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What's wrong with glossy?
- Thread starter sukanas
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Some people don't like it and are vocal about it because they fear that it will create glare if a light source hits the screen at an angle at which it will be noticeable. It depends on the way your room is setup where you will keep the iMac, if there is a window behind where you are sitting and light often passes through it then it could be a problem.
The other reason why people don't like the glossy screen is because some photographer's who need to use a machine for professional purposes believe that the glass produces an image with richer colours that is not accurate once printed. Also, if you are working with very dark images and you need to concentrate on the work, you may find that you are staring back at yourself as the iMac's screen is almost mirror-like.
For most consumers neither of those two issues should pose a problem, just make sure that if you have positioned your iMac in the direct view of a window that the window has blinds or some sort of covering. The deeper colours and glossy appearance make for a very nice looking screen for the consumer.
The other reason why people don't like the glossy screen is because some photographer's who need to use a machine for professional purposes believe that the glass produces an image with richer colours that is not accurate once printed. Also, if you are working with very dark images and you need to concentrate on the work, you may find that you are staring back at yourself as the iMac's screen is almost mirror-like.
For most consumers neither of those two issues should pose a problem, just make sure that if you have positioned your iMac in the direct view of a window that the window has blinds or some sort of covering. The deeper colours and glossy appearance make for a very nice looking screen for the consumer.
Personally, I love glossy screens. The picture is just so much more colourful and sharper. But, for people with light beaming at the screen, its a pretty big pain in the @ss watching the screen with all the glare.
some people love 'em, some people don't.
on forums you always hear the negatives more than the positives, the nature of things. if you like glossy, thats cool. i prefer it personally, but everyone is different.
on forums you always hear the negatives more than the positives, the nature of things. if you like glossy, thats cool. i prefer it personally, but everyone is different.
I agree.
no matter what apple or any company does, everyone will want more - this is a good thing I think as it drives the market forward but it also can become annoying.
I have the 24'' glossy and love it.
I get the westward sunset right in my screen since my blinds for my room are on order right now - and it is annoying somewhat. But overall, I think the glossys are great for my purposes (home/college/some gaming) and highly recommended.
I am one of those who prefers matte screens.
Glossy screens give me headaches after using them for a while. I find the glare way to distracting as well.
But that's just me. Other like glossy screens and prefer them over matte screens.
To each his own.
Glossy screens give me headaches after using them for a while. I find the glare way to distracting as well.
But that's just me. Other like glossy screens and prefer them over matte screens.
To each his own.
Unfortunately glossy screens are not suitable for serious photo editing as the screen image will not be the same as the final printed image (even when the monitor is calibrated) ...
The screen image is much more contrasty than prints.
As long as you don't need accurate colour and reflections aren't a problem, glossy is fine. Glossy is great for movies, surfing and general computer work, but not for photography etc. Image pro's will always use matte.
I am thinking about getting a new iMac as well, but the way my room is set up, I have a window directly behind me. A rather large one. Given, I have blinds...
.. I was wondering if anyone is in the situation I'm in?
Has anyone heard anything about or have any personal experience with those anti-glare stick on things that they sell?
.. I was wondering if anyone is in the situation I'm in?
Has anyone heard anything about or have any personal experience with those anti-glare stick on things that they sell?
hrm.. so is the white 2.16 24" imac best for me?
im sorta into the digital photography but i dont see myself getting serious as printing them... but i guess the whole contrast and black issue does make the color accuracy unbalanced.
dam... i personally really like the aluminum models.
do you think those "stickers" you put over the screen to make em matte or less reflective will make it just as accurate as using a matte screen?
oh and do the white imacs suffer from bleeding like the aluminum ones do?
im sorta into the digital photography but i dont see myself getting serious as printing them... but i guess the whole contrast and black issue does make the color accuracy unbalanced.
dam... i personally really like the aluminum models.
do you think those "stickers" you put over the screen to make em matte or less reflective will make it just as accurate as using a matte screen?
oh and do the white imacs suffer from bleeding like the aluminum ones do?
Talking about this product?
http://www.photodon.com/lcdprotect-sheet.htm#charttop
Here's a video review of the product:
http://www.gottabemobile.com/Screen+Protector+Shootout+Photodon+AntiGlare.aspx
Which is exactly why I love it. I stopped printing photos in the 90's, and everything is in iPhoto and viewed on the 24" big screen, or the 47" HDTV. This is a perfect example of how polarizing this question can be: if you print your stuff, you don't like, if you are like many typical consumers who now view photos primarily on the computer screen, you love it.
Ya know what? I'm just gonna say it, I'm sick of this ****.
No matter how much light shines on my 24" Al iMac, the glare doesn't bother me, its the crap glare I get when using anti-glare screens. Yes. Yes I just said that anti-glare screen's glare are terrible.
No matter how much light shines on my 24" Al iMac, the glare doesn't bother me, its the crap glare I get when using anti-glare screens. Yes. Yes I just said that anti-glare screen's glare are terrible.
In my experience people who are most vocal about hating glossy screens have never actually owned one. In fact before I saw my first Aluminium iMac back in August last year I hated the whole idea of a glossy screen but when I went along to view a new iMac, expecting to hate it, I bought it there and then! I've never had any regrets since and many of my friends and family are in awe of the quality of the display - it really is fabulous! Reflections are no better or worse than on a matte display - the reflections are just sharper and not diffused. It is not difficult to position the iMac to avoid reflections all together.
