“When Apple redesigned its laptops earlier this month, most of the attention, including mine, was focused on the entry-level MacBook. That was because of its popularity, and because Apple managed to make over the machine in a way that added some oomph and lots of style while actually making it thinner and lighter and preserving battery life. But what about the MacBook’s big brother, the 15 inch MacBook Pro, a powerful, if pricey, laptop favored by many power users? My verdict on the Pro’s makeover isn’t nearly as favorable, because there were more tradeoffs,” Walter S. Mossberg reports for The Wall Street Journal.
“The new MacBook Pro costs the same, high, $1999 price as the old one, and Apple (AAPL) does give you more for your money — a faster discrete graphics processor; the same radical new button-free trackpad that’s in the MacBook; bigger hard disks. It’s also a tad thinner,” Mossberg reports. “[But] the new MacBook Pro is actually a downgrade from the old model in a few areas. For one, it has grown slightly larger and heavier, with a 4% bigger footprint and a bit more weight (5.5 pounds versus 5.4 pounds for the old one.)”
Mossberg is concerned about battery life being less when using the new MacBook Pro’s more powerful graphics chip (users have a choice of using it or not) and Apple decision to not offer the option for a matte screen:
Mossberg writes, “The new MacBook Pro is that it still provides a satisfying upgrade for power users willing to spend the money to move up from the MacBook or from a less powerful, or similarly powerful, Windows machine running the inferior Vista or XP operating systems. But, for owners of the most recent prior MacBook Pro, the new model’s tradeoffs make an upgrade an iffy choice.”
Full review here.
MacDailyNews Note: Last week, we asked in an online poll of our readers, “Should Apple offer customers a matte screen option for MacBook, MacBook Pro?” The results:
• Yes – 57%
• No – 36%
• Unsure – 7%
Total votes: 1667
There is simply no good argument to be made in favor of a glossy screen on a laptop. Having owned a long series of Macs (and other computers) since the mid 1980’s the advent of a laptop with a glossy screen was ONLY for initial sales purposes NOT for real world use. If you are a graphics professional, or anyone who has to really use a mobile device for work (presumably what a 15″ Macbook Pro is for)…will be sorely disappointed by not being able to see the image clearly without reflections.
Walt calls it like it is. The new MacBook Pro is:
• Same price
• Heavier
• Lower battery life
• Glossy-screen only
• Larger footprint
• Fewer ports
And I’m supposed to be wowed by the manufacturing process? I don’t think so.
The last MacBook Pro was a gem. So glad I bought one.
Does anyone know if there’s any way to make a glass screen matte? Obviously, Apple is attempting to make much “greener” laptops these days, and glass is a far superior option than plastic in this respect. MDN, if the answer to the above question is “no” then I’d be interested in seeing a poll with a modified version of your question, like “Should Apple offer customers a matte screen option for MacBook, MacBook Pro, even if it is a far less environmentally friendly option?”
Glossy screen’s are NOT for my work style. I travel a great deal and work in environments where I have no control over lighting. Therefore, I will have great difficulty with glossy screens. I hope in 18 months when I replace my current MacBook Pro (August 2007), matte screens are back. If not, I have to seriously consider a different vendor, which means windows (*sigh*). The gloss will lead to more eye fatigue and headaches in the areas I work, and, frankly, my health is more important than an operating system.
Wow. Another glowing review of a marginally refreshed Apple product from Shillsberg. Who could have seen that coming?
I just went from a 17″ MacBook Pro to a new 15″ MacBook Pro. None of Mossberg’s tradeoffs are issues for me. I used to prefer matte screens, but I now insist on glossy screens for their clarity and brightness. I just don’t have a problem with reflections. Once again, those who insist on a matte screen need only apply a matte film. And that extra tenth of a pound? Whoa!
The new MacBooks and MacBook Pros represent the ultimate in laptop design. I have finally given up my multi-button, scroll wheel trackball. The silky smooth glass Multi-Touch trackpad is a pleasure to use.
