MacBook Mod: Do You Hate the Glossy Screen?

Do You Hate the Glossy Screen?

This man did, so he got rid of it. By finding an appropriate screen with the same dimensions, he was able to replace the glossy screen of his Black MacBook with a matte panel originally destined for a Sony laptop. Obviously, this mod isn't for everyone. Swapping LCD panels isn't exactly simple. According to the original modder, who happens to work fulltime as a laptop repair guy, this was one of the hardest mods he's ever done. Here's a few photos from the surgery:



Both screens had identical cables and screws; the hard part was the disassembly.




A photo of a matte Black MacBook side by side with a glossy White MacBook:



What do you think, is it worth the effort?

The gloss screen is much better than a matte one if you keep it well kept. Get some iClean. The photo of the gloss screen white macbook turned off looks like you have cleaned it with water and a crap cloth, very smudged
Posted by Alex Rice (Horsham) on September 21, 2007
Wow! only reason which have kept me from not upgrading to Macbook have been the damn glossy screen. Well not buying a Macbook though, as it might be quite hard and expensive to get a hold of those 13,3" matte ones.
Posted by Hount on September 23, 2007
yes I want a macbook but because it comes with glossy only I am thinking of a Macbook Pro. The warmth of the matte screen is far better than seeing any reflection. I want my photos in a silk finish so I sure as heck don't want to see my images like the glossy photos. They say that a glossy photo is also sharper but so what? The silky artistic image is more beautiful even if it is slightly less sharp.
Posted by Jeffrey on October 02, 2007
The glossy screen is for me the reason to never buy a Macbook. I was lucky to get an iMac with a matte screen before Apple ruined those as well with glossy screens.
Posted by Julian on October 14, 2007
I actually kinda like my Macbook's glossy screen and never really thought much about it before... Is it really that much of a bother?
Posted by Jeff on October 16, 2007
i thought i was the only one who hated the glossy screen.
i too purchased a 24" imac before the plague of the glossy screen.
from the first time i saw a macbook with a glossy screen i hated them. why do i want to see myself in every video or photo i edit?
Posted by joshua on October 17, 2007
I prefer the glossy
Posted by Thomson on October 18, 2007
I'm not defending the glossy screen, but I have to mention that you're missing the point... It's not glossy to be shiny, it's glossy because that's the result of leaving off the matte finish. And you would want to do THAT because the matte finish blurs pixels slightly. This hasn't been a real concern in the past, but the smaller pixels get, the more pronounced the blurring will be.
Posted by Matt on October 22, 2007
Can you tell us the part number of the matte display?
Posted by Lyno on October 22, 2007
Glossy better!!!! ugh ugh
Posted by Patrick on October 24, 2007
i have no problem with the clarity of the matte finish on my screen. it's very clear and any additional clarity you get from the glossy screen is ruined by the glare and smudges that show up in a much more pronounced way

