


The screen I'd say is exactly like everyone said, a halfway-house between glossy and matte .
I couldn't see any 'Anti-Glare' MacBook Pro's to compare it with, but I've had one for the last three and a bit years so know what they're like. The glossy MacBook Pros they had.... just urgh .

I'd obviously prefer proper matte, but the glossy MBA is usable . [Remember that this is in the Apple store, tables ridiculously low, me standing up and halogen spotlamps in the ceiling] I found that below 50% brightness my ugly mug appeared, but at 50% and above it was fine. From what I've used of the stupid glass MBPs you have to have them at 100% brightness and be facing away from the lights to not see your face! Yeah, like who uses a laptop on battery at 100% brightness!
Colour wise, it was good probably better than my old MBP. Resolution/size wise I could see that it was a higher DPI [my MBP is from before you could chose 1680x1050 on the 15"] but it wasn't stupidly small like 1920x1080 on a friends 13" Vaio.



General comments on it:

Very light. I'd gone in expecting it to be feather weight, and it wasn't . Then I went and picked up a 15" MBP just to remind myself what mine weighs... the MBA is massively lighter .

The indentation for where the latch would conventionally be is far bigger & sharper than I was expecting . My MBP is one of the last ones to use a traditional hooks latch, so I'm used to a completely flat front but temperamental locking latch! Maybe it was just me standing up, but I kept catching my hand on the sharp indentation.

The keyboard makes me sad . My MBP has the silver keyboard where the keys are right next to each other. [Remember I'm 6ft and standing up at a low table in the Apple store] The keys on the MBA are like the current MBP, they have spaces between each other, urgh. Horrible to use . I'm sure size wise it's the same as my MBP, but I was making soo many spelling errors.
Also regarding the keyboard, my MBP has the USA layout, but the MBA obviously had a UK layout as I was in a UK store! http://www.apple.com/uk/macbookair/ shows the layout of the USA keyboard and I much prefer the shape of enter/return compared with the UK. Wish there was an option to have the USA one here!

Regarding speed, . The demo unit was 1.8GHz with 2GB RAM. Can't remember what SSD capacity it was, but that doesn't affect the speed anyways. My 3 nearly 4 year old MBP [2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 500GB 7200RPM HDD] is noticeably faster. Obviously the whole point of me getting a MacBook Air is for "everyday out and about", whereas the 15" MBP (and then it's 2011 replacement) is powerhouse at home plugged into a screen or take on the road when I know I'm gonna need the extra grunt it offers.
I did open activity monitor and it was pretty much was maxing out the RAM.


I've decided that I am gonna get one. I went in thinking "I'll get the 13", 256GB, 2.13GHz, 4GB RAM model - but if using the base model feels as fast at my current MBP then I'll just stick with base". I'm definitely going to get the faster processor and extra RAM. Bloke in the Apple Store was very open about the fact nothing is upgradable even by an Apple Store in six months time, so get the one you want at the time you get it!
He also was sympathetic about the lack of a matte screen option, and pointed out that if you buy from an Apple Store you can use it for 14 days and then return it to any Apple Store for a full refund if I haven't liked the screen/keyboard/whatever . I did not know this, so thumbs up to him for mentioning it. He said that with the Apple Website they also do a 14 day return policy, but that you have to post it back - you can't return it to a retail store .


Soo... "Great, I'll get one. 13", 256GB, 2.13GHz, 4GB RAM. How much is it with the student discount?".... "Oh sorry sir, we only carry the standard configurations in store, the upgraded processor and memory are online only".... "Oh :/ I'd read on forums online that although the stores understandably didn't carry every possible combination they were having the maxed out 'ultimate' all options ticked ones."... "Nope, just the two hard drive capacities of each screen size is all we're getting"....


So I want to buy it in store incase I don't get on with it and want to return it.... but the stores only have the base model ones. Joy!

 

[gwsat]

General comments on it:

Very light. I'd gone in expecting it to be feather weight, and it wasn't . Then I went and picked up a 15" MBP just to remind myself what mine weighs... the MBA is massively lighter .

