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Level 1

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13" MBP glossy screen: do you adjust to it?

Brand new 13" MBP, coming from an older 15" MBP with the matte screen. I am finding the glossy screen causes extreme eyestrain at best, and when in some environments (e.g. coffee shop), extreme distraction in addition. The distractions are just from seeing so many reflections in the screen. The eyestrain is due to what I presume to be my eyes trying to focus on what I'm trying to look at but getting confused by the reflections just in front of what I'm trying to focus on.

So my question is: will I get used to the glossy screen?? I really love this size vs. the 15" and honestly would prefer the larger text that comes with this resolution or the 15" lower res vs. the high-resolution matte screen on the 15". But if I'm not going to adjust I"ll have to sell this at a loss and get the 15" anti-glare screen.

I figured since they only make these with the glossy screen that it would be ok. I tried out my wife's MBA (glossy screen there too) and it was ok. But the reflections on this one are much higher than the MBA so it wasn't a good test (no apple store nearby for an easy drop-in test).

thx

13" MBP 2010

Posted on Jun 7, 2010 8:55 PM

17 replies

CTS

Level 2

205 points

Aug 6, 2010 7:46 AM in response to MaxCCCCCC

I don't know what role "LED backlighting" plays; the relevant distinction, for me, is glossy v. matte. It is true that all "consumer" laptops have gone glossy. "Business" laptops, like the Dell Vostro and Latitude line, or the Thinkpad T-series, are matte. They do not cause me eyestrain.

Sep 24, 2010 7:14 AM in response to MaxCCCCCC

The glossy screen is just a pretty face, I'm afraid. I mean, really beautiful, to be sure -- all those saturated colors, and all. Trouble is, as has all too frequently been stated, those darned reflections of everything in the room you're in and the problems "looking through" those reflections to focus on your work ... for more than ten minutes that is.

Apple's new 27" display (same size as the 27" iMac screen) is worse, if you will ... since there is less "center" and more stuff to the right and left of center that gets completely obliterated by mirrored reflections. A matte 27" Apple full featured display option would be great -- and, I suppose it's remotely possible that Apple will offer one in the future.

Similarly, I can hope that a 13" Macbook Pro matte option becomes available. The trouble is, the more Apple promotes the IDEA that glossy is better, the less likely either the 13" or 27" options are to become available to consumers. Even offering a matte display as an option is a little like admitting that there just might be something not all that great about the glossy look. Admitting there's an issue detracts from everyone's enthusiasm, doesn't it.

Don't get me wrong. I like a pretty face as much as the next person. And the glossy screens sure are pretty. Trouble is, like pretty faces in real life, you can tire quickly of them when they're just a pretty face, lacking substance ... in the case of displays, lacking functionality.

Just my vote for matte options on both the 13" Macbook Pro AND the NEW 27" display ... not that anyone at Apple is listening 🙂

13" MBP glossy screen: do you adjust to it?