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Why don’t you like glossy screens?

By | July 20, 2009, 6:40am PDT

Summary: An Apple Core reader emailed me about the oft-discussed issue of glossy screens and suggested that I post a new poll question to more accurately target the specific factor of them that users dislike — namely the glare. The new poll question (below) more accurately reflects (pun intended) the concerns I have. He also poses a [...]

An Apple Core reader emailed me about the oft-discussed issue of glossy screens and suggested that I post a new poll question to more accurately target the specific factor of them that users dislike — namely the glare. The new poll question (below) more accurately reflects (pun intended) the concerns I have.

He also poses a question: If Apple could produce a screen that has the color richness of the current glossy screens but doesn’t suffer from the glare that those screens do, would you still be opposed to it? Do you think the general public would be?

Personally, I’d be for any MacBook screen that doesn’t have the wicked glare present on the current models. In fact, I’m even willing to give up a little richness and saturation to get it.

In my experience, engineers and product managers respond better to specific concerns/issues rather than general statements of dislike. That gives engineers a puzzle to solve and they like that. General statements of dislike just make them plug their ears.

I suggest you re-focus your critique to the real specific issue at hand and then we may be more successful at convincing Apple (and the engineers at the display manufacturers that Apple relies upon) to answer our concerns with an improved product.

Good suggestions.

So where to you stand? Answer the poll question and add your comments to the TalkBack.

Tip: Aslam

Poll

How distracting do you find Apple's glossy screens?

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Topics

Screen, Apple Inc., Monitors & Displays, Notebooks, Hardware, Components, Notebooks & Tablets, Jason D. O'Grady

Jason O'Grady is a journalist and author specializing in mobile technology. He has published six books on Apple and mobile gadgets and his PowerPage blog has been publishing for over 15 years.

Disclosure

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady is the creator and editor of O'Grady's PowerPage, which has been publishing mobile technology news since 1995. He maintains an advertising relationship with the following legacy advertisers on the PowerPage:

  • Amazon Associates
  • Google Adsense
  • Tekserve

    • Advertising on the PowerPage is brokered by a third-party agency (BackBeat Media) and he recuses himself from these negotiations.

Biography

Jason D. O'Grady

Jason D. O'Grady developed an affinity for Apple computers after using the original Lisa, and this affinity turned into a bona-fide obsession when he got the original 128 KB Macintosh in 1984.

He started writing one of the first Web sites about Apple (O'Grady's PowerPage) in 1995 and is considered to be one of the fathers of blogging. He has been a frequent speaker at the Macworld Expo conference and a member of the conference faculty. He also co-founded the first dedicated PowerBook User Group (PPUG) in the United States.

After winning a major legal battle with Apple in 2006, he set the precedent that independent journalists are entitled to the same protections under the First Amendment as members of the mainstream media.

O'Grady is the author of The Nexus One Pocket Guide, The Droid Pocket Guide, The Google Phone Pocket Guide, and The Garmin nuvi Pocket Guide (Peachpit Press), the author of Corporations That Changed the World: Apple Inc. (Greenwood Press), and a contributor to The Mac Bible (Peachpit Press). In addition, he has contributed to numerous Mac publications over the years, including MacWEEK, Macworld, and MacPower (Japan).

When he's not writing about Apple for ZDNet at The Apple Core, he enjoys spending time with his family in New Jersey.

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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
Remiss63 19th Aug 2009
While the intense contrast, deep rich colors, and other visual benefits of the glossy screens are attractive, they are not practical. For me, the glossy screen can only be properly used in a room where everything behind the user is dark to reduce reflections to the greatest extent possible.

That situation may be desirable and achievable with a desktop set up, but can't be controlled while using a laptop. For me, this makes the glossy screen unacceptable since my focus is on visuals, graphics and photography.
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0 Votes
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Glare is the problem with glossy screens
Michael Kelly 20th Jul 2009
How more specific do you want us to get?
0 Votes
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And flare is the problem with Matte.
Bruizer 20th Jul 2009
How much more specific do you want me to get?
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Explain please. I don't get it.
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 21st Jul 2009
I prefer my Matte screen on my 2007 cira Dual Core MacBook Pro. I have not purchased a new MacBook Pro because I don't like the glare on the new shiney screens.