As has been said above, fewer and fewer people actually bother to print their pictures these days since it is a hassle and can be quite expensive to do it well. Unless you are a professional photographer who must print photo's and you don't use a digital printing agency then the glossy screen is very unlikely to cause you any problems. Look at it this way, if you don't own a screen calibrator then a glossy iMac will do you just fine because, with respect, you need a calibrator if you are a serious photographer who prints photo's. For the record I don't have a calibrator since I don't often print photo's - I just set up the display the way I like it which isn't difficult on a 24" iMac!!
In a word - gorgeous!!
Good luck,
Craig.
As has been said above, fewer and fewer people actually bother to print their pictures these days since it is a hassle and can be quite expensive to do it well. Unless you are a professional photographer who must print photo's and you don't use a digital printing agency then the glossy screen is very unlikely to cause you any problems. Look at it this way, if you don't own a screen calibrator then a glossy iMac will do you just fine because, with respect, you need a calibrator if you are a serious photographer who prints photo's. For the record I don't have a calibrator since I don't often print photo's - I just set up the display the way I like it which isn't difficult on a 24" iMac!!
In a word - gorgeous!!
Good luck,
Craig.
In addition most people don't realize that their inkjet or color laser printer is only able to reproduce a narrow range of the colors that can be represented on the screen. CMYK printers do a fine job and are getting better all the time, but an RGB illuminated device has a much greater range of color. Calibrated display or not, it comes down to the ability of the printer to match the colors. If color matching is your job, the display is the least of your concerns when it comes to matching colors.
I love my glossy, have no issues with glare whatsoever, even in the car. I don't do photo editing for print, only for web.
Also, I must say that after getting my glossy mbp, I purchased a dell for my husband, and decided to go glossy on it as well. Not a good idea. The dell glossy does have issues with glare. I don't know what is different about the two screens, but they are definitely different. I think anyone who is trying to decide between the two should go to an Apple store and check them out.
Also, I must say that after getting my glossy mbp, I purchased a dell
for my husband, and decided to go glossy on it as well. Not a good idea. The dell glossy does have issues with glare. I don't know what is different about the two screens, but they are definitely different. I think anyone who is trying to decide between the two should go to an Apple store and check them out.I love my glossy, have no issues with glare whatsoever, even in the car. I don't do photo editing for print, only for web.
Also, I must say that after getting my glossy mbp, I purchased a dell
Yeah this is why I expected to hate the glossy iMac - because my only previous experience of glossy displays was with my work laptop (a Toshiba) which in the finest traditions of my employer was purchased for the least amount of money possible with little regard for productivity and usability. It is horrible!
It has been said before that Apple produce (or procure) some of the best quality displays on the planet for use in their notebooks and desktops and from my experience this is most certainly true!
Cheers,
Craig.
I had a really hard time choosing between the glossy and the matte screen. I think the biggest difference for me, as has been noted by many others is the reflection that you get when using a glossy screen. I found it to be annoying and distracting but I think its basically a matter of personal preference. Go to the store and check it out!
I saw these negative opinions a thousand times before buying my new iMac.
FACT 1:
Even with an open window behind it and lights nearby, I couldn't care less about reflection or glare...it's NOTHING close to what you seem to read in these forums, and doesn't disturb any of my activities AT ALL, be it night time or daylight.
FACT 2:
Colors and crispness of images are WAY better than matte screens. You may argue whether this is "realistic" for professionals that need the most accuracy, but 99.9% of users will NEVER need that degree of accuracy.
FACT 3:
All those talks about bleeding LCDs and gradient issues are equally overblown in these forums. I've received my iMac and I can't notice a single issue with the screen. It's by far the best LCD screen I've ever seen on a computer. Another myth: with comments like these in the forums, you tend to think Apple is the worst. Just check MacFormat's latest review of a TOP-OF-THE-LINE LCD from Nec, which costs more than a 2,000 USD alone...they identified gradient/brightness differences even in that outrageously expensive "best in class" monitor.
CONCLUSION:
Go check them, confirm this information for yourself and buy it...you won't regret the new iMacs, because they are simply the best desktop computers on Earth, by a LONG shot.
I don't recall the OP asking about bleeding and gradient issues.
I also don't presume to minimize the complaints of those who have problems with their iMac panels just because I have a good one, which seems to be exactly what you're doing.
You have no problems and that's fine but that doesn't mean the people that do are not being honest about their situations.
Back to the topic, I have no issues with glossy myself. I love the vibrant colors of my 24" iMac. I upgraded from a 20" Core Duo white model with a matte screen and much prefer the glossy. However, as so many others so eloquently explained already in this thread it is entirely a matter of personal preference. Some like glossy and some don't and what a bunch of people in a user forum think should have no bearing over what you personally prefer anyway.
Go see the screen and if you like it, buy it.
This is exactly why I don't get why Apple doesn't give us a choice like they used to and they do on the notebooks. This isn't like AMD vs. Intel processors. This is how you see the stuff you're doing. If they don't have a matte screen option, they should at least market the crap out of an anti-glare cover of some sort, although those things would be a major PITA for a 20" screen.