Mac Book Pro (Late 2008) and glossy screen

i agree, that is, the mbp in fact cannot be properly calibrated, the contrast and color varies too much depending on the angle you look on it, so the whole screen is not the same brightness & color, backlighting temp is problematic a.s.o.
you have to use a professional graphic monitor anyway. (i mean, eizos are around 10 cm deep, mbp screen is about 1 cm, so you cannot complain, it simply isn't a proper graphic display)
to some degree, it is possible, resorting to histogram,eyedropper, greyscales..., to get to an acceptable impression, though.

that said, the glossy only policy is unacceptable. glossy exaggerates color, contrast, distracts the eye...
this can lead to headache with some people, here in austria such displays apparently are not even approved for workplace environments.

i know a quite some photographers who say exactly the same thing.

APPLE SHOULD THINK THIS OVER. really.

btw, I dont't find the black keyboard neat, neither...

It seems like Apple was in a hurry to release the MBP before the end of the year. As a result you are stuck with the "glossy screen and no other option" situation we now have. That is the first thing I noticed when I saw the new MBP. And it weighs 0.1 lbs more. The only thing smaller is the thickness which went from 1in to 0.95in.

I'll just say I'm happy with my previous generation MBP.

Sorry I can't comment my message will be deleted.... wowie zowie, this is such a fantastic day for the macbook pro! I love good design and glossy screens when I eat my cotton candy...

I heart apple

Atomlow, are you the thread killer or am I? As for what to use if you're staring at the screen all day, I really don't know. Do they make those old CRT monitor hoods for laptops?

I'm a long time apple user. I have been using Macs since 1993. I feel they are the greatest computer manufacturer, but this is going to leave me out of options. I completely depend on my matte screens for color calibration. If Apple can't provide a matte option I will be FORCED to use a windows laptop for graphics production. I understand they are trying to cut costs by having one option, but they are going to lose a lot of sales to the professionals. This is the group that has stuck with them all these years and kept Apple alive.

All I can say is to email steve and complain. It's obvious the upper management at Apple know about this issue. steve@mac.com, steve@apple.com, sjobs@mac.com

This needs to be brought to their attention. It's not too late to add the option again.

Man I was ready to start a discussion about that I have a MacBook Pro (First Gen.) and I think well Christmas is close so maybe Apple will put a new MacBook Pro in the line up and since the First MacBook Pro weren't perfect whine noise, battery etc. I plan to buy a new one then I saw the new ones and I like it but man glossy display please Apple did you try to use it in Puerto Rico under the 2:00 p.m. sun you can see everything behind you is not glossy is like a mirror so pleas make it non glossy
Thanks

"...what are photographers who use their Mac Book Pro for digital photography to do now...

Simple...keep buying Mac products...for the most part! Look..I hate the idea of a glossy screen simply because it is IMPOSSIBLE to do critical work on a monitor that can't be correctly calibrated. I found that out in about ten minutes after I got a new iMac for home and saw the results! So even though I have to buy another laptop for work, it's gonna have to be with a glossy screen! Unfortunately, there is no going back once Apple has released a new product line...you can only hope they fix their wrong-headed moves at a later date. It does make me wonder if they even bothered to ask a single professional photographer worth spit if he thought dumping the matte option made any sense. An even bigger problem, if you ask me, is if they are planning to continue this glossy-only strategy across all of their monitor line...my guy at Fotocare in NYC said they are, and if that's the case, Eizo here I come. And I don't WANNA buy an Eizo...even at my level of photography, it's basically overkill...I know Eizo make a great product, but for $1800-$2500 the ****** things should do the dishes and walk the dog. A 24" Mac display is a very good retouching monitor, but not if it comes as a glossy-only option.

BT in NYC

When I saw the new MacBook Pro 15" had no matte screen display, no Firewire 400 and that awful keyboard, I ordered my new (previous generation) laptop immediately before they became unavailable.

I am a creative professional and the glossy screens are simply unacceptable for the kind of work I do. Apple must bring them back if they want me to buy another laptop after this one.

I too am a long time Mac user. I started in 1991 in the graphics and have been in it ever since.

I never trusted even a desktop monitor, much less a laptop monitor. If you are really doing serious production work, you learn to trust your numbers, not your eyes.

I have a 17" currently and I love it (I am extremely upset they have neglected the 17" for all practical purposes with this supposed update), but I would never trust it for color correction. Tip the screen back 10° and you will get a huge color shift.

Don't get me wrong, I'd definetly prefer a matte screen, but I think there alot of other things to complain about rather than color correcting on a laptop.

What a deal breaker those terrible glossy screens. I know I'm complaining everywhere like a child, but can't stop from doing this. Would it be so difficult to give a matte display option and keep everybody happy ?

I understand people being upset about not having the matte choice. I agree.
But the claim that calibration is not possible on the glossy screens is bogus - the backlighting on the LED-solid state screens is generally uniform, and you can calibrate the glossy just as well as the matte. In fact, in sunlight it's easier to use (not that calibration matters for that) as you ommit the diffusion the matte causes, and makes it easier to use outside.
We have iMacs 24 which are professionally, and complete calibrated. Granted, they don't move, but they work just fine.
Again, I agree the lack of choice is disappointing, but stop with the 'the glossy is unusable' already....

Cheers
dan

To all those complaining and claiming they would rather buy a PC, what I don't get is why you can't simply buy one of those plastic sheets to put on top of your glossy screen? Wouldn't that solve the problem by turning it into a matte finish? And if your complaining that you don't want to pay more... If you can afford a 2k+ laptop you can certainly afford a 10$ piece of plastic, especially if that prevents you from migrating to windows. Enough with the drama already...

careful, I had quite a few threads on this topic deleted today..Go here if you wanna talk/read about it....
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/14/apple-macbook-aluminum-and-glass-super-shiny- hands-on/

you will see you're not alone in your thinking.

Yes, it IS unusable. German workplace safety law clearly says that all display devices must have anti-reflective treating. So it's a big no-no to buy these things to be used by employees.

Jacob,
with all due respect - it IS usable just fine. We use 24" iMacs in a professional, and creative campus; under neon light.
The German workplace safety law (Arbeitsstättenrecht) is a noble undertaking, but you DO know that this is NOT a law at all; there is no requirement for a german business to adhere the their guidelines - hence, these displays do NOT 'have' to have anti-reflective treating.

The 'law' also says that no screen under 17" (no 15) should be used as well 😉

So, a german business can buy these just fine; again, the BAuA has NO legal capacity!

Cheers,
Dan