Macbook pro matte vs glossy screens

[kathycalgary]

Ok here is this topic again and I'm hoping someone who has used both of these will comment. You can now purchase the macbook pro 15 inch in a matte or glossy screen. Not sure which one I like better so still haven't bought one yet. It will be my only computer, used for travelling, working on photos and surfing the net. What are everyone's thoughts on which one to buy? I would consider the 13 inch model but it only comes in glossy. Has anyone tried one of those matte screen protectors? If I buy the glossy and it drives me nuts, does that screen protector actually do a good job?

[basroil]

Screen protectors don't do much against glare, but it will help somewhat. Glossy screens are fine as long as you know how not to use them (i.e. work with a light directly behind you, sun behind you, etc. )

[kathycalgary]

Have you tried using the glossy screen outdoors? I'd like to be able to sit in my garden and surf the net.

[mikekelley]

Glossy works better outside than the Matte. I had the 17" Matte before I got the glossy and it was downright impossible to use it outside. The glossy is a bit better to work with outside but by no means is it as easy as inside. I do'nt think there is any laptop that is bright enough to use outside easily, to be honest.

[kathycalgary]

Thansk for the feedback. Anybody buy a matte one that they hate? Seems like the only complaints I've found are from folks who bought the glossy and didn't like it. Those who buy matte seem to be happy with it.

[MaxxuM]

I have a glossy screen on my personal MBP and assorted matte & glossy on work MBP's and I prefer glossy for all around general use. Very few laptops are great with color, but the MBP's are up there in quality.

There are also laptop visors that are pretty good. We have a couple for mobile video production, but they can get expensive. There are some DIY instructions on the net how to make your own. There are also some kits from B&H for video production - but for the life of me I cannot locate them. Maybe someone will have better luck. I believe I saw one at Make Magazine and another on a DIY site.

[Todd Lambert]

I prefer matte finish myself - I can't stand glossy.

However, neither work all that great outdoors in bright sun. The newest LED based ones are the best to combat this though - MUCH better than they used to be.

[kathycalgary]

Just back from the Apple store and bought the 15 inch macbook pro matte screen. Really not confident in my decision as this is my first mac and my first laptop. Guess we'll find out how much I like the matte screen over the next couple of weeks!

[Familiaphoto]

I've had my 17" MBP matt for a couple months now and enjoy it. I like not having the glare issue. Not the best outside but tolerable in my experience.

[Kronie]

I have a glossy Macbook Pro that prefer to the matte ONLY when I can control the light. Outside or in a bright environment the reflections are kind of annoying. BUT... I bought the glossy screen knowing this because most of the time my laptop is run inside at my office with a second 22" monitor.

[FZ1]

IMO, images look crisper and colors more vibrant on the glossy. I really HATE fingerprints and smudges on the screen so that can be a bother but otherwise I think glossy is the WTG.

How are you liking the matte screen?

[smcclelland]

Just back from the Apple store and bought the 15 inch macbook pro matte screen. Really not confident in my decision as this is my first mac and my first laptop. Guess we'll find out how much I like the matte screen over the next couple of weeks!

Let us know how it goes... I took a 17" with the matte screen for a test drive at the Apple store and just didn't like the look of it. It reminded me of my Dell M6400 workstation at the office where you could practically see the pixels being lit and the screen felt bright, raw and rather bland in the colours department. I wound up going with a 15" MBP Glossy and a 24" Cinema LED as I mainly edit indoors and my desk faces away from the windows so not much glare issues for me.

[zincozinco]

I have found that the matte screens is a truer measure to my prints on paper

[say_cheese]

My new 15" MBP arrived today with the matte screen. It's just great, I'm really pleased Apple made this screen available. Pictures very clear and crisp. I'm typing in my armchair with a strong reading lamp shining over my shoulder and its barely visible. Highly recommended, I hope Apple offers the screen for the 13" MPR's.