[folklore]

I'm with you, Rob. In the last generation, I was willing to pay several hundred dollars more for a MBP because of the extra 2 inches of screen real estate and a matte screen.

My MBP is only about 18 months old, so I've got a lot of time before my wife will let me buy a new computer again - at least 18-24 months from now. Probably longer. I can only hope that Apple makes a matte-screened portable in the meantime. Given the design of the new laptop line, I'm not holding my breath for that.

[uclajames]

Matte is the only screen for me too!!!!!! I would never buy one of those glossy screens!

[Core2]

Pardon my ignorance but has anyone seen a truly good matte glass screen that works well for color reproduction. I know there are a bunch of matte lovers out there and you have very valid points but if the design structure calls for a glass screen for durability, then are there matte options out there for a glass screen? My matte MBP has a flexible membrane on the front and is definitely not glass. I don't think that Apple specifically went out to get all the matte screen users out there, I think it was a structural decision combined with sales numbers of existing units.

BTW, how many matte screen monitors are available? Just wondering...

[mactarkus]

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I actually like the glossy screen on my MBA. Never once in my travels have the cons of the glossy screen ever occurred to me. I was nervous when buying my previous MBP so I was conservative and got the matte screen. My experience with the MBA though has made me comfortable with it and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new MBP. BTW, the lighting in planes isn't bad for glossy screens in my experience.

[estumpges]

I have a 15" MacBook Pro with the glossy screen and I have to admit I love the display. Super bright and great color! Compared to my dad's 15" matte Dell screen, the MacBook Pro's glossy screen wins hands down for watching movies or editing photos. Glare has never really been an issue for me, however I do most of my work indoors. I understand that a lot of people would like the option to have it their own way but as someone has already pointed out, this does cost Apple more in the production process. I doubt Apple would have made the decision to eliminate glossy unless a vast majority of buyers were choosing glossy over matte. Perhaps if there is tremendous backlash from the decision, they will rethink the move, but at this point it looks like Apple is moving full speed ahead with glossy screens.

[peetz]

People who say the love the glossy screen -- just don't get it.

I have a glossy iMac. It is brillian, only when it can be positioned so there are no reflections. It is utter garbage, bad for my eyes, raises my blood-pressure mad, when it faces a window with reflections.

I will not buy a glossy Mac.

People who love glossy also are not writers, who stare at a screen for 16 hours a day, typing text. I don't care about photos and pop colors. I need a computer for writing, and I will not buy a glossy Mac screen.

[albertw]

SomeTechGuy said:

I ordered my MBP in June 2007. I can't remember if I got Matte or Glossy. How could I find that out?

Glossy is easy - if you can see yourself in the screen well enough to shave, you have glossy. Matte is non-reflective, no shaving.

[ZeroGravX]

I too am very glad I have a MacBook Pro with a Matte screen. I was upset to hear there would be newer better MacBook Pro's as I bought mine only 2 months ago. But, now I'm not so upset.

[mswebb]

X glossy screen
X mini video port (requires dongle)
X firewire 800 only (requires dongle)
X black on silver keyboard and bezel

The MacBook Pro is no longer an elegant tool. I wish my old PowerBook was still a viable computer and I'll settle for my current MacBook Pro but I will only grudgingly update to the new model.
Too bad Apple won't admit the gaffs and fix this.

[leicaman]

musicplusmac said:

I am not totally disappointed with the new macbooks. just mostly ha. There are too many video and audio professionals out there that have invested in firewire devices and it's ridiculous that the new macbooks only have USB. not even an express card slot!! and even the macbook pros only have firewire 800! I'm an musician and I have home studio that's based around my first gen macbook pro. I was totally expecting the new line up to be so amazing that it would make me WANT to upgrade. Firewire 400 is way too important to me. I don't know what I'm gonna do when it's time to upgrade my machine. The glossy screen I don't mind as much just because my macbook pro is usually docked and hooked up to a Dell monitor(they are much cheaper than apple's monitors) but I do despise the glossy only option for notebooks. Apple just lost another sale.

The Firewire 800 port (and the future Firewire 3200 ports) are backwards compatible with Firewire 400. You haven't lost a thing.

As for not buying a MacBook Pro because I can't get a glossy screen, well, what am I going to buy? A Thinkpad?

Yeah, as if...

But I hope Apple gets so much negative feedback that they have to relent.

[pcharles]

I recently switched from a PowerBook to Macbook with glossy screen and cannot say that I've noticed the glossy problems. If I pay careful attention I can see the reflections, but I'm not bothered by them.
I'd be more concerned about the missing FireWire on the Macbook. That Kills it for home video editing.

[pcharles]

Can they make the matte screen in glass? If glass is required for the design, it might be an issue.

Most PC notebooks seem to be going glossy as well. It adds bling!

[jasonh1234]

You know... Looking at the lineup on Apple's site...

I think the name Pro was just tacked onto their regular MacBooks to justify the price tag for the highest end models.

Think of it more as "There's now a 15" MacBook and the 15" MacBook Pro was discontinued leaving only a 17" MacBook Pro."

Then everything seems ok.

[technolawyer]

Hear hear Rob! Well stated! Finally, a MacWorld editorial with which I agree.
Fortunately, there is a workaround.
For years, I used a PowerBook as my sole computer. I brought it to work every morning and brought it back home every night. Now, I have identical Mac Pros at work and at home. I was able to make this change because of the iPhone, which serves 99% of my portable needs plus even at home I do most of my reading on my iPhone (thanks to Google Reader).
As for my November 2005 PowerBook, I still have it for one purpose -- giving Keynote presentations.