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    Do you like the current high gloss consumer laptop trend?

    Discussion in 'Notebook Cosmetic Modifications and Custom Builds' started by a529612, Aug 20, 2007.

  1. dv2500man

    dv2500man Newbie

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    I LOVE SHINY
    no, but seriously, i think glossy screens are awesome
     
  2. Farthen

    Farthen Newbie

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    I voted "No", because of the fingerprints (even if i think, it looks beautiful :) )
    Second reason was, because now it is 50% / 50% ;) 101 vs 101
     
  3. Ihateglossy

    Ihateglossy Newbie

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    Exactly.

    Shallow people like glossy. They are like “So sexy!”, “Shiny!”, “Sharper!”, “Bright colours!”, “Oooh me like shiny stuff!”. I'm sorry if I offended glossy lovers here. I have to admit I have the same "sexy, shiny, bright, sharp, colourful" feelings, but that's my emotional side and primary feelings kicking in. Then I think, analyze and use my reason and the conclusion is going for matte.

    I tell those who prefer glossy how can they see themselves on the screen and while at it comb their hair and some of them think a little more and go for matte. Others don’t want to think of that and keep on the illusion that glossy is better.

    I’d rather go for practicability over good looks when I’m choosing a screen or laptop. You can never, ever, have a glossy screen with zero-glare.

    The better image quality glossy-lovers boast is just a silly placebo effect instilled by the “Shiny equals good-looking picture” mentality. Just get a good matte screen with good contrast and if it’s not good for you tweak it yourself.

    When watching movies or viewing images I want to be looking at something as if I was there (matte), NOT as if I was looking at it through a window (glossy) so I choose matte.

    The thing I most hated on old CRT screens seems to have returned to terrorize my beloved LCD screens.
     
  4. dmacfour

    dmacfour Are you aware...

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    I like the matte look of IBMs and the metallic look of the Apple MBP much more than than glossy. I like simple lines over LED ridden glowing glossy things.
     
  5. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    I prefer matte myself. Seems to resist scratching better.
     
  6. zachareth

    zachareth Notebook Guru

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    Matte surfaces are the way to go. Glossy surfaces are

    1. Fingerprint magnets / high maintenance (laptops are for working not wasting ur time cleaning)
    2. Glare distracts from work at hand
    3. Scratches show up too easily
    4. Cheap looking

    As for screens I prefer matte. They are as clear as glossy screens without the glare. Ever notice how stand-alone monitors and TVs come with a matte finish screen?

    Most companies will try and sell the gloss as being more beautiful and sleek. But the truth is that glossy finish is simpler and cheaper to make than magnesium alloy matte finish. The gloss actually hides cheap plastic beneath. That's why good business laptops only come in matte finish. Because mature business professionals can tell good from bad quality.
     
  7. xpnoixtremezx

    xpnoixtremezx Newbie

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    I like my glossy laptop.
    But that's just because I've never tried matte.
     
  8. pacmandelight

    pacmandelight Notebook Deity

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    Glossy screens are overrated. The colors are unrealistic and over-saturated. My desktop monitors are matte and have better colors than my friend's glossy screen notebook.

    Glossy screen does not necessarily mean brighter and vivid colors compared to matte screens.

    Glossy shells are annoying to clean. Too much maintenance and time wasted wiping down fingerprints.
     
  9. unknown555525

    unknown555525 rawr

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    I use and like both. I do like Glossy screens alot better though.

    In direct sunlight, I can still see my Aspire One's glossy screen perfectly at full brightness, yet can't see my Compaq EVO's matte screen at all, actually everything on it looks kindof greenish when in direct sunlight.

    Every matte screen I've ever used,and the ones I currently own don't produce as high of a contrast, bright colors are produced well, but blacks are never as black as my glossy screens. Even when the matte sceens are completely off, the screens aren't as dark at most angles because when light hits a matte screen it scatters rather than reflects. Saying the colors on a glossy screen are oversaturated and unrealistic is just false, the colors are reproduced exactly the same as a matte screen, because the screens can be the exact same, just the protective covor that goes over it is what decides whether it's matte or glossy.