The indentation for where the latch would conventionally be is far bigger & sharper than I was expecting . My MBP is one of the last ones to use a traditional hooks latch, so I'm used to a completely flat front but temperamental locking latch! Maybe it was just me standing up, but I kept catching my hand on the sharp indentation.

The keyboard makes me sad . My MBP has the silver keyboard where the keys are right next to each other. [Remember I'm 6ft and standing up at a low table in the Apple store] The keys on the MBA are like the current MBP, they have spaces between each other, urgh. Horrible to use . I'm sure size wise it's the same as my MBP, but I was making soo many spelling errors.
Also regarding the keyboard, my MBP has the USA layout, but the MBA obviously had a UK layout as I was in a UK store! http://www.apple.com/uk/macbookair/ shows the layout of the USA keyboard and I much prefer the shape of enter/return compared with the UK. Wish there was an option to have the USA one here!

Regarding speed, . The demo unit was 1.8GHz with 2GB RAM. Can't remember what SSD capacity it was, but that doesn't affect the speed anyways. My 3 nearly 4 year old MBP [2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 500GB 7200RPM HDD] is noticeably faster. Obviously the whole point of me getting a MacBook Air is for "everyday out and about", whereas the 15" MBP (and then it's 2011 replacement) is powerhouse at home plugged into a screen or take on the road when I know I'm gonna need the extra grunt it offers.
I did open activity monitor and it was pretty much was maxing out the RAM.


I've decided that I am gonna get one. I went in thinking "I'll get the 13", 256GB, 2.13GHz, 4GB RAM model - but if using the base model feels as fast at my current MBP then I'll just stick with base". I'm definitely going to get the faster processor and extra RAM. Bloke in the Apple Store was very open about the fact nothing is upgradable even by an Apple Store in six months time, so get the one you want at the time you get it!
He also was sympathetic about the lack of a matte screen option, and pointed out that if you buy from an Apple Store you can use it for 14 days and then return it to any Apple Store for a full refund if I haven't liked the screen/keyboard/whatever . I did not know this, so thumbs up to him for mentioning it. He said that with the Apple Website they also do a 14 day return policy, but that you have to post it back - you can't return it to a retail store .


Soo... "Great, I'll get one. 13", 256GB, 2.13GHz, 4GB RAM. How much is it with the student discount?".... "Oh sorry sir, we only carry the standard configurations in store, the upgraded processor and memory are online only".... "Oh :/ I'd read on forums online that although the stores understandably didn't carry every possible combination they were having the maxed out 'ultimate' all options ticked ones."... "Nope, just the two hard drive capacities of each screen size is all we're getting"....


So I want to buy it in store incase I don't get on with it and want to return it.... but the stores only have the base model ones. Joy!

We agree that the display, while not quite as reflection free as matte screens, is dramatically less susceptible to glare than the glass covered screens used on the glossy MBPs and iPads. I am perfectly satisfied with my 13 inch MBA's display.

I don't know how you would plan to use your MBA but after nearly a week with mine, I wouldn't want less than its 2.13Ghz chip and 4GB of RAM. I run Windows 7, with a couple of Windows apps open all the time under Fusion in Unity mode. I run at least a half dozen OS X apps at the same time. This is the same setup I have been using on my MBP with 6GB of RAM for nearly a year. The MBA does not handle that load quite as quickly as the MBP did. I see occasional beach balls on the MBA that I never saw on the MBP. That's unusual, though, and the MBA is still fast enough to have convinced that it is now going to be my primary computer.

I was able to buy my MBA at a nearby Apple Store because they do stock the 2.13Ghz 4GB 13 inch and the 1.6Ghz 4GB 11 inch. Those models do seem to be available sometimes at some US Apple Stores but I have no idea what Apple's policy may be in Great Britain.

 

[codehead]

* Please note that my statements are my opinion only, and I am not speaking for others. Our opinions may vary, and if the opinion does vary from yours it's not intended or implied as a personal attack in any way, shape, or form.

Brilliant!!