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#1 2007-04-13 11:01 am
- future_mac_owner
- love mac, hate pc, but stuck with an pc
- From: in a 5x5 cubical
- Registered: 2007-04-12
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Matte or Gloss screen?
In an mouth or so, i'm going to be purcheiseing an macbook pro 17" + 3gb ram + 200 gb harddrive + Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium, but i can't decide whether or not to get an glossy widescreen or just the regular screen
any suggestions
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#2 2007-04-13 11:16 am
Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
Usually a personal preference.
It will also depend if you plan to use outdoors in sunlight.
If you can, hands (eyes) on experience. At an Apple store?
Computers never do what you want them to do; only what you tell them to do.
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#3 2007-04-13 11:18 am
- mostlyharmless
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- From: San Diego
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
I personally hate the glossy screen, so I would recomend the regular one. Go to a store and look at both; if you havn't already.
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#4 2007-04-13 11:23 am
- mrreet2001
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
I much prefer the matte screen over the glossy. When I use my girlfriends glossy screen it bugs the crap out of me.
Oh and stick with the 160GB Hd ... the 200GB is only a 4200 RPM drive.
Last edited by mrreet2001 (2007-04-13 11:23 am)
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
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#5 2007-04-13 11:25 am
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
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- From: JP, MA
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
I hate the glossy.
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#6 2007-04-13 2:16 pm
- future_mac_owner
- love mac, hate pc, but stuck with an pc
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
i haven't order yet,but i going to use it for photoshop n stuff
it will probly be inside
i think i should bye an external hd instead of the 200gb
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#7 2007-04-13 2:18 pm
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
An external HD would give you the additional space you need and could also function for backup. And also consider a dock.
I'm not dead yet.
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
"There are few things graven in stone, excepting your date of death."
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#8 2007-04-13 2:39 pm
- Donkey Butter
- jerk face

- From: over yonder
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
if you are using this as a desktop then something like the Elevator will come in handy. it will bring your display closer to eye height saving yourself a pain in the neck. it will also help keep your machine cool.
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#9 2007-04-13 2:58 pm
- future_mac_owner
- love mac, hate pc, but stuck with an pc
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
i have been looking at the elevater,i got the wireless keyborad n mouse in the mail 2 day
whats the best case out there 4 the 17" macbook
Last edited by future_mac_owner (2007-04-13 3:03 pm)
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#10 2007-04-13 9:39 pm
- rufio
- Let the funeral start, hear the casket close...

- From: texas/ohio
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
I have a Waterfield Designs bag (sfbags.com) for my 15" MBP and it is amazing for what it does. Very well built, plent of room, but not too bulky, can't say enough good things about this bag.
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everything is second after first."
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#11 2007-04-13 9:46 pm
- future_mac_owner
- love mac, hate pc, but stuck with an pc
- From: in a 5x5 cubical
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
they look pretty nice
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#12 2007-04-14 9:46 am
- CrashingtehWarehouse
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
I've heard some debate from people who deal with photography that the glossy is better for them because of the color saturation or some junk like like. Personally, however, I prefer the matte finish.
You're going to want to be mindful of where you plan on using your book. If it's in a high lit area you'll have glare from the glossy.
Alright, now, who wants to be transistorized?
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#13 2007-04-14 12:01 pm
- future_mac_owner
- love mac, hate pc, but stuck with an pc
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
theres an window behind the desk but thats it
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#14 2007-04-14 12:13 pm
- macnuke
- just a plano guy
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
future_mac_owner wrote:
theres an window behind the desk but thats it
errr... it's not mobile? 
you won't have it anywhere else?
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#16 2007-04-14 2:24 pm
Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
Donkey Butter wrote:
if you are using this as a desktop then something like the Elevator will come in handy. it will bring your display closer to eye height saving yourself a pain in the neck. it will also help keep your machine cool.
I really wanted one of those when I was using my Pismo as my primary (only) machine. I just couldn't get past the price...
Wandering through an Office Depot I found a telephone stand that raised it up to a more managable level, was nice and clear just like that stand, and only cost (if I remember correctly) between five and ten bucks. Worked like a charm.
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#17 2007-04-15 2:03 am
- knobtwirler
- Anthropocentric Temporal Chauvinist

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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
I've seen the glossy screen in relatively low light conditions and the glare from ceiling mounted halogen bulbs was extremely distracting, a bit like trying to shoo away flies and bees at a picnic.
If you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's you.
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#18 2007-04-15 2:24 am
- blackzarg
- Member

- Registered: 2007-02-23
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
The Glossy is supposed to make colors look better, and I think it does, but when people say there is glare, it's always there. You need to turn the lights off completely to have no glare, so that bugs me a lot. My vote goes for anti-glare!
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#19 2007-04-15 10:35 am
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
blackzarg wrote:
The Glossy is supposed to make colors look better...
That's all well and good if you only look at colors. If you're actually creating that ain't so helpful at all.
...not that any laptop screen is reliable for color work anyway...just saying, is all : )
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#20 2007-04-15 11:52 am
- future_mac_owner
- love mac, hate pc, but stuck with an pc
- From: in a 5x5 cubical
- Registered: 2007-04-12
- Posts: 30
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
macnuke wrote:
future_mac_owner wrote:
theres an window behind the desk but thats it
errr... it's not mobile?
you won't have it anywhere else?
i'll probly use it at skool, none of my classes have windows
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#21 2007-04-15 12:59 pm
Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
matte.
especially if u plan on using ur computer outside at all.
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#22 2007-04-15 3:28 pm
- mrreet2001
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
Let me put it to you this way....
If you go with glossy
If there as windows ... they will glare sometimes to the point of not being able to see the screen at all.
If there is ANY LIGHT your face will show up on the screen if you are looking at something dark. (like a webpage or a picture)
Last edited by mrreet2001 (2007-04-15 3:28 pm)
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
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#23 2007-04-15 5:14 pm
- ConnertheCat
- 7 Months Later

- From: Penfield, NY
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
mrreet2001 wrote:
Let me put it to you this way....
If you go with glossy
If there as windows ... they will glare sometimes to the point of not being able to see the screen at all.
If there is ANY LIGHT your face will show up on the screen if you are looking at something dark. (like a webpage or a picture)
With a glossy, this is true until you move the screen.
A matte screen however is totally worthless regardless of angle in these situations, as any direct sunlight renders them totally worthless.
*strongly dislikes his iBook G4's matte screen*
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#24 2007-04-15 6:11 pm
Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
basically either way, in direct sunlight, you're smurfed.
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#25 2007-04-15 8:26 pm
- WhirlinGraphics
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Re: Matte or Gloss screen?
Matte.
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