October 15th, 2008
R.I.P. Apple matte screen displays
The thing that bums me out the most about yesterday’s MacBook announcements is Apple’s move to all-glossy displays. I’ll make no bones about it – I loathe glossy displays – especially on a notebook computer.
Apple will spin it that blacks look darker and colors are more saturated, blah, blah, blah. It’s a load of garbage. How are we expected to read the screen when the glare is practically blinding? (Don’t even get me started on fingerprints).
Notebook computers are designed to be used in different locations, and like you I frequently use my matte-screen MBP outside. The glare from a glossy display (especially on a sunny day or if you’re wearing a white shirt) makes the computer more difficult to use outdoors, or even in a car. Apple’s choice of fashion over function is completely unacceptable and it needs to offer a matte-screen option if they’re going to win me back.
You can see the awful, mirror-like glare for yourself in the new MacBook video that Apple posted (screen shot above). I thought that they’d try to hide it but it’s almost like they’ve gone out of their way to promote the glare on the screen. It’s horrible!
I first wrote about my disdain for glossy displays back in January with the announcement of the MacBook Air. What started as an option on the MacBook Pro, became the only choice on the MacBook. Then the iMac. The MacBook Air. Now Apple’s gone 100 percent glossy across their entire line (as I warned they would several times): notebooks, desktops and monitors. Bah! If you need a notebook and detest glossy as much as I do, the only remaining options are the leftover white MacBooks for US$999 or the old MBP17.
Related:
Does the glossy screen of the new iMac suck?
Death to the glossy display!
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Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.
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