MacBook Mods & Hacks

The gloss screen is much better than a matte one if you keep it well kept. Get some iClean. The photo of the gloss screen white macbook turned off looks like you have cleaned it with water and a crap cloth, very smudged

Wow! only reason which have kept me from not upgrading to Macbook have been the damn glossy screen. Well not buying a Macbook though, as it might be quite hard and expensive to get a hold of those 13,3" matte ones.

yes I want a macbook but because it comes with glossy only I am thinking of a Macbook Pro. The warmth of the matte screen is far better than seeing any reflection. I want my photos in a silk finish so I sure as heck don't want to see my images like the glossy photos. They say that a glossy photo is also sharper but so what? The silky artistic image is more beautiful even if it is slightly less sharp.

The glossy screen is for me the reason to never buy a Macbook. I was lucky to get an iMac with a matte screen before Apple ruined those as well with glossy screens.

I actually kinda like my Macbook's glossy screen and never really thought much about it before... Is it really that much of a bother?

i thought i was the only one who hated the glossy screen.
i too purchased a 24" imac before the plague of the glossy screen.
from the first time i saw a macbook with a glossy screen i hated them. why do i want to see myself in every video or photo i edit?

I prefer the glossy

I'm not defending the glossy screen, but I have to mention that you're missing the point... It's not glossy to be shiny, it's glossy because that's the result of leaving off the matte finish. And you would want to do THAT because the matte finish blurs pixels slightly. This hasn't been a real concern in the past, but the smaller pixels get, the more pronounced the blurring will be.

Can you tell us the part number of the matte display?

Glossy better!!!! ugh ugh

i have no problem with the clarity of the matte finish on my screen. it's very clear and any additional clarity you get from the glossy screen is ruined by the glare and smudges that show up in a much more pronounced way

the glossy really only has the advantage if you're working in the dark and theres no other source for a glare

i used to dislike glossy screens until i upgraded from my ibook to my current macbook. the clarity just seems to be much better on the glossy, just keep it clean like everyone is saying.

You should have replaced it with a screen from an OLPC machine. Those things are purported to be visible in direct sunlight! I love taking my MacBook out to the deck in nice weather to work, but I have to keep shifting it around as the sun moves to find shade.

Mac now offers antiglare, FYI

Why has no one mentioned the fact that reflections from highly reflective surfaces can be significantly reduced through the use of coatings. Good camera lenses and filters are all multicoated, as a re spectacle lenses. Why doesn't Apple give the best of all worlds by multi-coating their glossy screens?

Why not get that gloss really revved up with some gloss wax? Seriously, if you want glare, reflections, and uneven image viewing, the glossy screen is what you want. Sort of like a shiny car, but worse.

I detest this glossy screen. I ordered a MacBook from Apple, and nobody mentioned the damn glossy screen - nor was there a word about it on their website. I would not have bought it had I known.

I hate the glossy screen. Never mind the lights reflecting in it, my problem i what the glossy screen is doing to my eyes. An hour or longer of use leaves me with eye strain, dry eyes and a dull headache.
I ordered an anti glare screen protector and I'm looking into anti glare glasses, but if they don't work I will be getting shut of my Macbook. Which would be a real pity as I love everything else about it.

yet again mac truy to dictate what its users want rather than giving them what the really want .
why will mac os not maximise its windows

My employer just got me a new Dell peecee (not my idea) last week that has the glossy screen and I already can't stand it. If I have a bad hair day I'm reminded constantly because all I can see is my own reflection and the florescent light fixtures behind me on the ceiling. No degree of futzing with the position of the computer or tilt of the screen completely cures the problem. I don't care if the pixels are slightly less crisp or the contrast a little lower on a matte-finish screen. I found out Dell doesn't give you a choice on the Precision 4300 either. Bleh!

i can see both sides of the discussion and personaly would prefer a matt screen but does it realy make so much difference ?

I am (still) a PC user and would like to make the switch, but the glossy screens (of MacBook or iMac) are preventing me from doing so.
I cannot tell you how many times I was standing in front of a MacBook in a shop, pondering whether the glossy screen isn't that bad after all and finally coming to the conclusion that I really hate glossy screens. I also hated myself for taking a look at a MacBook again as I had done this several times before, coming to the same conclusion.
One would assume that Apple should have good reasons for choosing glossy screens, but in this case they miss the opportunity as many customers dislike glossy screens and rather buy a Windows notebook.
@Apple: Why don't you capture the customer group of 'glossy screen haters' by offering a matte screen for the MacBook? You are already trying to position the black MacBook as premium model. Why don't you just add a matte screen?

coming from matte screens, moving to glossy is really not that big of a deal. you may think there's a world of difference but there really isnt. because the problems with glossy screens before was that it wasn't bright enough/ nowadays they are so bright and vibrant that you don't notice the reflections.

