Too glossy?

When I originally heard they abandoned the matte screens, I was wary. However, I decided to reserve judgment until I saw how the glossy screen was implemented, hoping that it would be way better than other glossy screens I've seen in the past.

Sigh. It looks like the glossy was a mistake. And now I see they have added it as a $50 option, but only on the 17" model. That's just too big for a laptop, imho.

I never understood why they took away the matte option to begin with.
Apple was known for having one of the best laptop displays in the industry, and they decided to change that?

Honestly, the last thing I want in a display is reflections of everything behind me (as is typical in a normally lighted area) that superimpose themselves on the stuff I'm actually trying to look at.

Well, it seems we "old timers" weren't altogether off the mark when complaining that there was too much gloss in the new displays for proper color work:

That just depends on the old timer. As for me, it's not glossy enough, so I keep it polished with Turtle Wax.

Seriously, though, the LCD's days are probably numbered. I expect them to disappear in the not too distant future as RGB LED display technology improves. Glass panel displays with or without anti-glare coating seems to be where the industry is heading (at least for now).

I believe it was mentioned in the keynote.. Using the glass screen added stability or rigidness to the screen portion of the machine.. Without it, they would have a hard time achieving the level of thinness apple is so obsessed over without risking deformity, bowing, etc.

Yes, I suspect the added rigidity provided by the glass is a very significant reason for its being there. It will be interesting to see how much (if any) less stiff the display panel in the matte 17" unibody MBPs is, and whether or not it's more susceptible than the glossy version to warping and other deformations as time passes.

My 15" MBP's display assembly is stiffer and more resistant to racking than the one on my old Titanium Powerbook, which is very slightly thicker.

The "matte" 17" unibody display reportedly uses the same glass panel with an anti-glare coating added, so rigidity should be the same.

I guess we'll wait and see.

Apple is acting like a *******. Look, I'm normally restrained, but this loss of a matte screen from all the computer (except the 17" inch) just gets my blood boiling. If you search these forums, and the internet, there is great demand for matte screens, and yet some ***** in Apple just thumbs their nose at these users, and refuses to give us matte screens. I fully realise some Apple guy is going to delete this post, but please read this post first, take the feedback that people out here are getting ANGRY at the back of matte screens. Then delete the post for all I care. Many people CANNOT BUY ANY MORE MAC COMPUTERS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MATTE SCREENS.

Dude, ease up on the espresso, eh?

Same here! I was gonna upgrade my Macbook pro to one of these new unibody Macbook pros, but the glossy screens are just horrible. I'm a photographer, and I don't want to see any glare on my screen at all. I went to apple store to see them in person, but it's just so disappointing. I mean, common Apple!! I don't like the way that they are making decisions for their costumers, and think it's the best option.
I also never understand why they have the matte screen option for 17" models only. Those are so big, what if somebody wants a more carry around 15" with matte screen?!
I'm gonna give up on Apple after using their computers for 10 years.

You can just buy a matt coating for the screen, as several third parties are now making.

Or, you can go to the extreme of having a matt LCD installed for $199:
http://gizmodo.com/5134661/matte-screen-options-for-15+inch-superglossy-macbook- pro

Thanks for replying. I don't think it's worth $200 bucks, while apple can do it cheaper (if they want to)

How about the matt coatings? where can I find those? at apple store?

I don't know if an Apple Store would sell them, but I have seen products like:


http://www.photodon.com/p/MXT-MACBP15.html
(pictured: http://www.photodon.com/MBP3-450x339.jpg )

and

http://www.powersupportusa.com/products/macbook-antiglare.php?category=mb_new

There's a website totally devoted to the issue of matte screens for Macs. Check it out http://macmatte.wordpress.com/

As to the last post, that's not an entire website devoted to it-- that is one person's private blog on WordPress with lots of comments.

Apple is following the industry standard of doing away with Matte LCD screens -- just about every PC laptop manufacturer is also going to the glass screens.

As to our friend with too much espresso earlier in the thread, rant and rave all you want, nobody from Apple is going to read that post here. This is a user to user forum. As we all know, Apple is not consumer-centric. They aren't interested really in your feedback on what they didn't include. They will happily accept your positive feedback about features they did include.

They aren't interested really in your feedback on what they didn't include.

We don't know that. We do know that they've provided a place to submit it directly to Apple:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html