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I returned my 24" iMac because the glare was too distracting in my office. I guess I'm not alone.

ME.

I like my matte screen imac, never did like glossy screens.

"But if color evaluation is important to you, and you want a Mac, then you will have to step up to a pro machine. Or live with the shine."

...or plug a Cinema HD into it since you should be using 2 monitors anyway. But given the option, I'd still get a matte.

will not buy a glossy imac. hate reflections. love being first to post.

The iMac has a glass cover over the glossy screen, yes? Of what use will coating the cover do with after-market anti-glare applications?

Ack! What happened? I know I was first. I know it.

I saw the new iMacs at the Apple Store.


I vote for a matte option.

Funny, I've been doing production design for 17 years and have yet to own a matte monitor. So WTF is this "matte surface is better for evaluating color in images" BS?

if this helps apple make money then I am all for it

I think there is a lot of crap being talked about the glossy screen. I have had my new 24" iMac for 2 weeks, and reflections are not an issue. Its only really reflective when turned off!
I found the display to be too bright at times, but a program called Shades fixed that.

I bought a new 24'' iMac after it came out and my biggest concern was the screen. I'm a graphic designer so the glare was a huge issue for me until I actually saw it in person. Since I've had it at home for about 2 weeks now, I don't even notice the glare. Instead the colors look amazingly saturated and compared to the Dell screen that I have at work (hooked up to a G5 tower) it shows detail and color accuracy that a cheap Dell could never provide. I'm a happy camper, but I'd imagine that Apple would offer an option for a matte screen sometime in the future.

I don't care if Apple offers a matte option; if it doesn't cost them more to have two options, go for it.

I love the glossy screen on my 24" iMac; I upgraded from a matte notebook, and everything looks so much crisper and shinier now.

Reflections should be solved by having proper lighting and screen position in your room. I see how this is hard to guarantee with a notebook, but the iMac deserves a whole room setup of its own.

People have always got to find something to bitch about....

500 grit sandpaper works great

I do extensive Photoshop work, and am planning to buy a Mac Pro early next year; I'm considering either the 23" cinema display or Eizo's 24" CE240W graphics monitor. The money is not really an issue for me, so I've been going back and forth on which monitor to buy. If Apple releases new monitors, and they are all glossy like the iMacs are, my decision will have been made for me – I'll go with the Eizo.

ME! ME! ME!

I want matte!

"if this helps apple make money then I am all for it"

I think they are doing just fine in the money department.

Anyhow, consumer buying will decide if the iMac should have a matte screen. At that time, I am sure they will release one.

If you don't like your options with the current iMac, get something else. When making an investment as large as a new computer, never simply "settle" - get what you want (or hold out until what you truly want is available).

This is not my post, but is this true?

It's not the glossy cover thats the problem, it's the......
low end LCD on the 20-inch model. Go check it out at your local Apple store. The viewing angle is so bad on this screen that it's dark to light from the top to the bottom of the screen. The colors wash out if your not within six inches of the perfect angle. Changing the gamma only hides the problem. Some have said that Apple is using a cheap TN screen on this model instead of a ISP screen thay have used in the past. The 24-inch model is beautiful and has none of these problems. I was days away from buying one myself until I tried them out at the Apple atore. I personally dont mind the glossy screen, but until they start putting better LCD's in the 20-inch models, I'm holding off.

Check the thread on Apple forums.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1091939&tstart=0

@ Mark

The Eizo's are really nice and worth the money if you've got it.

Who wants a matte screen option for Apple’s new iMacs?

A Matte screen option FOR ALL MAC's!!!

Ok this is the problem. Glossy screens produce reflections, which causes the eye to constantly focus between two (or more) images that leads to intensive eyestrain and headaches.

If you pick up a glossy magazine and get some glare on the page, you tilt or move ever so slightly to eliminate the glare and go on reading.

Now how the heck are we supposed to be able to do that with a heavy desktop computer, or a fragile laptop without it sliding off our laps and to the ground?