Why didn’t I wait for the 17″ model? The 15″ will be easier to carry around, and I’ll be getting the new 24″ cinema display in November. I do most of my CAD work at home anyway.
@MacFan
I am a Visual Impaired person and I thank Apple for the glossy screen, because it is clearer for me to see. I also work in a lot of places where I cannot control the lighting and still I always find an angle at wich I do not bother for light.
If you are going to change vendor because of this, you are not so intelligent.
There are options out there with matte covers for the screen.
Shit happens®
I spent a good hour online, trying to find Windows notebooks with comparable 15″ matte displays. Vast, vast majority of them are glossy. Obviously, nobody is buying matte, otherwise, there would be plently of matte options in Windows world, where competition for a customer is so fierce that any feature that would sell even two more computers than the competitor will for sure be there.
If we look at the world of Windows notebooks, we clearly see that the percentage of sub-notebooks (12″ or smaller) is less than 5% of the total; same goes for those with matte screens (significantly lower than 10%).
Now, we all know that your ordinarly stereotype of a Mac user is that he/she is a graphic designer, so if we apply this stereotype, we would probably get a number of those that would prefer that glossy display at around that 10% mark. For Apple to build a computer that would sell to one in 10 purchasers of Apple portables would be very irresponsible to their shareholders (and ultimately, to their bottom line).
And I am sure the vocal minority has successfully voted in many online polls about their preference of matte over glossy. Unfortunately, pretty much all sales data point to unshakeable truth that very few people prefer matte (myself included).
But Steve said “A few of our customers prefer matte screens, but a vast majority (capital “V” on Vast) prefer glass because of brighter colors, etc.” Not the ones on this site!
And yes you can buy a film to cover your screen but anyone who has tried a DIY window tint on your car knows how that will work out (bubbles, bubbles every where).
Green is not really issue. Glass does not have to be glossy.
A lot has already been written about how colors, etc., appear to pop and look so much better. Unfortunately, just because things “look” good does not mean they actually are. Glossy hides a multitude of sins… most notably those involving dithering and true millions of colors display capability. I do believe that Apple is still dealing with a class action lawsuit over those issues.
Does MDN bring up that poll as evidence of a demand for a matte screen option or a mandate that says everybody should shut up about it?
@Jeff
Where did you do your film installed? I do not have a car with tnted film on the windows, however, I have lots of friends with tinted windows and they are really ok, not a single bubble.
Oh, and they invented the niddles, by the way, so you can pinch the bubble and make it disapear.
Thank you Apple for the glossy screen.
I will get my new MBP in 30 days and counting…
Stupid is as stupid does®
“f you are a graphics professional…will be sorely disappointed by not being able to see the image clearly without reflections.”
As a graphic professional, I prefer to work with the glossy screens. So, to be frank, I find the often repeated refrain that implies professionals only use matte screens to be hyperbolic. Reflections, color calibration, etc. simply have not been an issue here.
I don’t know why Apple don’t offer a build-to-order option of a matt filter or an actual matt screen (even at slightly extra cost). I can understand the problem of inventory at stores, but this is less of an issue now we have one colour MacBooks.
Personally I prefer the glossy ; ^ )
Walt is objective… which is obviously more than can be said of your remarks. In this instance, he was far from “glowing” and clearly called a spade a spade.
As for the stereotypical “Apple can do no wrong, so stop complaining” responses, you’re not not doing the Mac community any favors by giving the PC lemmings more ammo for their assertions that Mac users are a kool-aid drinking cult of Jobs worshippers.
Mac users used to be noted for being independent, for going their own way and not being a part of a herd. Different people have different needs and wants, so get over the fact that some your fellow Mac users don’t share your narrow viewpoints.
As for those who like to use “numbers” to make their points, stop pulling them out of thin air, or your ass, whichever it is you prefer. Get some verifiable and linked hard data proof to substantiate your “guessing.”
I like glossy. It’s so….glossy.
You can keep those matte screens that end up with greasy finger marks and scrapes from the keyboard that never come off – Now we can clean the Glass with windex or other glass cleaners – Thank-you Apple – I can see in a glossy screen way easier than through the keyboard marks on the matte screens
Amazing what lengths Mac FanBois will go to to ‘bottom’ for Steve Jobs. You actually want me to apply film to a $2,000 laptop screen.
