The Amazing $1700 Mirror!

[arcobb]

So ... I went down to the local Apple store checking out the MBP screens as I'm temped to pick one up with the LED screen as my current MBP screen is having issues.

I stopped in front of a gorgeous mirror to check out my hair and adjust my tie. Oh wait ... its a new iMac! Seriously, it is beautiful and something I would consider as an option to purchase. But that display is the worst thing I've seen in a long time! Curious what it is like? Before you go inside the Apple store look at your reflections of yourself in the Window. Then look at yourself looking over at a brand spank'n new iMac and then look back at your reflextion and watch yourself shake your head.

It really is that bad!

Now I'm sure it's beautiful in a controlled environment with no light. But the whole point of an iMac is that it is versatile and can be used for almost anything. I'm a few years out of College but I remember that in the student center they had some G5 iMac set up to check your email and stuff. I shutter to know what these shinny beasts would be like in such an environment.

Please join the movement if you have not already and *politely* ask Apple to provide a matte option at the following link.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

Not saying they don't look nice, just saying many of us would like the option and or will not consider the glossy due to the lack of ideal conditions.

 

[Toddgabweg]

I am no longer concerned about the glossy screen... it should be fine in my family room... I'll let you know next week.

 

[theman]

was it off?

 

[synth3tik]

I walked by an Apple store today, didn't go in as I have nothing to get right now, but from the hallway I could see the reflection of the Genius Bar perfectly in the iMac screen. It is just ridiculously glossy. I like the new iMac, but I would have to get another monitor for it or use my ACD which makes getting the iMac pointless.

 

[I'mAMac]

So ... I went down to the local Apple store checking out the MBP screens as I'm temped to pick one up with the LED screen as my current MBP screen is having issues.

I stopped in front of a gorgeous mirror to check out my hair and adjust my tie. Oh wait ... its a new iMac! Seriously, it is beautiful and something I would consider as an option to purchase. But that display is the worst thing I've seen in a long time! Curious what it is like? Before you go inside the Apple store look at your reflections of yourself in the Window. Then look at yourself looking over at a brand spank'n new iMac and then look back at your reflextion and watch yourself shake your head.

It really is that bad!

Now I'm sure it's beautiful in a controlled environment with no light. But the whole point of an iMac is that it is versatile and can be used for almost anything. I'm a few years out of College but I remember that in the student center they had some G5 iMac set up to check your email and stuff. I shutter to know what these shinny beasts would be like in such an environment.

Please join the movement if you have not already and *politely* ask Apple to provide a matte option at the following link.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

Not saying they don't look nice, just saying many of us would like the option and or will not consider the glossy due to the lack of ideal conditions.

I think everyone is already complaining about the graphics card.

 

[pcorajr]

Well i am tipying this on my New iMac and so far i have not had any problems
so far i have only used my computer at nigth so i guess that will change once i start using it during the day.

The displays on these are very bright i had to turn down the brightness setting because it was a bit to much.

 

[plinkoman]

if this sticks and they never offer an iMac with a matte option again, then I will absolutely never buy an iMac ever. I just hope they don't stop offering a matte screen on the MacBook Pro.

 

[Tragedies]

Like someone already above me said, was the iMac off? Although I haven't seen the new iMacs just yet, the glossy screen could be much less of a problem if it was on.

 

[plinkoman]

Like someone already above me said, was the iMac off? Although I haven't seen the new iMacs just yet, the glossy screen could be much less of a problem if it was on.

That's not really the issue. When my screen is off it looks like a screen that is off. If the reflection is as bad as it is with the screen off, then it's not going to be a glorious experience when it's on. Apparently some people can ignore it (or don't notice it), but I'd like to see what's on my screen without the distraction of seeing everything else in the room as well.

 

[GNice]

Not even close

The glossy screen is actually quite nice IMHO. No glare problems whatsoever for me...maybe at an angle, maybe in the wrong place there might be a problem. But for me it is great!

 

[dpaanlka]

Glossy displays are still evil in my book. Hissss!

 

[Chone]

For what its worth I've used one of those new glossy SR MBPs and its not too bad indoors but people are saying the iMac's glare is much worse than the macbook's not sure how true that is.

 

[slughead]

In spite of this thread, people prefer glossy.

Most people.

Not me.

 

[arcobb]

was it off?

Nope ... it was on.

To be fair it was in the apple store with the florescent lights on. And their display lights on. But everything was very noticeable. I could easily make out the outline of my body and some of the details (like what kind of shirt I had on ... things like that).

I'm not sure so many people actually like the glossy displays, rather there are many people that don't care and will take whatever is given to them. I don't think apple has had a flood of people going to them demaning they really want glossy displays ... just build them and they will come.

Here is a lame example. I have a yellow nalgene bottle. It's cool and I like it. But I never went to nalgene and said I'd really like a yellow bottle. The difference is the setting in which these new iMac in your office or home is critical, if two close to a window or whatever will make a big difference in how you see the screen. For some they may not mind ... but for me it matters a lot.

Not trying complain, just giving my feedback after seeing the new iMac

 

[ViperDesign]

I have had non glossy screens my entire life, and I use this in an area with quite a bit of light coming in, and again I have no issues with reflections.

The screen is crystal clear and looks great.

 

[juanster]

i keep hearing bad things about the glossy screens, i love them...never had any problems with it in my macbook. But i do believe there should absolutely be an option..

 

[falsecathedrals]

I think many of the people who complain about glossy screen reflections have never acutally owned one. I have never noticed reflections with my glossy mbp in any light situation outside of an apple store. I really like it and would definitely choose it over a matte screen again any day.

