I have been lurking around here for a long time, and I am finally ready to buy my MBP. But, even after reading all the glossy vs. matte threads, I still don't know. I went to the store and compared, and they both looked good, and had advantages/disadvantages. So I'm wondering, if I get glossy, is there like a film I can put over the screen to make it matte, like if I am using it in the sun?
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So, if I get a glossy screen...
- Thread starter theman
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Good question, I wanna know too! I would presume there should be something like that
From what I know, the matte is unbearable in the sun because it dissipates light over a broader area than how glossy just acts like a mirror. I'd imagine one of those privacy screen cover things might do the trick you're asking.
Some companies do make anti-glare films/covers, but I can't vouch for the quality of their products.
3M is one popular and well-known manufacturer. Photodon (Google search) is a less mainstream developer of such products.
Be aware that no filter will transform your glossy screen into a genuine matte finish. You might see some change in the texture, but if you feel you'll always be left wanting with glossy, get the matte. Of course, I use glossy and matte all the time, and I'd be happy with either. I would say, personally, both models perform favorably in most situations. If you've used a glossy LCD screen in the past and not noticed or cared (as most non-Apple users will realize), you'll be absolutely fine with the glossy. Most importantly, you won't find a film necessary.
Glossy just looks so much better. In my line of work, 90% of the time I'm inside. %10 is time maybe spent camping/backyard porch. I have a Matte Dell and a Glossy Dell. The glossy reflects and the Matte just takes it full on. Either way, your going to get owned.
Point away, brighten up, put lamp behind you, keep screen clean. My 44892 cents.
Point away, brighten up, put lamp behind you, keep screen clean. My 44892 cents.
Owning the glossy model and buying it at xmas time I have only started using it outside, and let me say shade is now like gold. You can not use the glossy in the sun or it's drive you nuts.
If you plan to sit out at the sun then reconsider glossy. If you never leave the house then glossy is fine.
If you plan to sit out at the sun then reconsider glossy. If you never leave the house then glossy is fine.
I think you mean that the other way around, a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle is not a square
okok.... let me make this clear. If you have glossy, you can always make it matte but putting some kinda plastic film on it. Thought the text might be distorted.
But if you have matte, you can never turn it into glossy right?
Some correct me if I'm wrong.
But if you have matte, you can never turn it into glossy right?
Some correct me if I'm wrong.
I've used two different screen protectors on my 17" matte MBP and one of them was glossy (but an awful screen protector) and the other was matte (still awful, but it helps me not worry about scratching so much so I left it on even with the air bubbles). I'm the kind of guy that will see a glare, and not mentally be able to look past that glare, so that's why I went with matte. If you don't spend a lot of time outside, and don't have OCD, I'd go with glossy and just buy a matte screen protector if you are that worried about glare outside, just keep in mind it might be tough to get on and off a lot.
Guy above me, hohohong: You can buy a glossy or matte screen protectors, so you can make glossy or matte into the opposite. Going from matte to glossy through a screen protector doesn't distort things very much at all.
Guy above me, hohohong: You can buy a glossy or matte screen protectors, so you can make glossy or matte into the opposite. Going from matte to glossy through a screen protector doesn't distort things very much at all.
Oh? There is such thing as glossy plastic film that you can stick onto the screen?
Yeah, I believe Power Support has them...
http://www.powersupportusa.com/products/kf.php?category=pb
And they also have antiglare ones.
P.S. Look at the typo on that page...it says NEW 13" MacBook Pro instead of just MacBook. Silly gooses.
Why would you want to do that? The glossy display works quiet well in the sun compared to the matte display. Since it is glossy, it all depends on the angle of the light.
I took some outdoor images today:
http://netwalker.nl/2007/07/28/glossy-vs-matte/
sorry, to get off point but...
i have to disagree with you....a rectangle is not always a square...but, a square is always a rectangle.
so, a rectangle is a parallelogram which has four right angles.
a square is a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles
so, as you can see, a square is always a rectangle, but a rectangle is not always a square...
sorry again!
so you compared a MacBook Pro 15" glossy LED display vs. a PowerBook 17" matte display...
i dont think the comparison is really that valid since it's two different screens all together, i.e., LED vs. non-LED...
now, i may be totally wrong here, since I dont own a MBP w/ a LED, but I thought everyone said they were far brighter making them easier to view in the sun...
can any one collaborate or distinguish?
You're right, that's not really a fair comparison between LED and non-LED.
However, based on those images you can also see that the PB's matte screen is near-useless in the sun. If new matte technology has improved things, then good for outdoor use of the matte.
At the same time, the brand new glossy LED seems quite usable in the sun, at least from those pics.
However, based on those images you can also see that the PB's matte screen is near-useless in the sun. If new matte technology has improved things, then good for outdoor use of the matte.
At the same time, the brand new glossy LED seems quite usable in the sun, at least from those pics.
I have a matte 2.4GHz MBP and I have to say this thing is absolutely FANTASTIC out in the sun. This is the only laptop screen I've ever been able to read outdoors, clearly, without squinting. The antiglare coating is great, no reflections whatsoever.
Forget the gloss, go matte!
Forget the gloss, go matte!
Initially, I ordered the glossy. Supposed to ship up tomorrow. In the meantime, I borrowed a 15" Glossy screen PC to use. It's nice to look at. But when the background color is darker color like black, i can see a distinct shadow of myself especially if the room is slightly lit.
This would not be good if watching movie with darker screen. So I called Apple right away and requested the regular matte. This changed my shipping date from 1 Aug to 9th. But at least I know I will like that screen.
I think for 13" MB, it's not as bad coz the screen is smaller, so less chance of getting reflection. Anything larger, i would go for matte.
My 2 cent.
This would not be good if watching movie with darker screen. So I called Apple right away and requested the regular matte. This changed my shipping date from 1 Aug to 9th. But at least I know I will like that screen.
I think for 13" MB, it's not as bad coz the screen is smaller, so less chance of getting reflection. Anything larger, i would go for matte.
My 2 cent.
glossy is always better for viewing movies, videos, pictures, surfing the web, the matte screen is for people who take their mbp EVERYWHERE, what i mean that, they can even take it outside, and MOSTLY use it outiside, but u just want to do that every once in while under a tree, which is in the shade, cuz if its not in the shade, u cant see the screen, my personal preference would be a glossy screen 
. well good luck
. well good luckMy boyfriend has the glossy, and I have the matte.
I prefer the matte, but I still say they both suck in the sun. *shrug*
I prefer the matte, but I still say they both suck in the sun. *shrug*
glossy is always better for viewing movies, videos, pictures, surfing the web, the matte screen is for people who take their mbp EVERYWHERE, what i mean that, they can even take it outside, and MOSTLY use it outiside, but u just want to do that every once in while under a tree, which is in the shade, cuz if its not in the shade, u cant see the screen, my personal preference would be a glossy screen
I feel exactly the opposite
.Glossy instantly drives me mad. A buddy of mine has one and using that laptop just makes me appreciate my screen choice sooo much(got a matte).
I'm using my MBP for all the things that you mention and have absolutely no problem with the quality of the things I'm watching
. And I really don't see that much of a difference when watching the same stuff on my friends laptop!Also I think that glossy is more noticeable the larger the screen is. That's probably why it probably wouldn't be such a big problem on a 13'' as with a 17''. With the 13'', the shadow of the person using it will cover more of the screen that with a 17''.