Apple's glossy screens will 'mess you up,' University report warns
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Jun 16th 2009 4:35PM
posted Jun 16th 2009 4:35PM
Attention, ergonomics buffs: an advisory recently published by Queensland University of Technology is predicting a rash of injuries as a result of users straining to get a clear look at Apple's "high gloss" screens, and the ergonomically unsound postures and positions that result. If you should find yourself in possession of one of these "torture displays" (as we think Apple should refer to them in their advertising from now on), Queensland Tech offers many suggestions for staying healthy, including: Placing the monitor so that screen is at a 90 degree angle to overhead lighting, closing the curtains or blinds to minimize glare, and adjusting the contrast / turning down the brightness. Of course, we're sure you've already tried all those things if you're one of the parties effected -- what, then is a strained MacBook user to do? We don't know, but maybe the Grippity guy will come up with something.
[Via Apple Insider]
[Via Apple Insider]
lol
Laugh out loud...
Lazy ass.
I lol'd for real when I read this.
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7972/img0449j.jpg
@waiownsyou
I don't get it. Why would you lol?
This should solve the problem
http://www.popgadget.net/images/computer%20hood%202.jpg
Another solution
http://www.dapperstache.com/picotheday/laptop_privacy
Yeah because Apple's screens are that special unlike every other PC manufacturer in the world.
@ Fernando
well.. i can smell hate and jealousy here
@RioRyan
"http://www.dapperstache.com/picotheday/laptop_privacy"
LMAO
Nom nom nom nom nom...
What I meant its funny how they call Apple out as if all the other 1 million PC's out there with glossy screens don't cause this issue.
I can't wait for someone to sue Apple and get utterly pwned in the courts...
@General_Trelane easy for a retired person to call someone else lazy
I really don't understand why Apple feels the need to make these displays glossy. Is there a reason that I am not aware of? Or is just so they can release a matte screen as a "feature" in the next model?
A lot of the users find their displays sexy... too sexy. The matte was retaining too much of their excitement.
Maybe because to most consumers, glossy screens look 'better'.
I thought colours were supposed to be more vibrant on a glossy screen?
Only time I've had real trouble with my iMac is when looking at some very dark.
If consumers really wanted glossy laptop and desktop screens, computer manufacturers across the board would be scrambling to make them.
dude you really need to learn that not every that flies can be eaten and that not everything on engadget can be believed. Nowhere in the article does it say that any tests were conducted on Apple displays or that the results apply to Apple displays.
All that this article says is that your should be careful when using a high gloss monitor and for the record CRTs were used for several decades they all have terrible level of gloss and yet noone that ever used them got some kind of deformity.
So sure the glossy screens are annoying but so are people complaining about irrelevant stuff.
Looks good in the showroom, sells more product and then people suffer the effects when they get home with the product.
@cg0def: And that was part of why it was so great moving away from CRT's(not that it mattered much since CRT's were for desktops and televisions, both of which are very large and positioned fairly far away in a non-moving position. For laptops it's an entirely different story)
Oh engadget nerds,
You dweebs don't seem to realize that if you put the matte 17" MBP next to the glossy one, and told the AVERAGE CONSUMER (you know, like, the ones who account for the VAST MAJORITY of units sold) to pick one, they would pick the glossy one wayyyy more often than the matte one. People like shiny things.
I'm not saying matte shouldn't be an option on all their laptops, but don't act like MOST people prefer a matte screen. =/
I have a 13" MB, and don't give a shit about its glossiness. (I do give a shit about its absolutely abysmal viewable angle).
Pretty much EVERY cell phone has a glossy display, and nobody bitches about that. hmmm?
I completely agree. The glossy screen is the only reason I've held off from buying a 13" MBP, and I wish Apple would at least offer a matte option. The glare is so distracting that it's unusable (for me).
