Apple's glossy screens will 'mess you up,' University report warns
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted June 16th 2009 4:35PM
posted June 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]
matte mbp ftw
If you use a computer to prep images for printing, accuracy with the resulting print is what matters, not "really bright" or "highly saturated." Those qualities do not necessarily equate with accurate. So if they are primary advantages of a glossy screen, I can't use those features. And if, to get something I don't want, I need to put up with horrible reflections, I'm simply not going to do it. My matte monitors are accurate. And where I sit with my laptop is less of an issue. I don't need a 17" laptop, so until I can get a new 15" one from Apple with a matte screen, I won't be buying.
Old school (2008, non unibody) MBP FTW!
these damn things do make my eyes hurt in the labs....hmmmmm
I also love how Engadget has more Apple related news than The Unofficial Apple Weblog.
I love Apple
But come on...
The reason Apple is getting so much attention over the Glossy screens is because they forced this on us using the the #1 selling line they have, the MBP, which is the core of their business. Why didn't they pick the iMac or Macbook, why pick the core / main product in their lineup.. Buyers of the MBP know their computers, hardware, software & what works & doesn't work. Obviously from the comments posted here the freaking stupid Glossy Screen isn't going to work & will cost Apple sales. I for one am not going to upgrade like I planned & it appears others aren't either.. Take Care All..
I like my glossy screen, and never really had a problem with it. :-\
I recently broke down and got an iPhone (cuz TMobile has horrible coverage here and the rest of teh carriers are apparently dragging their asses on Gphone), and quite frankly, the glossy screen on it SUCKS MAJOR ARSE.
Most phones, laptops, and LCDs DO NOT have glossy screens - and if Apple's reason for using them is that they look good in the store - then that's pretty pathetic.
I have strongly recommended to friends not to buy the LCDs with glossy bevels - because even with glare only around the edge of the screen - it can still drive you mad - and give you headaches.
Anyway - fail on screen design to ANY company who does this.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/backstage/comments/matte-your-aluminum-macbook-13-screen-a-matching-macbook-stand
I'm not going to try to make "fois gras de troll" about people's screen preferences, but personally I've been loathing the saturation, contrast and susceptability to afternoon sunshine of matte monitors for all of my professional life.
Prior to getting my McBook, my previous best monitor surface was a Commodore Amiga 1081. It was erupting with juicy blackness and gloss. You don't need to remind me that it's been "lacking" in refresh-rate, dot-pitch, size and flatness for most of the intervening period (plus it had a bad case of "Philips-switch").
For me personally: It's gloss all the way, baby!
Why doesn't someone just make a matte finish, non-glare screen protector. Seems like an easy way to make a lot of money if you know how to get the ball rolling. How hard could it be?
People like to create a lot of fuss about the glossy Macbook Pro screens, and I was pretty wary about it when I got mine. But I must say, it is hands down, no competition, the most beautiful screen I've ever used on a laptop. The colors are extremely vibrant and accurate, and the blacks are deep (which is owed in part to the glossy screen). There's a lot of glare in places like cafes during the day, when sunlight is shining directly on the screen, but this is not that common of a use for me, and I'd much rather take the extra color and contrast that the glossy screen provides and accept the daytime glare as a tradeoff.
Most people who talk negatively about the glossy Macbook screens have never really used them. I consider the screen one of the most positive aspects of the laptop; not negative. It's perfect for the color correction, video editing, and visual effects work I do on my laptop, and I do not do these things at Starbucks at noon. Like most things you have to weigh the positives and negatives, but don't ignore the positives just because ignorant people make a fuss about the negatives.
right on. I feel the same. And my dear friends: Glossy is not "glossy" across the board. Sony, for example makes the "best" glossy screens. They are rippled so the light is broken and not reflected directly back at the user.
Business laptops usually don;t have glossy screens, or have a mate option, whereas most all manufacturers have glossy screens for the home user market. Then get yourselves a good IBM and you'll be fine...still can;t compare to the brightness and overall screen quality of mac book pros..normal mac books aren't all that great.
And the argument earlier that college students get aples because they get them cheaper through their college is bull. If after "deals" you dish out more for apples than competitors.
Apple bashing? In my engadget?
Its more likely than you think.
One knowledgeable Mac guy likes matte, but says buying glossy first is best. If you don't like glossy, you can change it to matte with a removable film (and even change it back to glossy by removing the matte film--whereas you can't change from an original matte screen to glossy). It appears to him that adding the matte film is better quality than buying a replacement matte screen you can get from a third party for the 15" Mac Pro (see photo of all three in this article):
http://www.macworld.com/article/138610/2009/02/mbpantiglare.html
Incidentally, you can get a much cheaper matte (anti-glare) film that's well reviewed for half the price of the matte film in the above article (see photodon.com and a link to a comparative review there)
Plus, if you want a PC, get a good deal on a glossy system and add matte film for the screen (and matte film for the area surrounding the keyboard to further reduce glare and dirt).