    Glossy paint on the notebook's exterior is great.That's all up to personal preference really. I don't find it that hard to keep fingerprints off of it really, a quick swipe over it with a piece of cloth and it's good as new. Putting the glossy notebook next to my all matte one shows a huge difference in appearance, the glossy one just looks SOOOO much nicer!

    Here's a pic I just took showing the difference between my two notebook's exterior finishes. At certain angles such as that, it's like a mirror, and at other angles it's just really shiny blue! I might actually take off those stickers on the compaq, repaint it, and add a high gloss clear coat so it has the same effect as my acer.
     
  10. Kieran801

    Kieran801 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I love it. Gives the laptop a good finish.
     
  11. pogitz

    pogitz Notebook Consultant

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    I like glossy. The shine and luster of glossy finishes give it a more elegant, and cleaner look. Like car paint finishes. the more shiny, the more it looks elegant. For some people ( like me ) , this outweighs the cons ( fingerprints, glare etc. ).
     
  12. Yotsuba

    Yotsuba Notebook Evangelist

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    I personally don't like the glossy look on the casing of a laptop. To me, it just screams out "steal me". However, when it comes to screens, I really don't have any preference. I could go either way, glossy or matte. To me, they both do the same job which is to display pictures on the screen.
     
  13. avanish11

    avanish11 Panda! ^_^

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    I HATE them. They may look good, but the fact that glossy surfaces give intense glare and they show fingerprints very easily outweighs any good lookingness of the gloss. My current laptop has a glossy shell, screen, and palmrest. I'm a bit of a neat freak, so I have to carry around a micro fiber cloth with the laptop and I usually wipe it down at least 3-4 times a day.
     
  14. siLc

    siLc Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    I prefer matte surfaces all over because I prefer function over form (looks), especially when it comes to working in bright daylight, where a glossy screen is pretty much useless.
     
  15. ravenmorpheus

    ravenmorpheus Notebook Deity

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    I hate it. My Asus M70VMs lid is black and shiny with very thin "pin stripes" across it and it gets marks all over it, the same for the palm rest although that's a silvery color but again i's shiny.

    I'd much prefer a matte finish like the PSP version 1 had.

    Mind you I like the look of Alienware laptops as well...
     
  16. skriefal

    skriefal Notebook Consultant

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    I've gone to extra effort and expense to avoid glossy screens on my two most recent laptop purchases. So no... I don't like the trend towards glossy screens.
     
  17. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I don't like it.
    And I'm quite happy that my SZ is rather matte.

    The screen is glossy - but not too much and I'm OK with that.
     
  18. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    No. Glossy surfaces collect grease and scatches too easily.
     
  19. cq50FUD

    cq50FUD Notebook Consultant

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    i think it looks good, until you take it our of the box.
    then your fingerprints,dust,and the rest suddenly attack your laptop, sad, i own a compaq cq50 and i get so angry and i am constantly cleaning the wrist pad (chrome finish) what genious's idea was to make a wrist pads, and the mouse pad, left and right clickers all chrome finished . thanks hp :)
     
  20. jlcamp7

    jlcamp7 Notebook Consultant

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    Even though I know they are considered "old school" by many now (mainly due to the fact like 9 million new laptops come out every week haha), I still love the design of the XPS m1330/1530. I wish some more companies or even Dell themselves would have continued to taken cues from such a high selling computer. I know they still use some of the design cues from it but now it seems like they have to make at least half of the casing glossy. Today I have a mini 9 coming in (in red), and I can't wait, but I know it is going to be a fingerprint magnet. It would have been just awesome if Dell would have built a mini that has the exact same design as the xps!!! WITH the matte finish top of course.
    Also my other laptop is an Asus F8 and it seems like I spend 5 minutes everyday, just wiping it down, because of the glossy black top!
    As for screens I think glossy tends to make colors pop a little more (however I think the matte screen on MAC Pro's are just amazing!), but I agree, I would like to see a mix between gloss/matte instead of complete opposite end of the spectrum choice.
     
