MacBook Pro pre-purchase question

[Carlo Rho]

Hi RED-Apple guys,
I plan to buy a MacBookPro next month. I would like to know if the "Glossy Screen" option is good for REDcine field use or if is better the normal screen.

Thanks,
Carlo

[Ace]

Stay away from any glossy screens. Seriously, I dont even know why they make glossy screens..They developed a specific matte plastic to circumvent the exact same thing their promoting in glossy screens. They are a consumer Gimmick at best. In any room with bright lights your bound to see tons of reflection.. Hate to think what it would be like in in daylight. I also wouldnt want to be staring at my own face the whole time.

Edit: Oh and also.. LED backlit models are coming soon for the MacBookPro.. Should probably hang till these are released.

[Carlo Rho]

Thanks Acehole, I was thinking that was something in this way but I was unsure.
I'll try to wait for LED backlite... I hope they'll be out before summer ...

[Chris Kenny]

When light hits matte screens, it diffuses, effectively lowering contrast. Glossy screens show clearly defined reflections, but maintain contrast better in bright light. If you can find an orientation for a glossy screen that avoids direct reflections, it's more visible in bright light. If you can't, it's less visible.

[TimothyD]

Hi folks,

If you read the Arsenic/Mercury section of this letter Steve Jobs wrote to Greenpeace this week you will find that LED backlights are on the way, probably sooner rather than later.

http://www.apple.com/hotnews/agreenerapple/

[sander kamp]

I have a MacBook with glossy screen, before that I had a PowerBook with matte screen. I prefer the glossy though, they're more contrasty and I personally think it is easier to see in bright light because at least you can try to keep reflections out of the screen, unlike with matte screens. Also the Apple ones are not that reflective, I never see my own face in it.

According to http://www.thinksecret.com/ the LED screens for the 15" should come soon. LED has the advantage of lower powerconsumption and presumably wider color gamut.

[Jonathan Smiles]

All my my clients who bought 17inch MacBook Pros from me as FCP edit systems chose the glossy screen option after comparing matte and glossy side by side.

My own 17inch MacBook Pro is glossy as well, as I prefer it for non colour critical works, for critical work I hook up a 30inch Cinema Display.

You should be aware is the built in laptop screens are not full 24bit colour and can band on gradients both under OSX and WinXP. No problem using an external display with the MacBook Pro.

[Hrvoje Simic]

When light hits matte screens, it diffuses, effectively lowering contrast. Glossy screens show clearly defined reflections, but maintain contrast better in bright light.

That's about it.

At this point any option will have its flaws, but it's up to you to see what flaws are less important to you. I use MacBoook Pro with matte screen and for the most situations it serves well. Personally, I really don't like the reflection of the glossy ones because I hate seing two pictures on the screen. The lack of reflection for me is one of main advantages for using lcd's.

If you're not in a hurry just wait for LED's. You won't regret it.

[Clayton Harper]

We had this EXACT debate in my apartment this morning as my girlfriend pulled the trigger on a new macbook pro. We put the old powerbook and the new macbook side by side in bright light and decided glossy is the way.

I got into the glossy when I bought a black macbook last year and I have not looked back. The contrast and deep blacks are totally worth it. The reflections don't bother you after about 2 days. It's like watching a TV, you just don't notice after a while.

I agree about waiting on LED though. Hold your horses for a month or buy a used machine and trade up later.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I just wanted to offer my take on the glossy vs. matte discussion.

First of all, they're the same screen. The only difference is the thin plastic film layer over the screen, one is smooth and glossy, the other is not. I bought the glossy screen for my 15" MBP after lots of side by side comparison. However, with six months of real world use on that system now, I have to say one thing about the glossy screen. IT SUCKS, I HATE IT, DON'T BUY IT!

Glossy provides better performance in high ambient light -- think sunlight. It works better with lots of overhead flood and fluorescent light arrangements -- think large electronic stores, even the Apple Store, etc... Glossy makes the colors pop a bit more in those environments. In practice though, I've found that in most lighting conditions -- home, office, on an airplane, I'm always shifting about to find the optimal viewing position and sitting position for myself and the notebook. The glare is unbelievably bad with the glossy screen. If I use the notebook in ideal lighting conditions where I don't have to worry about glare, it's very nice, but no better than a matte screen. I seriously have to wonder if the glossy screen was designed just to make the screens look better under typical retail lighting conditions. But I will say again, it works better outdoors with bright ambient sunlight. Although, you'll still find yourself sitting in the shade somewhere to minimize direct light that can wash out the screen. And outdoor reflections on bright days can still be hell with that glossy screen.

Anyway, I'm living with the glossy screen for now... When Intel comes out with the 45nm quad-core mobile chips (early 2008 I think), I'll probably update then and will get the matte screen.

[Ace]

The thing with gloss is that the contrast is somewhat percieved, not real.

For any half serious professional user, having reflections on your working imagery and canvas is 100% unnacceptable. When a ceiling light or nearby window glare is in the way of your toolbar, its in the way regardless of wheather youre used to it or not.

For the casual user surfing the web and looking at pretty pictures, gloss is the way to go though, as it does make things look prettier and shinier.

[Jeff Kilgroe]

For any half serious professional user, having reflections on your working imagery and canvas is 100% unnacceptable. When a ceiling light or nearby window glare is in the way of your toolbar, its in the way regardless of wheather youre used to it or not.

Yep. And no matter what I do, I just can't get used to the gloss and reflections and glare. Can't stand it really...

[Thom Steinhoff]

I wouldn't buy anything until after June 11th (Jobs' keynote at Apple WWDC) which will have a chance to release new products. Depending on how big the WWDC announcements are we may even see some before that.

Multitouch displays? 3K displays? 4K Displays? Who knows--they are all in need of a refresh.

[Hrvoje Simic]

Yep. And no matter what I do, I just can't get used to the gloss and reflections and glare.

I can get used to it. I just don't wanna. :calm:

[Jeff Kilgroe]

OT -- My WWDC prediction. Confirmed iPhone shipping end of June. Announcement of new widescreen multitouch iPod and an iPod SDK. (please let it be so)

Oh, I'll take a 38" 4K display to go along with that, too.

[Jeremy Hughes]

Too bad they don't make some nice glass screens. Since glass doesn't diffuse light as much when matte. But can LCD even have a glass screen?

[Bachman]

Hi RED-Apple guys,
I plan to buy a MacBookPro next month. I would like to know if the "Glossy Screen" option is good for REDcine field use or if is better the normal screen.

Thanks,
Carlo

I hav one, trust me glossy screen bad!