the glossy really only has the advantage if you're working in the dark and theres no other source for a glare
Posted by Anonymous on October 24, 2007
i used to dislike glossy screens until i upgraded from my ibook to my current macbook. the clarity just seems to be much better on the glossy, just keep it clean like everyone is saying.
Posted by chris on October 24, 2007
You should have replaced it with a screen from an OLPC machine. Those things are purported to be visible in direct sunlight! I love taking my MacBook out to the deck in nice weather to work, but I have to keep shifting it around as the sun moves to find shade.
Posted by another person named chris on November 16, 2007
Mac now offers antiglare, FYI
Posted by Ross Terada on December 01, 2007
Why has no one mentioned the fact that reflections from highly reflective surfaces can be significantly reduced through the use of coatings. Good camera lenses and filters are all multicoated, as a re spectacle lenses. Why doesn't Apple give the best of all worlds by multi-coating their glossy screens?
Posted by Andy on December 10, 2007
Why not get that gloss really revved up with some gloss wax? Seriously, if you want glare, reflections, and uneven image viewing, the glossy screen is what you want. Sort of like a shiny car, but worse.
Posted by Bob Crowley on December 27, 2007
I detest this glossy screen. I ordered a MacBook from Apple, and nobody mentioned the damn glossy screen - nor was there a word about it on their website. I would not have bought it had I known.
Posted by Bob Aldo on December 28, 2007
I hate the glossy screen. Never mind the lights reflecting in it, my problem i what the glossy screen is doing to my eyes. An hour or longer of use leaves me with eye strain, dry eyes and a dull headache.
I ordered an anti glare screen protector and I'm looking into anti glare glasses, but if they don't work I will be getting shut of my Macbook. Which would be a real pity as I love everything else about it.
Posted by Stephen O'Hare on January 08, 2008
yet again mac truy to dictate what its users want rather than giving them what the really want .
why will mac os not maximise its windows
Posted by fillip on January 09, 2008
My employer just got me a new Dell peecee (not my idea) last week that has the glossy screen and I already can't stand it. If I have a bad hair day I'm reminded constantly because all I can see is my own reflection and the florescent light fixtures behind me on the ceiling. No degree of futzing with the position of the computer or tilt of the screen completely cures the problem. I don't care if the pixels are slightly less crisp or the contrast a little lower on a matte-finish screen. I found out Dell doesn't give you a choice on the Precision 4300 either. Bleh!
Posted by Mike on January 20, 2008
i can see both sides of the discussion and personaly would prefer a matt screen but does it realy make so much difference ?
Posted by Anonymous on February 18, 2008
I am (still) a PC user and would like to make the switch, but the glossy screens (of MacBook or iMac) are preventing me from doing so.
I cannot tell you how many times I was standing in front of a MacBook in a shop, pondering whether the glossy screen isn't that bad after all and finally coming to the conclusion that I really hate glossy screens. I also hated myself for taking a look at a MacBook again as I had done this several times before, coming to the same conclusion.
One would assume that Apple should have good reasons for choosing glossy screens, but in this case they miss the opportunity as many customers dislike glossy screens and rather buy a Windows notebook.
@Apple: Why don't you capture the customer group of 'glossy screen haters' by offering a matte screen for the MacBook? You are already trying to position the black MacBook as premium model. Why don't you just add a matte screen?
Posted by Andy_Tokyo on March 13, 2008
coming from matte screens, moving to glossy is really not that big of a deal. you may think there's a world of difference but there really isnt. because the problems with glossy screens before was that it wasn't bright enough/ nowadays they are so bright and vibrant that you don't notice the reflections.

Also once those hi-def screens roll in, only glossy will do it justice. as the matt screen simply just blurs it all.

seriously, look at what is gained, you get darker blacks,sharper image and wonderful vibrant colors.

you only notice reflections when you remind youself. look at things objectively. then be honest with yourself. i think you see what i mean.
Posted by let me tell you on March 15, 2008
even though the fingerprints suck on glossy, i still prefer it
Posted by K on March 22, 2008
glossy is exactly the same. the only way someone could notice a glossy screen is if they had it on all the way dim or were outside. since i am in neither of these conditions i think you are all stupid. yes i know. biased and inconsiderate. but i dont care either
Posted by me on April 04, 2008
I'm pretty sure any professional will prefer the matte. Anybody who is just using it as a toy and wants to get headaches from the screen will LOVE the glossy.
Posted by TJH on May 18, 2008
I have a Dell Inspiron 1505 (Core Duo 1.66) with a glossy screen, and I will never buy a glossy screen again due to the reflections. This week, I took delivery of a refurbished 2.16 Core Duo iMac with a matte screen direct from Apple. I am very happy with this iMac. Sure, I don't get the 3 ghz and the Firewire 800 of the newest iMac, but what I have is fast enough and I get the matte screen.
Posted by Charles on May 26, 2008
I freaking hate glossy laptops. I have one matte and one glossy and the matte is 100 x better in terms of saving my eyes from strain :)
Posted by Natasha on May 27, 2008
what about macbook Air with LED
Posted by zain on June 09, 2008
glossy sucks. I personally have an anti-glare macbook pro, but I used a friend's macbook at college once in a lecture hall and all I saw was the faces of the people behind me.
Posted by dman on June 30, 2008
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