Also once those hi-def screens roll in, only glossy will do it justice. as the matt screen simply just blurs it all.

seriously, look at what is gained, you get darker blacks,sharper image and wonderful vibrant colors.

you only notice reflections when you remind youself. look at things objectively. then be honest with yourself. i think you see what i mean.

even though the fingerprints suck on glossy, i still prefer it

glossy is exactly the same. the only way someone could notice a glossy screen is if they had it on all the way dim or were outside. since i am in neither of these conditions i think you are all stupid. yes i know. biased and inconsiderate. but i dont care either

I'm pretty sure any professional will prefer the matte. Anybody who is just using it as a toy and wants to get headaches from the screen will LOVE the glossy.

I have a Dell Inspiron 1505 (Core Duo 1.66) with a glossy screen, and I will never buy a glossy screen again due to the reflections. This week, I took delivery of a refurbished 2.16 Core Duo iMac with a matte screen direct from Apple. I am very happy with this iMac. Sure, I don't get the 3 ghz and the Firewire 800 of the newest iMac, but what I have is fast enough and I get the matte screen.

I freaking hate glossy laptops. I have one matte and one glossy and the matte is 100 x better in terms of saving my eyes from strain :)

what about macbook Air with LED

glossy sucks. I personally have an anti-glare macbook pro, but I used a friend's macbook at college once in a lecture hall and all I saw was the faces of the people behind me.

Well here s how i would advertise the Macbook. You not only get a laptop but also a MIRROR with it . I simply hate glossy screen. i went to the apple showroom to buy macbook and i just couldn convince myself that it is even "manageable". It reduces the readability by 80%.

Yes, I bought a white, matte iMac, in spite of the availability
of the glossy metal iMac, and have been very satisfied.

THe glossy disply is preventing me buying an iMac for my biochemistry lab. A colleague has one and the reflection from the fluorescent strip lighting is terrible. Worse still the MBPros and new displays are ALL glossy, with no option anymore!

To those saying all you need to do is pump up the brightness to counteract the reflection: How about when you are travelling and want to save battery life? How about when you don't want to burn out your retina staring at an overbright display all day giving a headache.

I agree that the old Powerbook/Macbook LCD diplays were not so great, but the display on my last gen MBPro 15" Matte LED is absolutely perfect. I don't need it ay brighter. I generally use it (even when plugged in, in my office) at about 80% brightness, thereby matching the luminance of other things in my office, like the keyboard, desk and paperwork. If I have it too bright, my eyes need to constantly adjust, giving me a headache after a while.

To Apple: Give your user base OPTIONS.

Tell Apple how much you want the matte screen option back for MBP's:
http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html

u can choose if u want glossy or not so wats the point

does anyone else relize that this fued has been going on for a little over 2 years... dont you thing its time to stop?

yeah, when apple decides to get rid of glossy screens. It was one of the main concerns I had about buying an macbook. I loved the old matte display of my ibook g4, although I will admit it's not as vibrant. I also get fing tired of the really crappy view angle with darks. I understand the macbook is only a consumer model, but at it's price, it's a premium consumer model, and Apple really needs to have better screens put in for sure.

This will not be possible with the new MacBooks.

i used to have an ibm with a matte screen, and have worked with matte screens a lot at work. i am also forced to use a matte screen on all the computers at school. i will tell you i hate it. the glossy has a much more beautiful picture. i really enjoy picture quality and when i look at my macbooks screen i feel like i am looking out a window instead of at a computer screen. i have also never really had a problem with glare or headaches, and i have been known to play WoW for hours on my front porch. idk why everyone is complaining, although i guess its personal opinion.

I own 3 Macs all with matte screens. I do photography and graphic design. I will never own a glossy screen. apple needs to correct this and fast. Also, I have a lot invested in firewire. I want more firewire ports, not less.

Apple just needs to make the option for the screen. Honestly I dont think any of you complainers will ever be happy.

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