Apple may extend antiglare display option to more Macs
Apple made a bold move roughly two years ago to begin transitioning its entire Mac product line away from matte displays and towards glass-enclosed glossy ones, but the company may be nearing a concession that these shiny, highly-reflective screens may not be for everyone.
The Cupertino-based company is currently mulling the possibility of extending antiglare display options to more of its Macs -- a feature now only available on the 17-inch MacBook Pro -- according to people who have proven familiar with the company's plans. Though speculative at this time, it would appear that the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros would be the most likely candidates to receive antiglare options.
The transition towards glossy displays appears to have been sparked by the original iPhone, whose glass touchscreen and black border resonated well with customers. The reception was favorable enough that Apple, in a bid to push the envelope and standardize materials across its product families, gave similar treatment to its iMac line a few months later.
Further emboldened, Apple announced in October its new line of unibody notebooks would also forgo matte displays for glossy ones, with the exception of a $50 antiglare option on the pricey 17-inch MacBook Pro. These new displays "provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies," Apple said, "and the edge-to-edge cover glass creates a smooth, seamless surface."
Not everyone was thrilled with the move, especially those members of Apple's core professional video and image editing communities, who argued that the glossy displays tend to complicate color matching. Others are indifferent to this effect, but just can't stomach the glare given off by the glossy screens. Some are road warriors who take their notebooks on different assignments each day, and sometimes find themselves at sunny sporting events, unable to escape the reflective properties of the screens.
Whatever the case, Apple appreciates the concern, as it did with the outrage over the brief absence of FireWire on its 13-inch notebook offerings. The Mac maker has been following the numerous petitions and online threads dedicated to the display matter and hears their customers' collective voice, those familiar with the matter say.
A glossy unibody MacBook Pro side-by-side with a previous-gen matte MacBook Pro | Source: Flickr user Loustechworld
In the meantime, customers averse to the glossy displays are left with only a couple of options. They can plunk down the extra change for a 17-inch MacBook Pro with the antiglare option, or send their glossy MacBook Pro to solutions provides like TechRestore, which offers a third-party matte screen replacement program for $200.
"GlareBook Pro?" their Web site chides. "We don?t think so."
Still, Apple's glossy displays offer their advantages and are here to stay for the foreseeable future. In addition to being easier to clean, they produce brighter, richer colors and deeper blacks, for a crisper overall image. These traits play well to the company's offerings, all of which cater to consumers' digital lifestyles.
For more on Apple's glossy displays, see page two of AppleInsider's in-depth unibody MacBook Pro review.
The Cupertino-based company is currently mulling the possibility of extending antiglare display options to more of its Macs -- a feature now only available on the 17-inch MacBook Pro -- according to people who have proven familiar with the company's plans. Though speculative at this time, it would appear that the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros would be the most likely candidates to receive antiglare options.
The transition towards glossy displays appears to have been sparked by the original iPhone, whose glass touchscreen and black border resonated well with customers. The reception was favorable enough that Apple, in a bid to push the envelope and standardize materials across its product families, gave similar treatment to its iMac line a few months later.
Further emboldened, Apple announced in October its new line of unibody notebooks would also forgo matte displays for glossy ones, with the exception of a $50 antiglare option on the pricey 17-inch MacBook Pro. These new displays "provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies," Apple said, "and the edge-to-edge cover glass creates a smooth, seamless surface."
Not everyone was thrilled with the move, especially those members of Apple's core professional video and image editing communities, who argued that the glossy displays tend to complicate color matching. Others are indifferent to this effect, but just can't stomach the glare given off by the glossy screens. Some are road warriors who take their notebooks on different assignments each day, and sometimes find themselves at sunny sporting events, unable to escape the reflective properties of the screens.
Whatever the case, Apple appreciates the concern, as it did with the outrage over the brief absence of FireWire on its 13-inch notebook offerings. The Mac maker has been following the numerous petitions and online threads dedicated to the display matter and hears their customers' collective voice, those familiar with the matter say.
A glossy unibody MacBook Pro side-by-side with a previous-gen matte MacBook Pro | Source: Flickr user Loustechworld
In the meantime, customers averse to the glossy displays are left with only a couple of options. They can plunk down the extra change for a 17-inch MacBook Pro with the antiglare option, or send their glossy MacBook Pro to solutions provides like TechRestore, which offers a third-party matte screen replacement program for $200.
"GlareBook Pro?" their Web site chides. "We don?t think so."