 

[0007776]

I already sent feedback to apple requesting an optional Matte screen, hopefully they will do it if enough of us ask. otherwise the prices on the refurbs of the previous model arn't to bad and that will be a good computer for a while still.

 

[suneohair]

I think many of the people who complain about glossy screen reflections have never acutally owned one. I have never noticed reflections with my glossy mbp in any light situation outside of an apple store. I really like it and would definitely choose it over a matte screen again any day.

You clearly are not a graphics professional and are of the "consumer" orientation which is what Apple wants. However. Just because you like it doesn't mean it should be jammed down everyone else's throats.

They offer a choice on other models. They should do the same here. I have owned glossy screens and for what I do, they are absolute garbage. Not to mention the 24" panel is of the TN variety, making it one of the worst you can get for graphics and with the glossy. Forget it.

I am not saying you can't have glossy. However, offering a choice is the logical solution.

And yes, glossy is crap unless you like the shiny, over saturated look. I have no hesitation in saying that because it is true, but that is what the "consumers" want.

 

[CBAviator]

I am no longer concerned about the glossy screen... it should be fine in my family room... I'll let you know next week.

I agree. There was a lot of reflection in the Apple store...however, the stores are VERY well lit. The glossy screen really doesn't bother me. I'm ordering mine tomorrow!

While I was working on it at the Apple store, I didn't even notice it. I didn't really focus on the reflections unless I was thinking about it. When I'm focusing on a screen that's 2 feet away, it's hard for me to even remotely focus (and see) a reflection of an object that's 30 feet away.

Besides...most televisions reflect quite a bit a light and everyone in this world has pretty much gotten used to it. I'm sure it'll be the same for me after I stare at my iMac for a little while.

 

[Durmortec]

I could really care less about the glossy screen, I'd actually probably prefer it myself. I do think that's it's silly not to have an option though.

This is really a weird hybrid kind of deal. I really don't understand a lot of the reasoning behind some of the moves made with this iMac.

The option for the 2.8 extreme doesn't make much sense to me, it seems like it isn't necessary, the comparison Jobs makes to the Pro lineups when he introduces the aluminum look, the glossy only screens which in my experience I've found tends to be a "consumer" preference and hated by professionals. What exactly is this supposed to do?

The processor is the thing that kills me the most, especially considering the gpu. But we'll never know...

 

[Ubuntu]

In defence of Apple, I prefer the Glossy display, I've never had any problems, and it's nicer.

The only thing I hate is how easily it smudges, etc.

 

[mavherzog]

Well i am tipying this on my New iMac and so far i have not had any problems

Are you sure?

 

[arcobb]

I think many of the people who complain about glossy screen reflections have never acutally owned one. I have never noticed reflections with my glossy mbp in any light situation outside of an apple store. I really like it and would definitely choose it over a matte screen again any day.

I actually owned a MacBook for a while and I loved it. The glossy didn't bother me at all. Then the day came when I needed a bit more ... so sold it off and got a Glossy MBP pro. I absolutely did not like the glossy on the larger screen. I take my laptop to many different places, therefor many different lighting environments. I am a swim coach and find myself at the pool a lot looking at video of swimmers under lights. The glossy was to much trying to find the "perfect spot" all the time. This was less of a problem on the MB, but the MBP the glossy wasn't working for my situation ... even the parents and swimmer had issues when we were viewing the screen. So I traded it in for a Matte screen. I absolutely love it. I never have to think about where I am ... just open it up and it works. The parents and swimmers duck and dodge much less around me also I've noticed since I've got the matte and haven't had the comments about the screen being hard to see.

It seems like the larger the screen the more sensitive I am to the reflections. The MB was no issue at all, but the 15" on the pro was very distracting to me. I guess I look at the iMac and I wouldn't really want to rearrange my office just to avoide the light from the window. And after looking at them today they really pick up the reflections. Now I under stand apple has the stores really well lit ... but on occasion I have been known to like sunlight in my house and even into my office area. I am a designer and I'm sensitive to the screen.

Here is a link to some pics of the iMac that shows some of the glare. There are some with the monitor off ... some on. I was standing right in front of it this afternoon and all I could think was I was glad I was not spending a lot of time on a major project on this machine.

http://gallery.mac.com/mwmagazine#100012

This one does a good job catching the glare while it's on. It would be fine for email or web surfing ... but working on photoshop in detail or building a website would be straining after a while.
http://gallery.mac.com/mwmagazine#100012/IMG_0006&bgcolor=black

I guess one of the reasons I like moving from CRT's to LCD is because they didn't have the same glare. The anti-glare coatings seemed to make since to me.

These machine look great. No argument here. The glass is a bit much on this size of screen. I don't mind it at all on the MB's. But I personally feel the previous generation was a hit with it's big screen and all in one design. Just feel we should have the option to choose which screen we'd like to stare at for hours at a time.

Edit: This pic shows a good comparison of a MacBook next to the iMac. It does appear the tilt on each machine is slightly different, however the MacBook seems much less obtrusive and the iMac you can see the guys chair really well. This is how it seemed to me at the store today.

http://gallery.mac.com/mwmagazine#100012/IMG_1659&bgcolor=black

 

[Shaduu]

I was checking out the new iMacs yesterday and the glare didn't seem half as bad as what some are claiming here. Even in the bright Apple store display lights, all my attention was focused on the display and not the supposed glare. Meh, maybe I'm just not distracted by reflections...