Chances of seeing a Unibody 17" MATTE version?

Hello all,

With all the "feedback" Apple have had over no Matte version of the new MBP what do you think the chances are of seeing a Matte version option when the new 17" Unibody comes out?

I'm hoping the 17" Version is released in Jan at MacWorld but I'm guessing it's going to be glossy only which is a real shame.

What do you think?

Regards,
Simon

 

yeah, it is unlikely there will be a matte version of the screen. however, the 17" would arrive soon, probably at the next conference (like you said).

 

A core feature of the unibody design in the MBP is the edge to edge covering of glass since it's important for structural support of the screen. Unless they can figure out a way to make the glass matte, then there won't be a matte option.

Is the MBP really glossy in the classic sense anyways? Like I believe normally screens are glossy because they applied a coating on them. In the MBP, the glossy finish comes from the material being glass rather than some separate coating. Maybe they can finish the glass differently so it's less reflective.

 

entirely unlikely, and unnecessary, I will say it and say it again, the people that can't deal with a glass screen are people that don't even make an effort, most people are extremely happy with the change or unaffected.

and if you really want to get into it, there is a much stronger argument for a glass screen than any other panel out there.

I can almost assure you the majority of the people that have an issue with the screen are also the people that will have an issue with anything that is changed on a new machine, keyboard, trackpad, whatever.

Respect your own opinion more than anyone's, but don't be a d-bag and completely afraid of trying something new, and you will do just fine.

 

But why should we have glass shoved down our throats? Just because King Jobs said so? For writing hundred page reports, glossy is annoying to use!

 

the great and visionary leader mobs once said people do like glossy (when the previous gen mbp glossy screen first introduced)

it will be a hard press for me to go for another glossy notebook, personally, be it a mac/unix/linux/pc/alien/ET/UFO/whatever, unfortunately

 

Apple fan boys always say the Pro is a business class notebook and this is just one of many reasons they are not considered and frowned upon by IT apartments around the world.

Apple should give people a choice or at least a build to order type system where all they do is swap them.

Until anti glare is better from the factory this is the way it is.

I hate seeing my reflection while working in excel. It's annoying on my iMac A better solution to this is to simply rename the Pro line of notebooks.

 

Apple, like any manufacturer, is in it for the money. If they could make more money selling matte macbooks they would.

Unfortunately 80% of the consumers will prefer a glossy screen over a matte screen. Especially when they are viewed in a showroom.

Contrary to the name, the MBP isn't a real professional's notebook in my opinion.

 

@ passive:they give you an option of not buying their notebook.

 

And this is what everyone fails to understand. You don't like what Apple has to offer? TAKE YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE!

 

That's correct. However it is also why I don't buy Apple office software. I run that through windows since my notebooks I use for work are all Matte screens

We have iMacs at home right now since we like OSX.

 

As long as I can afford both I will. When I can't I know which I'll buy.

 

they can't make everyone happy and still make money.If you were Steve Mobs I bet you would do the same

 

Simply stating it's not a business line of notebooks. I know Apple's business is small and the way they want to run it is that. They are not actively trying to break into the corporate world with their current notebooks.

No company makes everyone happy.

And no I would not do the same. I would do something small that would at least give my products some advantages to be used in the business world that were cheap and easy to do. Build to order Matte screens is not something hard to do. Even having an anti glare coating or film put on at the the factory would be better then nothing and cost very little while offering a product.

This is just what I would do. Obviously Apple is not catering to these people right now and that is their choice.

 

by catering to these people you mean, YOU, right? who is to say that people in business, the keyword there being generic everyday business, so vague it doesn't even have a proper name, need a notebook with a matte screen? you?

who is to say they need a notebook or a computer at all? it is all relative, and it doesn't have anything to do with your particular opinion or mine.

 

if it was that easy...

 

No not me. Everyone that want's OS X but people like me who work in the IT department have to tell them no

But yes I would enjoy having OS X as well or at least duel booting. But I refuse to as there would be to much glare with over head florescent lights.

The screen is not the only reason they aren't allowed for people, but it is a reason I won't even though I have a choice in my position.

I just wish they had a Matte screen. Several other people I work with have macs at home as well.

 

that is one of the strangest things I have ever heard. for what reason would an IT department to not by an Apple computer? because of a glass screen? I am glad I am in no way associated or in contact with that IT department.

and for the record you can get an Anti-Glare film to put over the glass panel, a stupid idea, but yes it is available. Having a matte finish on a screen is in all regards not going to be as clear of an image as a perfectly clear glass panel. for something to be perfectly clear, it needs to be smooth, smooth equals reflective, which is a completely reasonable and logical compromise to make.

