Live data from Hacker News

Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

appleinsider.com

21–30 of 66 posts

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#22
post #14
post #9

Amen to this. I've never understood the appeal of glossy displays. To me they're almost unusuable except under the most ideal lighting conditions.

Glossy displays are cheaper to make (since they lack the anti-glare coating). Most consumers even prefer glossy vs matte (especially when they see them side to side at the shop) because the matte coating (obviously) reduces brightness and colors are perceived as less vibrant. Of course, as soon as you have to work with them (apart from viewing a movie in a dark room) you'll regret it. Cheaper + clueless consumer = ma…

It's interesting that a lot of people feel that glossy screens look better in the showroom. When I'm in an Apple Store or a Best Buy or wherever, the overhead lighting is often so bright that all you can see on glossy laptop screens is glare and reflection. It's exactly because of this showroom experience that I've always avoided glossy laptop screens.

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#23
post #14
post #9

Amen to this. I've never understood the appeal of glossy displays. To me they're almost unusuable except under the most ideal lighting conditions.

Glossy displays are cheaper to make (since they lack the anti-glare coating). Most consumers even prefer glossy vs matte (especially when they see them side to side at the shop) because the matte coating (obviously) reduces brightness and colors are perceived as less vibrant. Of course, as soon as you have to work with them (apart from viewing a movie in a dark room) you'll regret it. Cheaper + clueless consumer = ma…

When you order the matte option, the whole glass panel and bezel are removed and replaced with an aluminum frame like the earlier models. It is not merely a coating applied to the glass, it's a different part entirely.

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#25

In what situation would someone prefer glossy? I don't get that. Glossy is obviously much worse. Can someone explain this to me?

If glare is coming from one direction, glossy can be good or terrible depending on where you point it. Matte is just always equally bad, and turning the brightness up is all you can do.

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#26
post #14
post #9

Amen to this. I've never understood the appeal of glossy displays. To me they're almost unusuable except under the most ideal lighting conditions.

Glossy displays are cheaper to make (since they lack the anti-glare coating). Most consumers even prefer glossy vs matte (especially when they see them side to side at the shop) because the matte coating (obviously) reduces brightness and colors are perceived as less vibrant. Of course, as soon as you have to work with them (apart from viewing a movie in a dark room) you'll regret it. Cheaper + clueless consumer = ma…

It's odd, though - in some European countries, the glossy screens are considered ergonomically harmful and are therefore banned from the workplace. So you can't give your employees iMacs, smaller Macbooks, etc. to work on. You'd think Apple would be a bit keener to sell to businesses.

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#27
post #23
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glossy displays are cheaper to make (since they lack the anti-glare coating). Most consumers even prefer glossy vs matte (especially when they see them side to side at the shop) because the matte coating (obviously) reduces brightness and colors are perceived as less vibrant. Of course, as soon as you have to work with them (apart from viewing a movie in a dark room) you'll regret it. Cheaper + clueless consumer = ma…

When you order the matte option, the whole glass panel and bezel are removed and replaced with an aluminum frame like the earlier models. It is not merely a coating applied to the glass, it's a different part entirely.

Thanks for the clarification. I didn't know it.

So the matte doesn't have the glass?

One thing I like of the glass screen is that it is probably easier to clean and in general more durable (except if you drop it on the floor, of course).

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#28
post #20
post #10

So now they acknowledge that glossy screen is even $50 _inferior_ to matte.

That's one way to look at it. Another way would be that lower production volume for matte screens means higher per unit cost, so they have to make up for this with the additional $50.

Maybe. However, before Apple removed the matte option I have never seen a glossy screen on an apple laptop (except in their stores). Sample size is not that big, though.

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#29
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Glossy displays are cheaper to make (since they lack the anti-glare coating). Most consumers even prefer glossy vs matte (especially when they see them side to side at the shop) because the matte coating (obviously) reduces brightness and colors are perceived as less vibrant. Of course, as soon as you have to work with them (apart from viewing a movie in a dark room) you'll regret it. Cheaper + clueless consumer = ma…

It's odd, though - in some European countries, the glossy screens are considered ergonomically harmful and are therefore banned from the workplace. So you can't give your employees iMacs, smaller Macbooks, etc. to work on. You'd think Apple would be a bit keener to sell to businesses.

Apple traditionally hasn't sold to businesses due to Big Corporations apparent desire to quash anything capable of spurring original thought in its workers.

Business is packed full of contradictions from rules they've created for themselves, like using uniforms and team building exercises to help the workers feel part of a group, but positively crap themselves at the idea of their workers unionising due to feeling like part of a group.

Consumers on the other hand are relatively simple, give them something bright and shiny and they love it. Essentially we shop like Magpies, people frequently buy the wrong product for themselves because it's the better advertised and branded product.

Re: Apple again offers matte screen option for 15-inch MacBook Pro

#30
post #9

Amen to this. I've never understood the appeal of glossy displays. To me they're almost unusuable except under the most ideal lighting conditions.

The glossy displays on the MacBook pros are actually not that bad. They ramp up to such a high brightness that you can defeat any glare you throw at it.

I've used my macbook pro in the full midday sun on my back with no problem. The matte screen on my 15" powerbook was pretty much unusable outside unless it was dark.

Post reply on HN