Glossy vs. Matte Debate

matte also displays accurate colors...

IMO, it's not really a debate, just personal preference. I understand the "benefits" (aka differences) that the glossy provides, but I'll always buy a matte finish due to what I want out of my screen.

Being in the computer industry for 9 yrs now. The matte finish has its own color sort of a blackish Grey when you turn the back light off. The glossy is 100% clear and transparent. Now what do those have to do with usage? Well the matte will not reflect light because it absorbs it. The glossy you will have a little glare depending on how clean it is. The glossy have a greater contrast ratio and color spectrum just on the surface than the matte because the matte restricts color. If you take both side by side and turn the black light off. The glossy will have a display that is darker and blacker than the matte. In the same instance turn the back lights all the way up. The glossy will have a more true white. If you take both in to an environment where it is extremely bright the matte finish's own color will make the display harder to be seen. Take the glossy into the same situation; the glossy will perform as normal but will gain a little glare depending on positioning of the screen to where the light source is.

Gosh this is now making it more difficult for me to decide. I like the Glossy better indoors, but I do plan on using my mbp outdoors as well.

I thought the matte was more colour accurate, but according to this post, it's making me second guess again. I was going to pick up a matte tonight, but now my decision is delayed again!

i think it all depends on what you're going to use it for. for me, using it for graphic applications, the matte display is much better than the glossy. plus like others said, there will be a constant glare from lights and such. going the matte route is the safest route and you won't be dissapointed at all!

I'm loving my glossy screen. Not had to clean it in a week, no dust. Don't notice the glare or reflections at all, even outside. In a dark room it looks just like the matte to me, in a well lit room, it has a CRT picture quality to photos and movies. I would agree with everyone that if you spend the majority of your time doing graphic design and word processing, then matte should be fine. But if you are doing tons of photo work or movies, etc, then you should really consider the glossy finish.

Why not get the best of both worlds.

Buy the matte screen, then put a clear screen protector on it. That's what I did with my 17" powerbook. It gave me a bright, glossy screen before apple even offered them and it looked phenomenal.

I got mine from macally (3 for about 20 bucks), but other companies sell them even cheaper. They stay on with static and a thin adhesive that removes easily. If you cant make up your mind, this is an ideal solution. It also protects your screen from scratches.

I think I might wait until 10.5 comes installed on the Macbook Pros to get mine.

Dave

Love the glossy screen too. I remember looking with envy at laptop PCs and how beautiful their glossy screen looked in the shop, with that (gotta be standard all over the world!) aquarium screensaver looking great! One of the reasons I bought the MBP is because they offered it with the option of glossy screen - which I got. The colours are so saturated! Nice. However, if I was working in a profession requiring correct colour calibration, I probably would have chosen the matte screen.

Ant

I had one of the original MBPs with the matte screen and now have a C2D MBP with the glossy screen. I really like the glossy screen, especially for photo editing and viewing.

As others have said, it really comes down to personal preference.

I'm trying to decide which model to purchase -- an accurate monitor is important to my work. Color correcting photos is part of my job, and I've never tried to do so on anything except a calibrated CRT monitor before. Are the glossy screens too bright for color accuracy? I've read that the matte screens are a little fuzzy and dark -- any opinions? I'd love to hear back from other graphics professionals who have an MBP and are happy with their screen choices.

I had the same dilemma. But before I made my purchase, I tried working on a glossy screen. If you are planning to work more than 3hrs on the mbp, get the matte.

The glossy screen will give you actual headaches (I know a couple of digital painters who said the same thing).

I use my machine for Maya and it when I try to control vertices around (usually a 2x2 px point), I have to nudge a bit everytime to get the glare out of the way.

So after 3 days, I ordered a matte mbp. The glossy screen is pretty, but only for part-time viewing/working, not if plan to use your macbook pro as a workhorse (working with it full time).

Something no one has mentioned in this gloss/matte debate is this:

If gloss is better, why isn't there a gloss Cinema Display? Isn't this the top of the line TFT display? Isn't it considered the BEST flat screen for graphics use? That's what I've always heard.

Aside from personal pref, it would seem that Apple feels the matte is best for the Cinema display. Would seem logical that it is best for a MacBook display as well.

I use a 20" Cinema display and folks constantly comment it is the best screen they have ever seen. It is matte.

So, my question isn't so much about gloss vs matte. It is how different is the MacBook Pro matte screen from a Cinema Display? If they are crafted from the same stuff, that's the way I'd go. Until Apple is pushing gloss Cinema displays, I'm not sure I can buy in to the assumption they are technically better.

That is what I want to know before I buy: Which screen is technically/operatively superior in it's color display. My "preference" is for the superior quality, not the perceived quality.

Can anyone provide that baseline information?

That is what I want to know before I buy: Which
screen is technically/operatively superior in it's
color display. My "preference" is for the superior
quality, not the perceived quality.

Can anyone provide that baseline information?

I feel the same way you do in regards to the subjective posts about the difference in displays. I work in post production and see alot of monitors and footage. I now have a Glossy MBP C2D and I have access to a Matte MBP CD. I've done a side by side comparison of these two very good screens.

On the same calibration setting (color LCD standard) Glossy has a higher kelvin temperature giving it a cleaner white look slightly bluish if you view them side by side. Glossy also has a slightly darker black. Because of the way Matte scatters ambient light it gives off a slight bit more color saturation on some content. Glossy does perform brighter than the matte display. Viewing angles are identical on both.

If you use specs, not opinion in your decision.

1. Glossy has higher contrast (regarded by many as the most important picture element)
2. Glossy has the brighter display.
3. Glossy has slightly better color saturation.

All top features of the best picture/image. As far as concerns regarding color accuracy. I haven't put any bars or graphs up to them this is just what I see right away. Both can be calibrated/adjusted. But the viewing angles in laptop panels makes this a mute point. Both are of no use in a professional environment doing color correction. I wouldn't dare do CC on a laptop monitor and I have not met any Graphic Artists who don't have desktops to work on.

Now that being said, Glossy does give glare if bright light sources are behind you. In that regard matte wins. But people have been looking at glossy CRT TV's and computer displays for over 50 years. Now glare becomes and issue?

I don't work on rooftops or sport stadiums so glare was not a big issue for me.


"If gloss is better, why isn't there a gloss Cinema Display? Isn't this the top of the line TFT display? Isn't it considered the BEST flat screen for graphics use? That's what I've always heard."

There are true professional grade LCD monitors with a Gloss finish, for video Panasonic makes some very good one's as well as marshall. I can't remember if I've seen any sony's. Almost all Ultra High end monitors I've seen have been glossy.

To my knowledge Apple does not make LCD panels, nor do most computer makers. They buy them from samsung or toshiba like most of the industry then put their touch on it. Apple buys what it feels is best for it's customer base. I went to a large trade show and one of the manufacturers was showing their product (HD footage) on Apple Cinema Displays. Clearly it was not the best choice, as other manufacturers showcased their footage on high end (Glossy) monitors that looked stunning. Graphics may be different, when I work with graphic artist they use color profiles to make sure the printers print what they are looking at.

Hopes this helps.

If I were to get the new C2D MBP I will definitely go for the glossy. I currently have a matte CD MBP and this is my second matte LCD which is starting to show signs of mould growing on the underside of the protective layer.