Affected not effected..
I Knew Apple was no good. Damn them and their glossy products. Who are they to sell laptops with a gloss finish. Dont they know that it causes back pain?
I personally will not be buying a new Macbook Pro until the option to have a matte screen is available. I like the way my late 2007 15" looks compared to the glossy. And like someone said before, the matte screen shows more true colors than glossy does because they're designed to show more vivid images, which will cause all sorts of havoc in the Photoshop community, a program Apple owners are notorious for using. It also can't be very fitting for Final Cut users...
Oh well, I like my Pro more than the new ones anyway, only upgrade I need is some ram. 2 gigs of DDR2 is just not cutting it for me anymore, but I do have a firewire 400 & 800, audio in and out, CD/DVD burner, DVI out, 2 usb's, a GeForce 8600M GT with 128mb, and an express card, so I've got a few up on the new newer ones, and more than enough power and ports to get me by for the next few years with what I use it for(aside from the ram...). So until my Pro dies a sad and unfortunate death, or new MacBook Pros are offered in matte screen, I'll be rockin' the 07.
And yes, I'm aware the 17" comes in matte, but I do not want a computer that large to take to class. 15" is the sweet spot.
And for the record, of topic I know, I still don't consider the new 13" worthy of a "Pro" tagged on them, especially when their only internal upgrade from their predecessors "MacBook" is a slight processor improvement, and the upgraded 13" has 4 gigs opposed to 2. People are misled by this name. Previous models of the Pro line were tagged as such due to their ability to run (version of that time period) Photoshop, Final Cut, Logic, and other multimedia software. Now people are under the impression that every model, 13" to 17" has the power and capacity to run these expansive programs, when in fact many of these programs, will run sluggishly, or not at all. The 4 gig 13" may be able to squeeze buy, but the base Macbook Pro is certainly not worthy of "Pro" status. Not forgetting to mention the lack of a dedicated video card found in previous MacBook Pro lines. Even the base 15" lacks it.
In the end, I think Apple really wants their customers to visit Apple stores to have Customer Specialists explain this information to them. Otherwise, people are left to fend for themselves while making a large investment.
@kadajawi: I tried to find laptop with matte display for my wife lately (in Poland). Most shops didn't offer ANY matte laptop. I found some in online shops but most of them were business models (read: higher price and useless gimmicks like fingerprints scanners). To top that my wife really hates Lenovo machines because of a mouse stick in the middle of the keyboard. The choice is really limited.
Fortunately most of stationary LCDs are still offered as matte. Thank God, because glossy screens are completely unusable. And most people in comments are wrong: you don't need strong light source to block view on glossy screens. Problem with glossy coating is they reflect even small amounts of light (almost like mirrors) which is serious distraction for eyes.
For human eye shapes are more important than colours. Thats why sharp reflections on glossy screens create more problems than fuzzy reflections on matte ones (both types of screen reflect the same amount of light, matte screen reflects in all directions making spotlight light sources fuzzy).
Glossy screens are like candied fruit in pies, only a small minority likes 'em but the producers keep putting them everywhere!
I think Apple has long proved to have little interest in ergonomics, as long as stuff looks cool and trendy.
Think about apple mice
Think about flat keyboards
Apple would really be the best, if they just cared a bit more about the user.
Damn, I really have no idea why there's so much complain on these glossy screens of Apple.
I'm typing now this comment of the newest gen. MacBook Pro 17" with glossy screen, outside
in my garden of the south part of Antwerp, and it's very sunny right here.
To be honest there's no direct sun on the screen, but I see nothing of glare.
If someone doesn't believe me I'll take a picture with my camera if you would like to.
I've had a Packard Bell before with a glossy screen, that was way more terrible then this MBP is.
Greetings out of a sunny place outside!
Looking at my Flickr page on an in-store iMac with gloss screen certainly looks crisper and more vibrant than my matt-screen G5, but the reflections are just a complete no-no for me. Where I've got my iMac would mean the lamp shade and TV being reflected off of a gloss screen.
No thanks.
I'm a huge Apple fan but the company really pisses me off sometimes. They should at least have matte screen options for their entire lineup of laptops (not just the 17"), desktops and the newer 24" standalone screen. I think glossy absolutely sucks and Apple needs to get away from this crap. There's a reason Pro 17" users get the option for matte: they're filmmakers and other professional types who can't use glossy shit. Now, aren't the rest of us important enough? C'mon Apple!
Im sorry but if anyone is that serious about color correction,they will have a calibrator and set it themselves or buy a professional solution like that from lacie.