“Are bright, high-gloss notebook screens harder on your eyes than conventional, matte-finish notebook LCDs? …The new generation of bright, glossy notebook screens began appearing in 2003. Compared to traditional anti-glare, matte-finish LCD screens, high-gloss screens have a higher contrast ratio. They’re noticeably brighter and produce crisper, more vibrant images. And they can be more easily viewed from the sides,” James A. Martin writes for PC World.
“Today, bright, high-gloss screens are found on notebooks from Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Sony, Toshiba, and others,” Martin reports. “But these screens certainly have their detractors. For example, Deborah Hovey of Fredericksburg, Virginia, writes that the ‘annoying reflection’ on her high-gloss screen is ‘painfully distracting.’ Deborah adds: ‘I’ve even been using my old laptop rather then breaking the new one (with the high-gloss screen) out!’ Deborah’s e-mail was similar to others I’ve received from readers complaining about the glare and reflection.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: MacBook and MacBook Pro glossy screen owners, do you think the screens are harder on your eyes? Are they more or less annoying than experiences you may have had with matte anti-glare screens?
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Close-up Apple MacBook photos (keyboard, glossy screen, and more) – May 16, 2006
Apple adds glossy screen option to 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro – May 16, 2006
Apple debuts new 13.3-inch widescreen MacBook; replaces both iBook and 12-inch PowerBook – May 16, 2006
I have been hit in the eye with both and I can honestly say don’t.
I’ve found that the high gloss on my wife’s MacBook Core Duo is a heck of a lot easier on the eyes than her old iBook G3 and my ancient, trusty iBook Special Edition Clamshell.
i just don’t understand why anyone would buy a portable computer with a screen that’s only viewable in controlled lighting situations.
It was a tough choice in the Apple store, but the lusciousness of the glossy made the decision.
In use, yes it’s more reflective, but angling the screen to avoid those reflections becomes second nature.
On balance I’d definitely go for another glossy screen.
ive got a macbook and the screen is freaken awesome, ive seen some toshibas that seem too reflective though. but honestly under normal light conditions shiny screens are really good, offering superior color saturation. they are not good for outdoors in sunny conditions or when a powerful light is shining directly at the screen, however even matt screens arnt good in those situations.
As a designer I will never use a screen that has a glossy finish. Matte is the only way to go for me, others may feel different on that. Just my opinion.
I cannot explain exactly why, but i find the non-glossy macbook pro more professional than the glossy one…
Moiety – I’m not surprised that any modern screen is better than the ones on the original clamshell iBooks. They were pretty bad; far worse than the one I had, what, a decade ago on my PowerBook 5300.
I’ve only worked with MacBooks a few times, but every time the screen makes me glad I normally use a MacBook Pro.
My company just bought me a new MacBook Pro in January and I chose to stick with a matte screen. While the glossy looked sexier, the matte screen is perfect for work, which is the “main reason” I got it (I also get to take it home and play with it on my time–Hurrah!!). Both types of screens are a lot brighter than on previous models, including the Powerbook 17″ that I used to use at work.
I don’t mind the glossy screen of my MacBook C2D, it certainly looks better than my old 12″ PB screen. Just takes a little while to get used to it. My Images look much “richer” & vibrant than they did on the ‘ol trusty 12″ PB.
MacBook screens are great–my wife has one with glossy and loves it. I tried it and found it comparable to the MacBook Pro. (Of course, the size is different–duh–if that’s what you’re alluding to.)
Jake
I like my matte screen on my 15″ PowerBook.
How do you gloss it? Add a bit of Dulux?
Hmmmm, could it be that the glossy screen is better cause you can buy a filter to put over it make it matte finish, but you cannot make the matte finish more glossy???
Just a thought.
ne
This is the problem
The glossy laptop screens are just the same with CRT’s, there is a reflection which makes the eyes constantly refocus back and forth from the reflection to the image on the screen. It produces eyestrain, which produces a headache with long use.
Matte screens are overwhelmingly prefered by long use computer users, especially ones who grew up using CRT’s five inches from their face. Matte is easier on the eyes. In fact I dumped all my eMac’s for iMacs and my clients have been very grateful.
This poll shows matte is preferred over glossy.
http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=527
If the poll was more accurate reflecting the age and experience of computer user, I’m willing to bet it would show the computer users with more experience choosing matte over glossy screens.