  21. migs267

    migs267 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I like glossy finishing of laptop.. It looks fashionable, cool and hip. :)
     
  22. a36

    a36 Notebook Consultant

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    i like glossy, i think they look nice.

    as for the ease of fingerprints and smudging the finish, not being fat and sweaty, bathing and washing hands usually helps with that.
     
  23. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    Nope. I guess that's the only good thing about thinkpads - they aren't glossy and stylish.
     
  24. Bungalo Bill

    Bungalo Bill Notebook Deity

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    Glossy notebooks only look cool in the showroom. In reality, you get them home and they have fingerprints on them all the time.

    And the guy with the fat sweaty comment is ignorant. That was a pretty mean thing to say too. I do not sweat, I shower. My DV7T is a magnet for fingerprints.
     
  25. Sokonomi

    Sokonomi Notebook Guru

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    I like the gloss, ive got a samsung Q310 wich has a red edge finish,
    and I like it because the gloss makes it look like a nicely buffed car bonnet. :)
    The matte black ones just look boring and gritty to me.

    Besides, its just the wristpad part that gets marked while using it.
    A quick swipe with a microcloth when youre done is all it needs.

    What does bother me is the manufacturers slapping a big logo on the lid,
    like I want to pay 1000 quid to still be their free ad space..
     
  26. aan310

    aan310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    i HATE glossy...

    i wish my laptop (when my new one comes back to me) had a matte screen, metal palm rest, and the rest was not shiny.... unfortunately, the entire thing is shiny!
     
  27. Sokonomi

    Sokonomi Notebook Guru

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    The gloss screen is indeed a bit of a pain when used in high lit surroundings. But in anything going from ambient livingroom lighting and lower is just fine for me though. ;)

    Are there any significant ADVANTAGES of a glossy screen though?
    My desktop LCDs are all matte, dont see anything bad about it.
     
  28. gary_hendricks

    gary_hendricks Notebook Evangelist

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    I hate glossy surfaces, and my vote is also "NO".
     
  29. MGS2392

    MGS2392 NAND Cat!

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    No thanks. I prefer BRUSHED aluminum, like on MSI and HP EliteBooks. Gives it a classy, clean look. Not too fond of Apple's newer aluminum. The color isn't quite as nice as the previous models (MBP, PowerBook G4), and it just doesn't feel as metallic. Though it's still pretty solid.
     
  30. DetlevCM

    DetlevCM Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Just curious.
    Don't you scratch aluminium easily?

    And if you do, doesn't it look far worse than scratched matte plastic?
     
  31. fadingrose

    fadingrose Newbie

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    I did (thought it looked cool) - until I got my HP dv5 and started using it. Fingerprints all over the cover (black), fingerprints all over the touch pad and screen. Even on the quick play/volume buttons (above the keyboard). It's really ugly looking when you are in a well-lit room and of course, no amount of wiping will do anything - since you can't exactly not touch the laptop.

    Not such a problem for the keyboard, since that part is not glossy, but boy, it is annoying!
     
  32. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

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    lol no kiddin i hate it to so i went matte
     
  33. rflcptr

    rflcptr Notebook Consultant

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    Matte is the reason I'll be going with a Latitude for my next Dell purchase.
     
  34. Hualsay

    Hualsay Notebook Evangelist

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    I don't mind glossy, its alright but when the sun hits it OMG its horrible! So just keep it out of the sun and your fine :)
     
  35. mystery905

    mystery905 Notebook Deity

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    I think it has gotten out of hand. Now even the keyboard is glossy on the Toshibas.
     
  36. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    Personally, I love glossy screens.

    I never plan to have a matte screen again. :D


    Now, GLossy Keyboards... Thats a little out of hand.
     
  37. ECyde

    ECyde Notebook Consultant

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    Not a fan of cleaning it every five seconds, and the fact that minor scratches show up so easily. Despite that, the OCZ Whitebook in its full Grand Piano Glossy Black glory is beautiful. Pictures do not do it justice.
     