Maybe cuz glossy displays show colors much more vibrantly, genius. And actually, matte is already an option for the 17", not a "feature"
Glossy screens have higher transmission, so you could get away with a dimmer lamp. They are also cheaper to produce than matte screens. CRT's can't really be compared with the glossy screens that Apple use, high quality CRTs generally have some sort of anti-reflection coating or multi-coating. You can tell by the reflection; it usually has a shade of color. AFAIK Apple just uses a piece of glass; plain glass has very high reflection at above 4%.
Bigcow said is correctly.
Also, a glossy screen is used to compensate LCD technology issue.
As a matte screen diffuse light colors are less vivid, and the view angle is much smaller than what it already is. Usually this is not a problem on high-end LCD as the screen can hold different, more expensive (and heavy, let alone space consuming) technology to compensate for the downfall of matte screen (and goes beyond to reach rate of image quality and color accuracy as a high end CRT and even higher)
I guess I'm stupid because I think glossy screens look good.
OMFG my Samsung LCD tv is glossy!!! I'm probably going to die because it's 40" and if a 15" display from apple will mess me up surely the larger sized Sammy is going to destroy me.
Glossy screens produce better blacks and more vibrant colors... it's a fact.
They actually did it in the 17" model, for an extra charge ;)
The more glossy the better!
Actually LCD screens are glossy by nature, pc manufactures MAKE then matte to avoid too many reflections. (If you really want your laptop have one of these only useable under perfect light screens you can follow one of the how to's like http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread/t-68235.html ) Only apple is able to remove/leave out an extremely useful part of a computer display and call it a feature
glossy screens are a great marketing ploy. They "look" awesome in the stores - all lit up - on a pedistal - being displayed as a feature item. And for most consumer - they don't really care when they get it home as they accept the product they bought for what it is and then twist the angle and adjust the lighting and sit in awkward positions and deal with it.
But this doesn't help a professional trying to function on a daily basis. As a professional graphic dsigner - glossy screensa re the most horrible equipment I've encountered in recent times. Not sure why Apple is specifically getting singled out here as every major computer manufacturer has been doing this before Apple jumped on board. They're actually late in the game on this one. It was a trend I was hoping they'd skip.
But personally I see this as akin to the whol mega-hertz myth around processors a few years ago. It's a selling point nothing more. They are impractical - and at least Apple did wise up a little for the Pros and offer a non-glossy option for the large 17" laptops. I just wish they'd give an option for the 15".
Maybe "Australia U" sijmply had a pile of Mac laptops available to them and were broed doing some research one day and while tossing around Nerf™ basketball - someone missed and hit the monitor of a laptop - then another one had an idea "let's study glossy displays vs non-glossy". Who knows. As a daily professional I don;t need a University study to tell me that glossy displays are crap.
What offers better picture quality? Gloss or matte screens? :/
It depends on the conditions.
In this case, in a University environment, you need to diffuse the overhead lighting, same as in an office.
Colors are brighter on a glossy display. For the most part, if you need a work tool that is portable and needs to adapt to new lighting (like classrooms) a matte display is a must. If you need a toy or something in a dark room, maybe a glossy screen is right for you. That is a generalization, but I think a fair assessment.
Glossy screen is just like plasma, it reflect if there's a lot of light around. Glossy look best at night, but with that close range glossy maybe over kill for the eye.
Glossy will generally appear to be clearer, brighter, and more vivid. But anyone who knows anything about screens will tell you that this is merely an illusion.
You've got to admit that it makes sense, though, for Apple to sell laptops with glossy screens, which appeal to dummies, their target audience.
All of the above is true though, once you account for real world conditions, reflections make glossy screens more of a pain in the ass to look at.
http://mark2000.com/?p=541
The superiority and clarity of glossy screens is not an illusion. A matte screen has a texture that makes it less clear. Like ripples on a pond, the underlying image will be distorted. Read the above link for more on this.