What is the 'flare' you mean? My current screen looks great!
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It depends
gotamd@... 20th Jul 2009
It depends on where and how (and even when) you're using the computer. If you're in a room shielded from sunlight and there isn't any artificial light bouncing off the screen into your eyes, then you won't notice glare at all. However, if you're unlucky enough to have an office next to a window or you're trying to use your laptop outside, it's a whole different ballgame.
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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
khurtwilliams@... 20th Jul 2009
Something along the lines of:
"When I am using my laptop while sitting outside on
a bright sunny day, I get a lot of glare that I find
distracting".

Of course that same could be said for:
*Magazines
*Cellphone screens.
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It is an issue of flexibility
aalhc5@... 20th Jul 2009
Yes, if your laptop sits on your desk all day you don't care about the glossy screen (it is actually nice). But to me the purpose of a laptop is portability. I had a glossy screen for two years of college and my problem wasn't being outside, it was being in various classrooms. I had to strategically pick a seat to avoid glare (difficult in some rooms). In grad school I got a tablet with an anti-glare plastic coating and it changed my perception of mobile computing (something I used to hate).

The issue to me is choice. If your computer is going to be a desk jockey, then you like the glossy...but if you are mobile and don't want it, can you get your laptop configured that way (not to turn this into a Mac v. PC argument...but that is an option that nearly every mainstream PC manufacturer offers...models with anti-glare screens)?
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My eyes hurt / out of focus
Pederson 20th Jul 2009
yeah, glossy screens need to go... i sit over 8 hours a day on one, and the previous 8 years all with non-glossy, now after a long period it takes my eyes hours to adjust to the real world, not so with non-glossy.

so there is a problem, fix it apple... now!
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I agree
snafu_77 20th Jul 2009
that how you use your macbook will determine your problem with glare. I forgot all about the "glare" issue until this post. I forget how reflective the screen is until I use a dark wallpaper or turn off the machine and it turns into a mirror. I think reducing the screen offerings helped Apple to lower manufacturing costs. I don't see why matte couldn't be an add-on.
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In a perfect world there would be no glare
icboulder 20th Jul 2009
I don't like the glare....that is it clear and simple..in a perfect world, there would be no glare but we live in the imperfect so Apple, can you please help us?
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I like the glossy screen.
lostarchitect 20th Jul 2009
I never work outdoors however.
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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
putty.master Updated - 20th Jul 2009
Glossy screens are horrible.

Not only is the glare unbearable if there is *any* light source behind you whatsoever, but fingerprints and other marks are much more noticable and annoying on the glossy screens.

The old matte Imacs were great (didn't they used to offer a choice?)

I see this on a lot of other (non Apple) laptops and monitors on display in computer shops like Bestbuy. Face it, it's a marketing ploy. People are attracted to shiny things. They figure if they can catch your eye at the point of purchase, it's worth it, even if the customer is disappointed with the product in the long run. What do they care, they've made their sale, right?

For me it's an immediate turn off. I just won't buy it because I know I won't be happy with it.
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My old Matte screen is just bad compared to the Glossy.
Bruizer 20th Jul 2009
That is right. I used to be the "Glossy" bites until I actually
tried one and this is what I found:

1) Glossy calibrates better with less stray light interfering.

2) Glossy is much easier to use outside due to much
brighter screens.

3) Glossy has a much wider color gamut.

4) Glossy is crisper and easier to read as well as judge over
all print sharpness in pre-press.

5) Glossy, while having less reflections, has
SUBSTANTIALLY less flare.
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Interesting results and a respectful request for Apple Engineers
aslam_nathoo Updated - 20th Jul 2009
Thanks, Jason, for being open to my suggestions.

The results are very interesting. Currently with 605 votes,
45% find the glare from Apple's current crop of glossy
screens very distracting. What's more interesting is if you
combine the Occasionally and Rarely distracting numbers
they add up to 42% (23 and 19 respectively) and the last
13% don't seem to notice it.

Clearly glare is a big issue for a lot of people, but I'm
surprised at how many are in the rarely camp and not
noticing camps.

In my opinion, what would be optimal would be a screen
with the colour richness of the glossy screen, but with an
anti-glare coating. I saw the "Museum Glass" from tru-
vue.com and that looks interesting. I'm not sure that can
even be adapted to computer monitors but, I suspect that
the talented engineers at Apple (and the display
manufacturers that Apple relies upon) could come up with
something similar.

