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The Amazing $1700 Mirror!
- Thread starter arcobb
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Frankly, seems like the screen is quite similar to the iPhone, in which case I'm not too worried. Glare is naturally going to be way worse viewing off-angle, etc etc, but I haven't had any issues with either my MacBook or the iPhone, so.
Some people really do get their...uh...undergarments in a bunch over this.
Some people really do get their...uh...undergarments in a bunch over this.
I checked out the new iMacs in person yesterday. I immediately noticed the reflections from the glass surface; however, my brain completely tuned them out in a matter of seconds. The LCD itself is very bright, so the transmitted light from the display seems to overcome the reflected ambient light just fine. And this was in an Apple Store with lots of bright overhead lighting plus outside light from the floor-to-ceiling front windows. Certainly not ideal conditions.
Anyway, I played with the machine for about 35 minutes and was never once bothered by glare. The screen looked very vivid and even and had nice black levels. I think most people would be quite happy with it.
Anyway, I played with the machine for about 35 minutes and was never once bothered by glare. The screen looked very vivid and even and had nice black levels. I think most people would be quite happy with it.
First post! I went down to the Apple Store yesterday, and the iMac is so much better in person. I was disappointed after reading angry reviews online but the display is not as bad as it's made out to be. It might be just me, but I think some are exaggerating this a bit. I can't wait to have this machine. 
My TV is glossy (like most), and I am sick to death of having to shut off every light source in the room behind it in order to not see the reflection of a !@#$ing lamp covering half the picture; I am sick to death of always having to put it on the side of the room where the window is behind it so I don't have to look at my window all day instead of putting it anywhere I choose; and yes, I have in addition to all of that, used a friends MacBook, and whether or not the reflections are noticeable to you, they most certainly are to me.
People are different; I notice them, you don't. Don't just assume because I don't see things the way you do that means I don't know what I'm talking about.
I sent feedback as well requesting an option for matte displays. Quoting what I had said already in a previosu thread...
"You can hardly compare a 20"/24" glossy (glass) monitor to a glossy filter on a miniscule 13" macbook. For one, on the macbook, the display is pretty much on the desk and your body hangs over it eliminating most if not all of the reflection from any lights behind you. Now we have the 20"/24" iMac's that are easily 6"+ above the desk leaving much more room for light to get pass the shadow of your body. So I can still imagine that there's a handful of light getting by causing reflection. "
"You can hardly compare a 20"/24" glossy (glass) monitor to a glossy filter on a miniscule 13" macbook. For one, on the macbook, the display is pretty much on the desk and your body hangs over it eliminating most if not all of the reflection from any lights behind you. Now we have the 20"/24" iMac's that are easily 6"+ above the desk leaving much more room for light to get pass the shadow of your body. So I can still imagine that there's a handful of light getting by causing reflection. "
I think the glare can be a problem but in most situations inside it's not going to be. For what it's worth, even my PB with matte screen still reflects strong lighting so having the old iMac facing a window is still going to give you glare; it'll just be more defined now that they are glossy.
I like the glossy screen, but to each his own. I would have to think that Apple did consumer research prior to releasing this new model.
I don't get it either, no matter what people are always going to find a way to complain over something.
my friend has a MB and the screen looks nice, I really liked the look of it.
but to each his own I guess.
Is the iMac screen any more glossy than the MacBook? I have a MacBook and have no real problems with the glossy screen. However it does reflect quite a bit if there is a light source directly behind me...but I just avoid that.
I find that the screen, when used without a light source behind me, is actually nicer than a matte screen under those same conditions. It looks more alive.
There's a group of people on the forum here who hate the MacBook's glossy screen enough to "never buy it", but yet MacBooks keep selling like hotcakes.
So I'm thinking maybe Apple DID do some consumer research.
Of course, the people I was referring to would probably fancy themselves as prosumers anyway...
I think the gloss looks gorgeous. Like a coffee table.
It may be a problem if you've got glare, but then you get some glare off the most matte of screens.
Mine's facing away from the window and so no problems for me
It may be a problem if you've got glare, but then you get some glare off the most matte of screens.
Mine's facing away from the window and so no problems for me
I think the gloss looks gorgeous. Like a coffee table.
It may be a problem if you've got glare, but then you get some glare off the most matte of screens.
Mine's facing away from the window and so no problems for me
I'm sitting with a window behind me using my Matte MBP ... I can't even tell if there is any kind of reflection. If it was the glossy, that would not be the case. And the iMac you would easily see a reflections and would be more noticeable because of it's size.
So last summer I used a MacBook for several months and can't recall a time where I had a problem using it with a sunny window/bright light right behind me.
I think everyone overlooks the fact that these screens are different than the MacBook's glossy screen... the iMac's screen are behind a full sheet of glass. So it's a completely different gloss. I looked at them at the Apple store, and went over and checked out my dad's new 2.4 20" iMac... they are pretty, but they are very very glossy. My MacBook is no where near as reflective.
Why doesn't "high-end" graphic display monitor manufacturers like EIZO not provide an option for a glossy display? EIZO is the "reference" when it comes to graphic displays from what I understand and I don't see them offering any etch-a-sketch options.
Yeah, the matte-fia is out in force right now.There's a group of people on the forum here who hate the MacBook's glossy screen enough to "never buy it", but yet MacBooks keep selling like hotcakes.
So I'm thinking maybe Apple DID do some consumer research.
Of course, the people I was referring to would probably fancy themselves as prosumers anyway...
It's simple economics. Sourcing two different screen options costs Apple money. Money they can save by going with a default configuration. And the overwhelming majority of iMac buyers just won't care.
Same with all the graphics card howling on the forum. Nine out of ten potential iMac buyers just won't care. In fact, eight of those probably don't even know what a GPU is. Apple is not a niche marketer anymore, people. Deal with it, or defect.
I've gotten used to the Macbook's glossy screen (it's really not that bad), but the iMac's screen seems way glossier. It might be because of the glass?
Plus, I know a lot of people who can't afford more expensive set-ups, or want an all-in-one machine used the (old) iMac for photo editing. The new glossy screen makes photo editing really difficult, even under the most controlled conditions.
All-in-all, I'm not pleased about their decision to go glossy only.
Plus, I know a lot of people who can't afford more expensive set-ups, or want an all-in-one machine used the (old) iMac for photo editing. The new glossy screen makes photo editing really difficult, even under the most controlled conditions.
All-in-all, I'm not pleased about their decision to go glossy only.
When someone at work with a glossy screen (Dell in this case) wants me to see what's on their laptop, I cant see anything except the reflection, unless I get right down to eye level directly in front of the screen. Very limiting!
mirror mirror on the wall... you know the rest
i can't belive the good looking geeks at apple (yeeeeaaaahhh) thought that seeing your reflection and the world behind you while looking into a new imac was a great idea. dont' think so. i feel like taking 600 grit sandpaper to the screen. i guess this new design approach had to be created to improve the saturation. again, don't think so. but, i want a new imac, so i guess I'll have to get used to looking at my reflection. the horror.
i can't belive the good looking geeks at apple (yeeeeaaaahhh) thought that seeing your reflection and the world behind you while looking into a new imac was a great idea. dont' think so. i feel like taking 600 grit sandpaper to the screen. i guess this new design approach had to be created to improve the saturation. again, don't think so. but, i want a new imac, so i guess I'll have to get used to looking at my reflection. the horror.