Still, Apple's glossy displays offer their advantages and are here to stay for the foreseeable future. In addition to being easier to clean, they produce brighter, richer colors and deeper blacks, for a crisper overall image. These traits play well to the company's offerings, all of which cater to consumers' digital lifestyles.
For more on Apple's glossy displays, see page two of AppleInsider's in-depth unibody MacBook Pro review.
Comments
Sometimes, Apple prefers form over function. There may be some benefits to a glossy screen, but the glare is a killer, in my book.
The MacBook Air's glossy is totally bearable, in turn.
(you're welcome solipism
Waiting for the "told you so" from our favorite whipping boy.
I'm waiting for my thank you's.
I'm waiting for my thank you's.
Don't forget it's just a rumour.
Don't forget it's just a rumour.
A rumour who's time has been a long time coming.
Further emboldened, Apple announced in October its new line of unibody notebooks would also forgo matte displays for glossy ones, with the exception of a $50 antiglare option on the pricey 17-inch MacBook Pro. These new displays "provide crisp images and vivid colors which are ideal for viewing photos and movies," Apple said, "and the edge-to-edge cover glass creates a smooth, seamless surface."
That was provided they were LEDs- which the iMac is still not.
Eyestrain and headaches, abnormal postures etc to reduce or "see around" the glare is not good for people.
Some people don't have a physical problem with glare, but a lot do.
I like the look of the new glass screens, (repeat for the glossy fan crowd: I like the better colors and contrasts of glassy screens!!) , but the price of glare comes at too much of a high price for those better colors and contrasts. Eliminate the glare and you have won me over.
We old graphic designers have used glassy CRTs for years, we know from experience the bad effects of glare, we didn't have a choice as matte LCD's didn't exist.
I'm glad Apple is realizing quite a lot of people absolutely will not buy a Mac with a glare type screen.
And before you all get started, I have examined all the alternatives:
1: Anti-glare films: Really? on a $3000 designer laptop? They dry out, yellow, crack and peel at the edges.
2: Replace the glossy with a matte screen: $200 and it voids your warranty, if you can get it done for future machines is doubtful.
3: Buy a limited edition $6000 Colorware "Stealth" MacBook Pro w/warranty: Insane, that's why only 10 are going to be made.
4: Switch to Windows or Linux: And lose thousands of dollars in software investment.
5: Hackintosh with a matte Thinkpad: Possible but not likely, security risk.
6: Replace the glare glass with 85% reduced glare "Museum Glass®": Would cost a lot and not completely prevent the glare. But 85% is a good start!
By the way thanks to everyone who has been working hard to bring this GLARE issue in front of Apple.
Click the link in my signature to make your glare problems known to Apple, this will be good for all. Even those who like the glassy displays, because by elliminating the glare and reflections the glassy screens will look A LOT BETTER!!
Just click the other link in my signature to see how much better antireflective glass can be.
I think it would be innovative, fashionable and trendsetting of Apple to have the best possible screen possible, if this means using Museum Glass® or another type of reflection/glare reducing glass. While all the other cheapo computer makers have glare glass screens, Apple's won't be.
EDIT:
I've found some prices for this anti-reflective glass from a framers website to give some idea of the costs:
Note these are retail prices, not wholesale or volume purchases:
Additional Cost For AR Reflection Free or Museum Glass
Print Size \tAR Reflection-Free \tMuseum Glass\t
11" x 14" \tadd $65.00 \tadd $80.00\t
16" x 20" \tadd $105.00 \tadd $135.00\t
20" x 25" \tadd $125.00 \tadd $150.00\t
24" x 30" \tadd $125.00 \tadd $150.00\t
30" x 38" \tadd $230.00 \tadd $295.00\t
7" x 21" \tadd $65.00 \tadd $80.00 \t
10" x 30" \tadd $105.00 \tadd $135.00\t
14" x 42" \tadd $235.00 \tadd $295.00\t
17" x 50" \tadd $245.00 \tadd $305.00
Disclaimer: I have no ties to Tru-Vue, Colorware or receive any compensation from any company. Just exploring solutions to the glare issue so I and others can continue using my favorite computing platform.
I would certainly take this option if it was offered on the iMac.
I am now in year 4 waiting to upgrade my iMac. It looks like it may now happen. I think that is why I had such disdain for the iPhone originally when Apple so obviously was adapting it's design for its desktop line to it.
http://macmatte.wordpress.com
Thanks.