Over 30,000 people can’t be wrong.
>I’ve even been using my old laptop rather then breaking the new one (with the high-gloss screen) out!’>
Don’t schools teach the difference between ‘than’ & ‘then’?
CRT’s are glossy (usually), but I don’t recall anyone complaining about them.
Those who use glossy screens now and don’t think it is a problem, will find out later on as they get older and need glasses sooner than expected.
I choose matt, but I guess you get used to whichever you choose.
I recall Apple delayed using gloss because they were dissatisfied with the anti-reflective properties…
being that I am currently reading this article via my Glossy Black Macbook..I can say for a fact, after a while of using it you forget about it…however, the flip side to that is …when you show photos or watch movies, you definitely expierence it differently than if you had a no gloss screen..the resolution is amazing and my macbook makes people go WOW! (and no the MS kind of “WOW!”)
Glossy is the new Matte
CRT’s are glossy (usually), but I don’t recall anyone complaining about them
You don’t hear the 8 million people complaining about carpal tunnel syndrome at the workplace either right?
It’s because it, just like CRT inflicted headaches, have become a expected condition of working.
Doesn’t make it right.
Apple should be ashamed of itself introducing glossy screens and inflicting millions of people.
I got my 15″ MacBook Pro a week ago and was wondering where to go when I got it.
I went for the glossy one and I think it’s fenomenal.
I can’t tell about other brands, but matte or glossy, Apple has the best screens (I have in iBook G3 and an iBook G4 before, both were excellent)
I’m a graphic designer and have recently gotten a new Intel iMac and have also worked with the new MacBook’s with a glossy screen.
I’m not sure if it’s a glossy vs. matte thing, but overall, today’s Mac displays seem ALOT brighter, especially the white areas… which has made my eyes more tired and sometimes painful.
Now… is it the displays or am I just overworked?! LOL!!
I can’t stand glossy screens. All the reflections are very distracting and constantly refocussing tires my eyes.
Many consumers love the Glossy screens. I had someone ready to switch to a mac last year and she wouldn’t do it because there weren’t glossy screens on the iBook (this is before the macbook came out). Instead she opted for a windows machine that had the glossy screen. She insisted that it looked better and was better for watching movies on her laptop rather than the matte screen. I tried to give her the laundry list of how the mac is better but the screen was the kiss of death. While many would argue that from a technical standpoint the matte is superior people flock to the glossy because the color is more vibrant.
Which looks better; a shoe with a nice shine or one with a dull finish?
not sure if I’d choose Matte of Glossy even again..and I use my Macbook for graphic based work …photoshop, video editing, etc…my iMac at home is Matte by default..but if I had the chance it too would have been Glossy..as for increased eye strain? hmmm, no more eye strain that my previous other Mac based laptops..and I’m talking about at least 10 other laptops I’ve owned– from Pismo Powerbook to 17″ Powerbook and everything in between…so the argument of Glossy vs. matte is a matter of preference…..
but once you Glossy you never go Mattey!
This argument reminds me of the old Miller Lite Beer commercials where
one group of people yelled “Tastes Great!” and the other yelled “Less Filling!”
– Mark
I find the MacBook glossy screens easier to read.
I also had a Toshiba Windoze machine (which I sold on eBay recently given that my MacBook with Parallels obviated the need for a physical Windoze machine) that had a glossy screen.
The Toshiba glossy screen was very hard on my eyes because of the glare.
But, as ususal, Apple seems to have managed to create a glossy screen that doesn’t have a glare problem…I’ve never seen glare on my screen.
So I vote for Apple’s glossy screen as being easier on the eyes or the same as a matte screen rather than harder on the eyes.
Just buy one of each. Yeesh.
My biggest complaint about the glossy screen on the MacBook is that the viewing angle is so narrow. When watching DVDs you tend to get a bright wash at the bottom of the screen, and if you turn the screen too far up, down or to the side some parts of the screen go a funny negative image effect. Any one else see this? On my matte MacBook Pro though, the colours are not so vibrant, but the vieing angle is much more forgiving.
@eWorldian
You can adjust the brightness in System Preferences.
You can also adjust the whiteness in System Prefs>Displays>Calibrate>Target White Point.
Re: WiseGuy
@eWorldian
You can adjust the brightness in System Preferences.