I used a glossy screen desktop, I was constantly shifting around in the seat to avoid the reflections because the company couldn't/wouldn't change the enviroment to make computing eaiser, safer and more productive.

It's totally unreasonable to ask people or their employers to incure huge costs in changing the enviroment for what is essentially a design flaw.

Now it's been proven that glare screens are not totally effective because the eye is still trying to focus between multiple images distances. Not to mention destroying the astetics of a nice computer like the iMac with a cheap glare screen.

How about glare screens for laptops? What a hassle!!

Come on Apple, glossy screens and glare screens went out in the 70 or 80's. This is a dramatic STEP BACKWARDS in computer evolution.

Sure there are the young who think glossy is the new hotness and some professionals who glossy screens are preffered for color. But the majority of us who use the computer for hours on end in the course of our work, and have used glossy screens in the past, overwhelmingly prefer matte screens.

And the polls back up what I say.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061018-8022.html

http://macslash.org/pollBooth.pl?section=&qid=192&aid;=-1

http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=527

(the large amount of MacPoll voters from MacRumors are the younger crowd and perhaps haven't experienced glossy screen eyestrain, to them glossy looks better)

Hmmm....re: MDN "Note"...is MDN trying to tell those that aren't happy with Apple's glossy screens that there is a way to get around what Apple wants its customers to do with an iMac?

All things considered, wouldn't it be best just to accept what it is that Apple wants its customers to do? Obviously, Apple doesn't want it customers to be using iMacs for "professional" layout purposes, even if they are capable of it. Otherwise Apple would offer matte screens.

People should just stop whining and use "professional" hardware...just like all those whining about iMovie 08 should shut up and use "professional" software like FCE/FC.

I was considering a new iMac... but I think I'll hold out with my old one now and wait for Apple to come to its senses on this one.

Apple offered laptops with an option of either a matte screen or a glossy one. My guess is that they analyzed the sales figures and found that it didn't make business sense to offer matte screens even as a build-to-order option.

Now of course all the people here are going to jump up and down and say they want matte screens, and so do all their friends, but not everyone in the world who owns a Mac posts to web sites. It's entirely possible that we're a loud but tiny minority, and that they get more business in offering glossy screens than they lose in not offering matte ones.

Why do you have to be a pro to be concerned about glare, headaches, fatigue and the health of your eyes?

I'm not a pro and I despise glossy screens.

"People have always got to find something to bitch about...."

Or, it could be that people are entitled to an opinion.

Those huge flat-screen high-end CRT's didn't have matte screens. The were glossy and glass. But they did have a clear anti-glare coating on it, probably similar to what's on my eyeglasses. That's probably what Apple uses on the glass. So it's not on the LCD surface, it's on the glass surface.

As in the past, in the future, glossy will be the "default." Matte will be the option. It's obvious which one most customers prefer.

By the way CVS stands for Computer Vision Syndrome.

Your welcome to research the vast information on this subject from numerous scientific sources, it just proves that GLOSSY = BAD FOR EYES.

Apple, give us users A CHOICE!!

Sales at Apple Stores is no evaluation of the general market. People new to computers may think the shiny screens are hot, but seasoned pros simply walk away.

I saw the glossy iMac screens and walked away. Did you record that lost sale? No.

PLEASE APPLE, A CHOICE!!

"But if color evaluation is important to you, and you want a Mac, then you will have to step up to a pro machine. Or live with the shine."

Has David Morgenstern not heard of the Mac Mini? That blows his whole arguement, doesn't it?

@ChrissyOne

They are nice, aren't they. I'll probably buy the new machine in January after Macworld SF. I'm hoping Apple announces Penryn Mac Pros then. I've been saving for this machine for a while, so I want to get the best system possible, even if it means paying twice as much for my monitor by getting the Eizo.

When I mention the monitor to friends, I just get a blank stare – nobody's ever heard of Eizo but me it seems.