It is apparent that Apple values Buffy and the FaceBook/MySpace crowd over serious users. Nobody not ‘in the bag’ for Apple would defend cheap polarized gloss screens.
Note to Mr Jobs,
I have suffered through my last gloss screen Macintosh. I am not alone. An EFI USB dongle can make any old PC a full Macintosh for way less money. Tell your established customers F.U. at your own peril.
I loved the matte display on my old Pismo. I now equally love the glossy display on my 1g Macbook Pro. It’s brighter and sharper and the colors seem more vivid. Yes there are occasional issues with glare and reflections, but you simply have to adjust the screen position to fix that. It’s a reasonable trade off for me. I would consider matte again if it was offered, but it’s not a deal breaker. my 2 c….
Apple’s discussion boards are loaded with complaints about the glossy screens… looks like they’ve really cocked up on this one. The MacBook screen is also much lower quality than its predecessor – so both obstacles combined looks like Apple are gonna have a lot of returns and anger customers on their hands.
The facts are these:
– Any polished gloss surface reflects light (like a mirror). So you get two images on your screen (the actual computer generated image AND whatever is in the environment you use it in (including a silhouette of yourself, your hands on the keyboards etc). The darker parts of the image (ie mid-tones to shadows in pictures) reflect more light.
– Gloss screens are impossible to calibrate for colour accuracy.
– The use of glass makes a gap of several millimetres glass thickness between the actual LCD screen surface and the outer surface of the glass – so using a mate film will result in a ‘cloudy’ image and NOT be at all similar to the original plastic-coated matte screens. There may even be a discernible double-image as the screen image is repeated in reflection on the matte-film. This is without even considering the blemishes in an adhesive matte film, dust and air-bubbles trapped in its application.
– it appears to be possible to remove the glass with rubber suckers – as it is on the equally problematic iMacs. This reveals to real LCD screen surface below – free of any reflecting obstacle between it and the viewer. But this screen needs a protective coating applied to make it similar to previous matte models. This can only be done professionally.
– Replacing the gloss glass with a matte glass will not work as the same problems as the matte film will occur.
– The problem with removing the glass is that it very likely functions as a structural component of the MacBook (+ Pro) and the iMac.
– People have stated that in the past CRT monitors all has glass – glossy – surfaces… but this in not true. Nearly all CRT monitors has an anti-glare matte coating.
– In many European countries it is illegal for businesses to use gloss screens in the Work-place.
Here’s what the Apple site acknowledged about their previous choice of matte and gloss displays (no mention of the chronic glare of course)… “MacBook Pro offers an antiglare widescreen display that’s perfect for color-minded professionals. For a more immersive viewing experience, you can configure MacBook Pro with a glossy finish. This gives everything you see a richer, more saturated feel.”
It appears that Apple has ‘designed’ itself up sh*t-creek without a paddle to get back – and done a rather large u-turn on supporting all their long-term professional customers.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=2417
@Gloss Screen-No Sale
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.
Once again, let me restate: Apple is selling exactly what the customers are asking for.
Try finding Windows laptops with matte screens. One out of every twenty out there.
A few of us want/need matte. The rest of the world don’t. Apple just can’t afford to build matte anymore. The display manufacturers aren’t making them in high numbers anymore, so they are more expensive. Apple apparently believes it would not be cost effective to introduce another model (MBP matte), with a price point $100 or $200 higher, only to sell it to 5-10% of their portable buying public.
Feel free to continue to complain, though; not that it wold make any difference.
Why isn’t an Apple Certified reseller offering up a matte screen swap out for a suitable charge? It would seem the market is there, and if the glossy screens could be re-sold or kept for spares the additional charge could be kept reasonable, if still annoying for the pro market. Small Dog, are you reading this?
Hate glossy screens – then simply rub some Vaseline on your glasses. It really really works.
I don’t want to know what you did to find out that vaseline on the screens works.