I can say from experience that if people that have problems with glossy or reflective screens would just use them for a week they would forget the issue entirely.

and, as others have put it, it is not a mystery that a glass screen will reflect light, most people aren't too worried about it, please remind yourself that it is an incredibly small group of people that are.

 

does this make sense to anyone else? you use office software in windows because of computers with matte screens? office software is probably that absolute last thing that would have any issues related to a non-matte display.

 

@circa - I work at an IT Help Desk and we get bombarded for requests for Macs. There are certain groups who use them exclusively here (developers, marketing, etc). But I can tell you I think that one of the reasons why they are not more widespread in our network is because they are not cost effective. For every 1 MBP we get, we can order 2 or 3 Windows based machines. Plus, users abuse their machines. We get countless machines brought back for damaged screens, dents and dings, and the all too famous water damage. Apple does not offer an accidental damage replacement plan, so it would cost us more money (exponentially more) to get these fixed. I've got 3 machines sitting above my desk because of damaged screens and water spill, and the company will not pay to have them fixed because it would be almost worth it just to buy a brand new machine.

**And just to add - I bought a 15" unibody MBP for my wife and she loves the glass screen. Her one complaint about it is that it doesnt come in pink like her Dell Inspiron**

 

In all honesty, before it was introduced, I decided that the refreshed MBP was where I was finally going to switch from windows to a mac. All the software I really need for work is finally available for OSX native, I detest Vista, appreciate the thoughtful design of OSX, the smoking hardware specs of the MBP, etc. However, the glossy screen really killed it for me. I also write papers, program, graph & run numbers all day in an office illuminated by fluorescent lights & next to a window- the glossy screen is really not an option. (I have inspected co-workers' glossies in similar light, and also used my wife's glossy mb for many cumulative hours) There are plenty of professionals like me who need to work on matte screens. Sad but true.

 

No glossy screens where I work at unless it is someone's personal computer they choose to own.

It's just 1 reason and I wish they had an option for the Matte version. No big deal as I only use an iMac at home now.

 

I have a 17 inch MBP Matte Screen and I typically hook it up to one or two external monitors with matte screens. Fortunately Dell continues to provide this option.

I have 8 notebook computers and only one has a glossy display. The glare is a problem in certain lighting conditions. I use my MBP for mostly for development. Glossy is on the way out. It's hard to get from Dell or HP outside of their business lines. An office alternative is to provide one or more external matte monitors.

One other possible solution for computers that are used on a desk most of the time is a hood. One could be made cheaply with cardboard and duct tape.

 

I think you mean "Matte is on the way out" as it's very evident that Glossy is here to stay.

 

Freudian slip.

Yes, matte is on the way out. There are many in my office lamenting that fact.

Dell charges more for stuff that's obviously used for business. A good example are their 20 inch LCD displays. The 1600x1200 configuration used to cost way more (double or more) than the 1680x1050 configuration because the former is more useful for work while the latter is more popular for entertainment. I have one 1600x1200 and two 1680x1050s.

 

I just find it funny that you associated it with being a professional. it has nothing to do with that, it is all personal preference, there aren't many situations where the screen is going to keep you from successfully completing a task, unless you are the most unadaptive person in the world. basically what I am saying, is that it is a really bad reason to not take advantage of a much more productive OS.

 

who sets those rules? that is ridiculous, someone just pushing their own personal preference across on other people because they can.

the thing that I have never understood is how people don't think matte displays don't also have glare, in my opinion it is much worse because glare on a matte display simply becomes white light, and the display is not visible. with a glass or glossy screen, you may have reflections but you can still easily see what you are doing. this can clearly be seen by taking either out in the sun, they will both be difficult to see, but a matte screen will have clearly visible hotspots where you can't actually see the display at all.

same goes for florescent lights as well.

 

The biggest issue to me is in offices with fluorescent lighting that isn't filtered. Windows are usually tinted heavily to block out a fair amount of light and I have blinds if the sun is particularly strong.

The option is still there for an external monitor or two which is quite a good solution, especially if you need to work with others on one workstation.

 

People above me. I could care less if someone gets a headache. However having them turn the computers to get rid of glare and such is always a consideration as they can damage them, spill things, or do something else stupid. Sometimes anti glare filters need to be put on them. We only do that for the normal stand alone LCD monitors.

As someone else also mentioned about the florescent lights that is a big complaint as well at some locations. It's worse when they change the tubes and they are brighter then the other ones in the room.

 

My only hope is that the Applies much better anti glare coating on those glossy screen in the future.

 

The technology is coming around and anti glare coatings are getting better and better. Someday we'll have the best of both worlds.