".....It's obvious which one most customers prefer."

Yes, it is.

http://www.macpolls.com/?poll_id=527

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061018-8022.html

Ever since the aluminum iMacs were introduced and various forums erupted with the "glossy sucks!" cries of woe, I've noticed an interesting difference between (most of) those who complained and those who praised the new display.
Over at MacInTouch, there have been a lot of complaints split between people who have never even seen the new machines and those who looked at the new iMacs in stores (often when the displays were dark!), and saw their reflections. In other words, those who visited a store just looked<i> at the new iMacs instead of spending any time <i>working<i> with them.
Then they rushed home to submit comments about "glossy is bad, bad bad."
In contrast, there also are a number of posts from people who <i>actually bought a new iMac, took it home and <i>worked<i> on it, that say the screens are just fine. In fact, some specifically say text is sharper on the glossy display and they don't notice distracting reflections in the home environment.
As someone who switched from Windows 6 months ago, is this chorus of complaints about every Apple announcement typical of longtime Mac users? It seems like whenever Apple releases a product, the complainers start up with the familiar <i>it's not upgradeable-fast-gamer graphics-pretty enough.<i>
Geez, take a look around the normal Best Buy store folks and see the dull reality.
The new iMacs appear to be incredible machines. Wish I could buy one myself.

This was a big issue for me when buying my flat panel HDTV and my wife's MacBook Pro this past year. The last thing I wanted on my HDTV picture was reflections from the window, lights in the other room, etc. imposing themselves on the screen. I was amazed at how many HDTVs had highly reflective glossy screens. I eventually bought a Sharp Aquos because it had a great picture and a matte screen.

My wife bought the matte MacBook Pro precisely because, in the Apple store, the reflections off of the glossy Pro screen were annoying and distracting. With a laptop, you often can't pick the perfect location for screen viewing, so we opted for the matte screen. I thought the glossy screens looked just as good as the matte, but I hate reflections and don't see why, in this day and age, we should have to put up with them.

I haven't seen a new iMac yet, so maybe the glossy screen is not a big issue. However, I believe the new iMac will have some touch-screen capabilities once Leopard is released, and thus the true reason for the glass screen (note that it's not glossy plastic).

It is obviously a personal decision based on conditions on where the computer must reside. My son had a choice with his MacBook Pro and chose the glossy. He loves it and has no regrets. I can only say that unless one has actually viewed the new iMacs, you have no place complaining. If you have viewed them and the glossy screen has prevented you from buying then you should definitely write to Apple and let them know that they've lost a sale. There is definitely more reflections on the glossy screen, but it offset by the sharpness and saturation of the picture.

It happens all the time. When psychology comes up against physical reality, psychology wins.

I wonder how many of those who complain about the current iMac screen use antiglare coated eyeglasses, and how many use uncoated. I bet the uncoated are in the majority.

(Note to other Europeans: Americans tend to be stuck with fifty-year old glass technology.)

Tommy Boy has a point. CRTs were virtually all "glossy" (i.e. a glass screen surface) for years and years. I have a 21" Apple Studio Display (a monitor designed for professional color work - it even has a color calibration button) and the screen is most definitely "glossy." I also have a MacBook and the screen on that seems just fine to me. If anything, the visibility is affected much more by the LCD viewing angle (if you have the lid open too far, the image starts to wash out, etc) than the glossy surface.

...current iMacs employ anti-reflection technology in their glossy screens.

MDN IT'S NOT WORKING WELL

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-08/08/xin_47080408084870223311.jpg

There are dozens of images online showing the glare on these new glossy iMac's and MacBooks. It's looks good at first, until you've used them for some time and then you find out the truth.

Glossy = CVS

Count me in as wanting matte. I just won't buy a glossy, no way!

"When psychology comes up against physical reality, psychology wins."

Cool. I will have to consider that the next time I am trying to cross the street and pondering whether I should step out into traffic or wait for the light.