Thanks.
the truth:
glossy screens generally look sharper than matte because of the very slight haze created by the matte texture. glossy displays also generally have more saturated colors, deeper blacks, and brighter whites, although these colors tend to exaggerated. while glossy displays may look more vibrant, matte displays offer the most true-to-life color reproduction, which is why good photoshoppers only use matte displays (and hence the hullabaloo over the glossy displays on the unibody macbook pros). as for reflections, glossy displays are only bothersome if the ambient light is much brighter than your laptop screen, or of there are specific point of light (overhead lamps). generally i don't find it to be too much of a problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossy_display
@maverick
Sorry, but WTF? In your article you go on a crusade against the "big matte conspiracy", stating a lot of "facts" without proof, going on with ad hominem attacks while ignoring even the few sources you provide...e.g. have you even looked at the complete anandtech article you've linked? (Not that I'd consider anandtech the paragon of accurate articles, but they _DO_ have the comparison pictures you accuse them of lacking).
I'd love to recommend a serious article about the topic (from c't magazine 10/2009):
http://www.heise.de/kiosk/archiv/ct/2009/10/152_kiosk
Sadly, it's a) in german and b) not free...
I like matte so that i can look at my screen without having to dodge all those damn reflections.
I don't like Glossy displays on laptops, because of the simple fact that you can't choose the lighting conditions when you're carrying it around.
TV, Yeah! Monitor, sign me up: At least those you can change the room's lighting to suit, and once you're set up, you're not going to be moving constantly. Whereas a laptop is otensibly DESIGNED to work wherever you need it to, and if you can't get optimal lighting conditions for a room, the device should be able to compensate for that, after all; it's the peripheral, not the installation.
I have been saying what they are saying for years. (:
And you didn't get paid for it!
there must be a anti-gloss plastic thing you could buy
There are protection films you can put over the glossy screen to make them non glossy, but I have never seen one in person, so I don't know if they work. But why don't you just get a laptop with a decent screen?
There are. I have one for my X61 Tablet (which had a matte screen). It's got an anti-reflective coating like glasses do, that has a specific refractice index and thickness to cause destructive interference of light. It works pretty well--not as well as a matte screen, but I prefer the writing feel on the glossy screen so I make a compromise.
It's a coating similar to the one on Sony and Canon digital camera screens. The reflection appears green/purple and is less obvious.
unibody of hurt?
I squinted to read your avatar, then lol'd.
Thanks for pointing that out. That's hysterical!
imo, the best engadget picture to date
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/03/cops-adopt-sms-tip-lines-to-help-fight-crime-find-out-where-the/
I will never love a glossy screen on a working machine.
NEVER.
Apple really pissed me off back when they made glossy screens mandatory AND removed firewire from the MacBooks (and Firewire 800 from the MacBookPros)
At least they seem to have realised their mistake with removing Firewire.
Should be Affected :)
+1 Grammar Nazis unite!
Why would I turn down the brightness? That's the only thing keeping the glare away!
Yeah seriously, I gotta crank up the brightness to COUNTER the gloss lol.
easy solution
just rub down the screen with some sand or glass paper :)
everybody's happy!
=)
Maybe they designed it with Narcissus in mind?
It wouldn't be the first time. After all, I am a peach.
I've never had a problem with the glossy screens, even in a highly light environment. You can just tilt the angle of the monitor and it goes away. Even in my university library with florescent lights.
That's the problem. Why should you have to constantly adjust your conditions for the machine to fit you.
I know people that sit on couches with laptops typing away on papers. That computer is not going to stay still (and the sun won't either).
I still don't see why we're making such a big deal about this. I don't transport my laptop whilst open, so when I'm in a new environment with different light fixtures in different locations, I just open up my screen till it's comfortable.
I am at a university and with my Toshiba I have never experienced this - maybe it's just not as glossy as the glass, super-high-blinding gloss of the new macbooks'.
...and the sun moves pretty slowly, you know.
Wow, I haven't seen so much blantant fanboism in one article before in my life!
I thought you were on our side Engadget.
Go away. Shiny screens are shiny. They make things hard to see in direct light. It's called logic, not fanboyism.
its ilife not life....
Miles is making me laugh.....so many comments.
Some people just dont like glossy screens, it doesnt mean that they do not love Apple as much as you appear to.