  38. nons_

    nons_ Notebook Consultant

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    glossy screen on my vaio aw is fine, it's desktop replacement. matte screen on my nc10 on the other hand is a must, as it's a ultra portable device, and will be used more underway than stationary. glossy finish is a no-go on both, I dont want to have fingerprints on my lid when I close it! my vaio's finish is matte, but the nc10 (black) is glossy, it sucks. it always looks terrible, no matter how often I clean it.
     
  39. lzrsfa

    lzrsfa Notebook Consultant

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    Glossy screens: OK
    Glossy anything else: NOT OK

    I honestly don't know what the deal is. EVERYONE is doing it now. It's so tacky!

    Matte surfaces FTW
     
  40. darthvader1432

    darthvader1432 - Audiophile -

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    I love them because of how they look. just so .

    but I also despise them because if you touch it, it leaves fingerprints
     
  41. Miyabi

    Miyabi Notebook Evangelist

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    glossy screen and lid still acceptable. but whole body glossy.. tough to clean it up. usually will end up with alot of fingerprints :D

    conclusion, i prefer matte surface over glossy. but glossy piano looks nice. lol
     
  42. Dspr_02

    Dspr_02 Notebook Evangelist

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    The glossy-ness of my laptop is almost too much.

    The lid is well done and seems to hide a lot of patterns depending on how you hold it to the light. The glossy is just right on this. The palm rests are not glossy and have texture (unlike the HP's thank god). I think that the bezel and the trim on the inside should have been non glossy or some other material besides glossy plastic.

    I am tired so if the post above makes no sense, well too _-_-_-_ bad... :D

    Short Version:
    I dislike the all glossy finish of laptops.
     
  43. FoxTrot1337

    FoxTrot1337 Notebook Deity

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    I hate it and the 16:9 screen ratio too.
     
  44. sendmarksmail

    sendmarksmail Notebook Evangelist

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    I wouldn't mind the 16:9 ratio, but just make them high resolutions...a 15.6" can handle full HD (1920x1080) comfortably textwise, not too small, not too big.

    One thing I hate about my HP dv5t, is the glossiness of the body. I love the silver keyboard, it doesn't fade or have those oily marks that black keys get over time.

    I love the simple design though, just tiny squares. Glad I got it before they completely stopped making it. Now all these ugly models with circles are out. Never buying HP again until they make more subtle/simple designs...maybe take a page out of Apple and make unibodies as well...
     
  45. bemymonkey

    bemymonkey Notebook Guru

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    Matte all the way, especially on screens. Even LED backlights won't let you properly use a glossy screen in sunlight...
     
  46. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    Matte is better for me. Macbook Pros went with extra glossy screens and two friends of mine didn't buy them specifically because of them.
     
  47. Mr. B

    Mr. B Notebook Consultant

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    I don't care for glossy screens although my main laptop has one... luckily I seldom use mine outdoors.

    As for exteriors, painted magnesium shells from VAIOs of old were the best...a great finish but not glossy.
     
  48. MisterQ

    MisterQ Notebook Consultant

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    A glossy lid is fine with me, but a full-gloss laptop (I saw one of Toshiba, which I think are high on glossy) is a no-no. Matte screens ftw. I remember my friend using a PSP that's glossy, and he had a hard time using it under the sun, while for me, it was pretty dim, but still a bit readable :)

    It makes me sad that when I go to the mall, 70% of the laptops are glossy, especially with the big brands :\.

    Very soon, we're gonna see a laptop with a glossy motherboard, glossy hard drive, hell, the whole laptop's a mirror.

    16:9 is fine with me, as long as the res is OK. 1024x576 is epic fail on netbooks though. 1024x600 is already tough enough.
     
  49. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

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    I dont really care as long as it does not limit the usage. For screens I would rather have a bright glossy than a dim matte and for the finish I dont really care. The uglier it is the less likely it would get stolen.
     
  50. Howitzer225

    Howitzer225 Death Company Dreadnought

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    Like it a bit, since it's really cool looking but gets irritatingly dirty easily.
     
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