Anti-Glare and TrueLife - Terrible features?

What are your thoughts about the shiny (almost mirror like) high gloss screen types? Do people actually like it?

I think it’s terrible, I can see myself in the screen and all of the lights around me. They are supposed to reduce glare and all but in my opinion it creates it.

I'm comparing this to what I prefer using – standard TFT displays.

 

It really depends. Some prefer glossy displays (and not all gloss finishes are created equally - my father's Vaio SZ doesn't reflect nearly as much as my old XPS m140 does) and some prefer matte. Me, I can get used to both, but glossy are useless in an environment such as an office with overhead fluorescent bulbs or outside, where matte is better.

The more I use my E6400, the more I like using matte again.

Greg

 

If you think that glossy screens are horrible, stick to the matte types as I doubt me liking them is going to sway your opinion. Having said that, and having used both types, I really would settle for either.

I have not had any significant issues thus far, while the glare is occasionally distracting, my eyes do not focus on it 90% of the time. Repositioning myself or the computer is usually the answer if I seem to be in a bad spot. I think that the glossy screens are at their best when you are watching a movie, looking at photos, or gaming.

Mattes are probably the most practical screens, but on most of the laptops I have seen, they are also pretty blah blah. Much rather have a desktop screen if I were going to do the matte at all. They tend to look a lot more photo-real compared to their laptop friends.

If you took a look at the reviews of most laptop screens, you would find that the majority, matte or glossy, high res or no, do not produce quality images on par with larger monitors. They all have a long way to go.

 

I have a dell with true life and until recently I liked it. Recently I've noticed its become hard to read text on it. Never had this problem with matt screens. Seems unclear and poor contrast (until recently I thought this was much better than matt, despite tweakin. Black font looked purpley grey.

However I've found the problem and its not one I'd have expected. The problem is my glasses! I've recently upgraded them and got the antiglare coating this time round. When I put my old glasses (no anti-glare coating) on all looks well. On matt screens there is no difference between the pairs.

So if you have glasses with anti-glare coating I'd avoid truelife which also has an antiglare coating on it.
I'll just have to put the old ones on whenever I use my laptop and next time avoid the anti-reflection coating on my lenses. Makes them harder to clean too!

True life has its problems then (not very good outside either) but it does make DVDs and photo's look clear and almost up to what they'd look like on a desktop monitor. With standard glasses its also easy to work with indoors.

 

I like glossy screens and don't mind reflections as long as the backlight is bright enough. Glossy coating enhances contrasts and makes colors more vibrant.

I understand that some people don't like it though.

As far as I know glossy screens are not supposed to reduce glare.

Anti glare is another word for matte screens. True life means glossy.

 

I prefer glossy screens as well. At the places I use my current notebook I don't really have a problem with the reflection. I do have more problems now than I did a year ago as it seems my CCFL backlight isn't as bright as it used to be. The backlight has also gotten more even somehow. Before one side of the screen was visibly darker with the brightness turned down, but not anymore.

 

I like it so long as im not in an environment with a ton of lights everywhere. It makes the picture much better.

 

Matte, FTW!

 

Matte, for life!

 

the m1330 LED screen does the glossy look perfectly. I could write a whole paper on why its so good, or I can also just say "It Looks Perfect!"

The new Macbook on the other hand, is the perfect example of "WHAT NOT TO DO." Its the worst led back lit glossy screen I have ever seen in my life.

 

I prefer matte myself. The glossy in my 1520 isn't bad but when I had to take it to classes for a few weeks I had a class that was on the southwest side of the building ... at 5 in the afternoon. I couldn't see anything other than the sun or my face.

When Dell sent me my replacement 1420, I made sure to specify that they send me one with a matte screen.

 

i prefer glossy myself and if i ever need a matte finish for a while they sell sheets you can put over the glossy and make them a flat finish then peel em off later