You can also adjust the whiteness in System Prefs>Displays>Calibrate>Target White Point.
Yes, I know that, and have been experimenting with several different calibrations trying to find one that works for both color correcting and is easy on the eyes.
Our company purchased the Spyder2PRO Calibration system and that seems to have helped alot! The built-in calibration on the iMac just didn’t work too well.
No problems here. I love the glossy screen!
glossy screens causes globle warming!
I love the glossy screen. No problem whatsoever with brightness. I do have a problem of forgetting not to touch the screen…too many fingerprints.
I prefer Matte. I hate reflections. Didn’t like CRT’s either.
This is like when they brought back platform shoes, I wanted to scream “nooo! We took that fashion hit for you!”
I HATE these @%$@# glossy screens…if you ever use them in a normal office or lab situation the glare is incredibly annoying.
MW, most appropriately, ‘hell’, as in ‘What fresh hell is this??!!’
I like the glossy ones better. I don’t have a Mac with one, but my PC laptop has one. It is very bright and easy on the eyes, in my opinion. However, it is only a 13-inch display. If it was a 17-inch display, perhaps glossy would get annoying.
Got used to the glossy with the MacBook…I just make sure not to have the brightness turned up too high in certain situations…
I have a 15″ MacBook Pro and my wife has a white MacBook. My screen is not glossy, hers is.
I have nothing but positive feedback about the glossy screen. I have had no problems with glare or reflection. I use it inside, outside, etc.
Bad headline. There are absolutely no health concerns out there or mentioned in the article.
Matte screens cause significant eye problems over time. Glossy are much better. In fact my eye sight has improved. I work in low light/high light environments near exterior windows and never had a problem with the glossy.
My old matte screan looks dead in comparision.
I made the decision to go with the “Glossy” this time on my latest MBP and I’m loving it! It’s so crisp and clear and I don’t have any situations where I’d been in a environment that caused me to wish I’d not gone with the glossy.
Also, not to say that I wouldn’t go with a matte screen again either. They both have great screens.
Matte all the way. It’s too much work trying to eliminate the glare on the glossy screens and they are absolutely useless outdoors.
On a side note, this thread has English teachers all over the U.S. crying. Wear did u peeple lurn to spell?
Someone will develop software to make a glossy screen a matte screen. Unfortunately, that won’t be me. In the future you can have either glossy or matte at the touch of a button.
Last year I bought a screen sticker (Japanese product) for my G4 PowerBook. After applied to the screen, it has changed the matte screen into a glossy one. I noticed that the screen becomes slightly brighter. Yes, I like the glossy one now better although occasionally I need to rotate the notebook to minimize reflection on the glossy screen.
gloss reflection its a problem when you want to use your macbook outside your house, it could be a problem in your own office as if there are a lot of neon based litghs over the roof you can see all this reflections in the entire screen
but when the reflexion doesn’t exits, the cuality for a notebook screen its superb!
BEST INDOOR (sometimes not)
AWFULL OUTDOOR
No it’s not harder for my eyes. I use my MacBook indoors.
WiseGuy said: “Apple should be ashamed of itself introducing glossy screens and inflicting millions of people.”
Bud, did you happen to go to http://store.apple.com and see the part where buyers get to pick EITHER anti-glare or glossy on the MacBook Pro? And if the glossy screen on the MacBook is that much of a deal breaker, you can upgrade to a MBP. And yes, it’s not unusual for the higher end of a product line to offer options you don’t get on the lower end. Kinda like how you get more in a Ford Mustang than you do in a Ford Focus.
I’ll evaluate for myself whether glossy or matte is best, not depend on what the herd is doing. If I need to use my upcoming MacBook Pro mostly outdoors, I’ll probably go with anti-glare. If I use it mostly in the office, I’ll might go with gloss, for the richer contrast and color. I don’t need “30,000 people who can’t be wrong” to tell me I made the right decision.
MW: looked: I looked for myself and decided which was best.
I have looked at both in the store and was leaning towards a glossy–until I had to look over by bosses shoulder at who wanted me to get a head start on a huge piece of software the company is installing. After about 10 minutes of either she not being able to see or me, we gave up and she just gave me the computer to look at. The glare was rediculous. I guess as long you are the only person sitting right in front of it, its fine. But glossy sure isn’t for doing any kind of “team” work. I think I’ll go matte–you know what they say!