Using 27" iMac without Glass (Glossy) Front Cover?

[macaddiict]

... one question though for the OP: now that the glass is off, how does it compare to your old iMac's matte LCD? I'd be coming from a similar machine (original core duo imac).

I actually like this screen more (now that I have removed the glass). It doesn't exhibit the "sparkle" on solid colors that the old iMac had due to the matte diffuser screen. Note that I didn't have bright spots of glare (from a window, light, etc.) -- I think if you had bad glare or reflections from a light source, removing the glass would NOT help. My glare was just from ambient light in the room and from my own reflection in the glass.

But today I am sitting here typing this -- wearing a white shirt with the brightness almost at minimum -- and I can't see any reflections!

I don't think there's much of a risk in taking off the screen-- if you decided to put it back on, you'd have to really clean it carefully ... but taking on and off is quite easy, especially if you have someone to help you handle the glass.

I'm buying some black mat board today to create a little bezel to go around the screen... I'll update if that turns out well.

 

[macaddiict]

Thank you all for your help! I've removed the screen and created a new mat board bezel... see more here! https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/906338/

 

[nova527]

Thanks for posting this! I'm considering getting a 21.5" or 27" iMac, but only if taking off the glass will sufficiently reduce the glare (of course, part of me wants to boycott Apple out of spite).

How do photos look once the glass is taken off? Is there any reduction in image quality? I make a living as a photographer and would be doing a lot of editing.

 

[macaddiict]

Thanks for posting this! I'm considering getting a 21.5" or 27" iMac, but only if taking off the glass will sufficiently reduce the glare (of course, part of me wants to boycott Apple out of spite).

How do photos look once the glass is taken off? Is there any reduction in image quality? I make a living as a photographer and would be doing a lot of editing.

Photos look great. Since the screen does not have a matte diffuser panel, you don't get any of that "sparkle" that matte displays get. However, how much you like the screen will really depend on your setup. The screen is still actually a glossy LCD panel with the glass removed, so any direct/focused light source behind you will probably still cause you issues.

My iMac is set up like so:

   ------------
   |          |
   w   iMac   |
   |          |
   w          |
   |              <- door
   -----------


w=window

The windows are facing north, so it doesn't get strong light. I have overhead flourescent almost directly above me. So the glare I was getting before wasn't really all that bad, but bad enough to make my eyes hurt.

I'm very happy with the quality of the screen now that the glass is removed. But, keep in mind removing your glass is not something you should have to do when you buy something brand new! But, now that I have done this at work I am tempted to get a 21.5" for home ... and before removing the glass I would have never considered it.

Have you considered getting a laptop and using an external screen when at your desk? Or an older Mac Pro?

-Stephen