You must be new to engadget, welcome!
Wow, macbooks must be worthless if you have to squint to view your pr0nz
Agreed Krische,
Manufacturers (not just Apple) need to STOP this glossy-screen nonsense. It is absolutely ridiculous. Televisions, laptops, and monitors from all manufacturers have been getting the glossy treatment lately and it needs to stop. It serves no purpose other than making the item look sleek and shiny.
Usability is completely shot unless you sit in absolute darkness. And that's not realistic. These items go in our homes, not in our darkrooms.
Are you listening manufacturers? You know who you are!
I don't think it's fair to contribute this problem only to Apple glossy screens, or any screens for that matter.
Laptops, netbooks, and portables are inherently non-ergonomic. Regardless at what angle you're able to flex your screen, most laptop users are forced into hunch-mode. Take a look around your coffee houses, libraries, and airports -- no one's doing it properly with a laptop. Ideally, your screen should be at head level so you're not twisting, flexing or stretching your head to look at it.
Apple only huge mistake in the last years has been this dumb display.
I want to get a new macbook pro 13 or 15 but i dont want the damn display..
It's a feature not a mistake, hater.
What about the built in, non user replaceable battery. That's an even worse mistake.
What about the built in, non-user replaceable battery. That's an even worse mistake and completely stupid.
HAHA i died when i posted this comment
I know the older screen protectors diffused light in the same manner the matte screens do. Try to get a Screen protector but one of the cheaper ones that is not marketed as "crystal clear"....
Aftermarket solution. ahh..
This applies to Dell's, HP's, etc as well.
There are a few conditions where glossy screens look good, but many more conditions where matte screens look better.
All these companies should NOT force you to use glossy screens, and give you options. Its hard to do at brick and mortar, but when doing a web order, I would consider it mandatory.
HP usually does give you an option. Don't expect Apple to, they know what's best for you. And if they do offer it, you can bet it will be *only* $199
bag of hurt?
Apple prefers to call them "enhanced interrogation displays."
No issues here....
Yea since it doubles as a mirror it's good for the girls.
There's no way I'd buy anything that creates unnecessary extra work for my eyes and body.
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8309/reflectionsgg0.jpg
Please, Sony and others have had glossy screens forever, most notably the Sony Vaio laptops. The glossy screens look great, and apple wasn't the first to have these.
Yes, they had and still have. But Apple is taking glossiness to new heights with the unibody MacBooks.
That being said I loathe those regular glossy screens too.
Agreed. I've been saying that the glossy screens are dumb ever since they first started getting put out there and was really irritated when they Apple started putting them on Macbooks(part of the reason I didn't/dont feel bad supporting my girlfriend getting an ibook G4 several months before they did away with them). You basically have a mirror while you're trying to do anything and it makes it impossible to see clearly in a lot of situations. Down with glossy screens!
Maybe this will make Apple bring back the option for a Matte Screen. Glossy FTL!!
Ever think that there's a reason glossy is standard?
It's not because it's inferior.
SHUT UP, I only bought the stupid 13" MacBook Pro last night... why is ENGADGET of all places telling me it might be bad?!
People will find anything just to hate Apple. I don't have a glossy screen, but the ones I have seen are great and when I get my 17" pro, I'm going with glossy. I really don't think its a problem.
The only benefit I can see is if your in a room perfectly setup to minimize glare and reflections etc, then the image would be a bit clearer than a matte.
I like(d?) Apple, and have recommended them to several people. But the super glossy unibody MacBooks are so bad that I can't recommend them to anyone. Same goes to the Dell Studio models that use glass in front of the panel. Generally I advise against glossy screens, because they are just frustrating and disturbing. The manufacturer doesn't matter.
Just grab some sandpaper and ungloss that thing...
I like the look of the old MBP better than the new ones anyways.
I never liked glossy screens. They look good in the store but to live with they're just horrible.
So as well as my wallet hurting after a Apple purchase my neck can hurt as well. Thanks Apple. Kick a man while he's down!
Bag of hurt.