Apple Engineers (and your display manufacturer engineers)
can you please bring out a screen with the colour richness
of the glossy screen but with an anti-glare coating? That
would really make the Apple lines stand out amongst the
crowd and would certainly be the catalysing factor in
getting me to upgrade my current MBP. I know you can do
it. You developed the brilliantly thin MacBook Air, the
fantastic unibody design and the environmentally
conscious long life batteries. This should be a walk in the
park for you.

Thanks,
Aslam
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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
phatkat 21st Jul 2009
I have a glossy screen and I see that is had better contrast and color saturation. I don't like it for the glare and for fingerprints, dust, smudges & other junk that shows up well on this screen too well. I always need to wipe the screen to prevent me from misinterpreting screen junk from actual thing on the screen.
Again, just allow the consumer to choose which screen works for them.
0 Votes
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Glossy works for me
Carrie Johnson Updated - 21st Jul 2009
I'm a pro photographer & graphic designer & I love
the glossy screen on my iMac?much cleaner than the old
matte screen. Not sure how I'd feel about it on a laptop, but
MacBook's too old to be glossy.
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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
ManoaHI 22nd Jul 2009
I remember when I got my PowerBook Mac and it only
came with a matte screen. Flare was a real problem and
clarity was really getting to me. I read a lot in Japanese and
the characters are hard to read. Now that I have a glossy
MacBook Pro, I can see the Japanese characters clearly. I
work at a place where the company supplies you with an
XP HP business laptop (we need to carry them around -
because our data center is in a different location and I am
a system administrator. They are not to strict about what
you use, so I started taking my MacBook Pro to work. A lot
of software had to be purchased for my HP, but since our
servers are Linux or Solaris, the Mac works without any
additional software. I also have two people who have
switched to Mac, and everyone likes the glossy screens,
even the non-converts.

What needs to be done is for some third party company to
put out a anti-glare film for the MacBook and MacBook Pro
and even the larger screens of the Mac Pro and iMac. The
main problem with them is to get a bubble-less
application method. This is for people who only read
standard ASCII characters.

At the time that I got my PowerBook, I also got a Sony Vaio
T series and I got it with a glossy screen. I almost stopped
using my Mac so that I could read the Japanese characters
on my puny Vaio screen. Since the Vaio was so much
smaller, I carried outside quite a bit more than the Mac,
and just a bit of angle would reflect light onto the
keyboard instead of back to my eyes. The matte PowerBook
used to just be so washed out and the Japanese characters
were so difficult to read, I never took it outside except for
the one time and gave up and used my Vaio. Oddly
enough, the Vaio also came with a screen insert (easily
inserted and easily removeable) that made the screen
matte, I don't know if that was only true in Japan. I just
used to use it to make sure that the screen didn't get
scratched against the keyboard when it was closed. I use
thin cotton cloths for my Macs.

When I ordered my MacBook Pro last year, I got it with the
fastest processor and max memory, but I could only get it
in matte if I wanted it that day, or had to wait three days if
I wanted the glossy screen. I waited. The Apple Store
people said that the fastest processor was tied to the
matte screen, and thus it was a custom order.

I know this is late, but:

Any other thoughts from people who read or have to read
multi-byte characters?
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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
781lc 22nd Jul 2009
I do like the glossy screen; but, it seems that those of us who use our
Macbooks or Pros inside most of the time like the better definition and color
ability of the glossy and those who use their Mac outside or in well sighted
situations prefer the matte. Both are correct and should NOT force their
preference on others.

My question is: Like so many points of dispute today, why can't choice be
the option?? Surely Apple can produce, or have produced, either. If there is
a difference in cost, fine, we have a choice. And please, spare me the whine
of price ... there are a zoo full of PCs that will do the job for less. The Scion
car will get you there, too.

Ed
0 Votes
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RE: Why don't you like glossy screens?
Remiss63 19th Aug 2009
While the intense contrast, deep rich colors, and other visual benefits of the glossy screens are attractive, they are not practical. For me, the glossy screen can only be properly used in a room where everything behind the user is dark to reduce reflections to the greatest extent possible.

That situation may be desirable and achievable with a desktop set up, but can't be controlled while using a laptop. For me, this makes the glossy screen unacceptable since my focus is on visuals, graphics and photography.

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