15.4" Matte Display Conversion Aimed at Silencing Whiners

[Vincent Ferrari]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2009/01/19/techrestore-offering-matte-conversion-for-15-macbook-pro' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/journals/app...-15-macbook-pro</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"If you're one of those people who would have gotten one of the slick new 15" MacBook Pros but just can't bear the thought of using a glossy LCD screen, then you need to know about TechRestore. The electronics repair service, known for its speedy repairs of Mac laptops, has introduced a new service that trades the glossy screen for silky matte goodness."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1224019599.usr18053.jpg" /></p><p>Yep, that's right.&nbsp; If you have a 15" MacBook Pro (the new shiny purdy one like yours truly) then you too can spend $200 more to have the beautiful screen converted to a matte finish so that you don't have to go through the pain of adjusting the viewing angle to minimize reflections when the sun is glaring over your shoulder.&nbsp; Honestly, I think people are a little ridiculous when it comes to their disdain for the glossy screen, but if you're one of "those" folks, then this might be for you.</p>

[Spooof]

In the back of my mind I always thought that I would prefer the matte finish. Given that I did not have a choice I did not hesitate to buy the new MBP due to the glossy screen. It has been several months now and I have not once had an issue with glare.

Who uses a notebook computer in the sun anyway?

[Jason Dunn]

All things considered, I'd personally always go with a matte finish over the glossy - but I doubt I'd pay $200 to retro-fit it. I thought Apple was offering matte on some models - was it just the 17" Macbook Pros?

And to Spoof, it's not a matter of using the notebook outside in the sun, it's that any form of natural light coming in from a window really kills the display.

[ucfgrad93]

I thought Apple was offering matte on some models - was it just the 17" Macbook Pros?

Yes, with the introduction of the unibody MBP, the matte version is now only offered on the 17" model.

[Jason Dunn]

...the matte version is now only offered on the 17" model.

Kind of sucks they don't offer it on the smaller versions - a 17" notebook isn't for everybody!

[Spooof]

isn't the new 17inch gloss only just like the 15.4 unibodies? So I don't think that you can order matte on anything apple other than previous models.

While I prefer matte I do like the glass screen and think that overtime it will be more durable. After a couple of years I always seem to get keyboard impressions in my lcds.

[ucfgrad93]

isn't the new 17inch gloss only just like the 15.4 unibodies? So I don't think that you can order matte on anything apple other than previous models.


Nope. On the Apple website, there is an option for MacBook Pro 17-inch Hi-Resolution Antiglare Widescreen Display [Add $50.00].

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB604LL/A?mco=MzA3MTE3NA

[Pony99CA]

Who uses a notebook computer in the sun anyway?
Students on a college campus, perhaps....

Steve

[doogald]

I am not one, but I understand that graphics professionals who need to make sure that the colors in their designs are perfect prefer matte to glossy.

I don't care one way or the other, personally, so I'd obviously not pay extra. My white MB is glossy.

[Janak Parekh]

Who uses a notebook computer in the sun anyway? Actually, glossy displays are better in the sun than matte. Matte displays wash out completely.

Glossy displays are most challenging with indoor light glare and/or shadows. That said, modern glossy displays reduce this effect -- it's not like the first glossy displays that were released on the market. I thought I'd never like a glossy display, but my 24" iMac changed my mind. I can't wait to get a glossy MBP. :)

--janak

[Trane]

I'm guessing that most people never use their Mac with a full-screen white-text-on-black-background terminal. Well, that environment is my daily life as a coder. It makes the new screens act like a very clear mirror. Good for keeping an eye out for the boss looking over your shoulder, but not good if counting the spots on the ceiling is distracting you from the regular expression you're trying to figure out.

I'm not too concerned by the glossy though. From trying it out several times in stores I'm certain it will cause problems for my black-screen use, but I plan to just order a matte screen protector as soon as I order the Mac. That way if I want matte, I can put it on, and when I want gloss, I can take it off. Best of both worlds.

.... of course, I could find out that I'm completely wrong and the screen protector sucks. At which point, I will turn from being a Mac lover to a Mac hater, dust off my BeBox, and curse Jean-Louis Gassée for not dominating Apple when he had the chance. ;)

[Janak Parekh]

I'm guessing that most people never use their Mac with a full-screen white-text-on-black-background terminal. Wait, full-screen? How many columns wide? :eek:

My X/emacs/terminal sessions are all white-on-black, but never full-screen. (And I've never had problems using them on my iMac. YMMV, of course.)

--janak

[Trane]

80. :) I just keep making the font size bigger until it runs out of space. Either that or just zoom in to achieve the same. Ok, so it's not full-full screen. I haven't figured out how to do that yet. Preferences in Terminal are a little less than intuitive.

Back in college we did an ACM programming competition where the host school had 21-inch monitors (which was pretty sweet in the late 90s). All the other teams were busy configuring their Linux window-border themes and background images while we just hit Ctrl-Alt-F1, logged in on a 21-inch 25x80 text terminal, and started vi. :D It's a miracle the other teams didn't just copy the code off our monitor from across the room.

[Janak Parekh]

Back in college we did an ACM programming competition where the host school had 21-inch monitors (which was pretty sweet in the late 90s). All the other teams were busy configuring their Linux window-border themes and background images while we just hit Ctrl-Alt-F1, logged in on a 21-inch 25x80 text terminal, and started vi. :D It's a miracle the other teams didn't just copy the code off our monitor from across the room. Trust me, when you're doing the ICPC, there's NO WAY anyone's going to copy your code. It's all gibberish without comments and hardcoded arrays. ;) I do remember those days, although I usually opted for X myself (if default to minimize wasting time).

--janak

[Jason Dunn]

This thread officially got too geeky even for me. There's geeky then there's PROGRAMMER geeky. :D