The new iMac is actually one of the most accurate LCD's for color on the market. Apple used an optical grade clear glass that offers color correctness that rivals CRT monitors in color accuracy. With my color sync tools and a hood it is 99.87% accurate when set to optimal values compared to a matte LCD which is only 97.12% accurate with the same optimal corrections, The NEC OptiClear LCD is 99.21% accurate (my previous monitor for color correction). For color eye ballers glossy screens mislead the eye to think that reds and blues are to saturated and they miss adjust the LCDs white point and brightness to compensate. When these eye balled color corrections go to print the colors come out faded or muddy. With matte LCD eye ballers were more accurate because their monitors with miss adjusted on the over saturated side.

Yep Mental is it. TROLL ALERT!!!

"I returned my 24" iMac because the glare was too distracting in my office. I guess I'm not alone."

And the wax job on his new Jag was too bright so he took it back too.

And the water reflected too much so he sold his, just purchased, beach house.

Yep, spend $2000 with out a second thought then just return it cause your too cheap to buy an anti-reflective screen. LOL I think that is so funny.

en

Like others, my preference is that Apple give the consumers a choice between the glossy and matte screens. I do understand that doing so probably means a non-glass screen for the matte iMacs.

My view (pun intended) of the new iMacs is that the screen is absolutely horrendous. It's like looking at mirror - this is true at the Apple store where their products are put in the best light possible (pun intended again - I'm on roll ). The new iMac's screens are much worse than the MacBook's.

As MDN stated, Reportedly, current iMacs employ anti-reflection technology in their glossy screens.

All the more reason to offer us a choice - their anti-reflection technology does NOT work with the glass screens.

Peace.

All hail the matte finish!!!

I'm ready to purchase a new iMac - just not one with a glossy, reflective screen. So I'll wait until Macworld Jan '08 for, hopefully, a new iMac with a matte screen - and if we're lucky - a better graphics card - look at barefeats.com for a review.
The glossy screen looks GREAT - as long as you use it in a room with no windows or lights. In perfect conditions, it looks perfect, in anything less than perfect conditions, you are looking at a reflection of a window, of anything bright - including the user, chairs, clothes or anything else that isn't black.
The Mac mini is underpowered and when you ad everything in to get it on par with an iMac, it is more expensive.
A Mac Pro would be great, after I win the lottery that is.
If anyone has had glasses without the anti-glare coating and has to put up with reflections of their own faces - or for those of you who remember the glass CRTs that reflected anything in front of them - although the eMac seems to be an exception - then you will appreciate the need to have an option for a matte screen.

Been using ours for weeks, now, and neither my wife nor I have any problems with "reflections". If we want to see what's behind us - like the large windows to the sun deck - we need to use Photo Booth. The sun lamp is no problem. The sky light is no problem. There ought to be glare, if glare were to be a problem. There is none.
CVS is old school, a possible problem for users of cheap CRTs. The iMac uses an LCD - entirely different technology, believe me. I survived decades of CRT use without this problem, am not worried about it. Perhaps I should re-phrase ... I've worked in IT from the TTY days (60s), through the CRT days, into the LCD days without developing a problem identified as "CVS". How many years do you have to work how many hours a week in order to get this "syndrome"?

Dave

I agree with Tommy Boy. Think about it... if matte was so good for clarity and professional color work why are Nikon and Leitz lenses not matte, huh? They coat every piece of glass in the stack and they are glossy down to the 10 millionths cm. Matte screen finish is cheap compensation for low pixel density... and with the industry becoming more dense... coated glossy is the future... i personally suffer eye strain with matte screens...

@ NeonRed

You're kidding, right?

I was so looking forward to a new iMac but I would rather wait and see if the non-shinny (matte) becomes available. Glossy only will have to be fixed and quickly. Apple usually does better with its pre-market testing.

A matte screen option for all Macs.

Let Apple's customer's decide, not take whatever SJ decides is in their best interest.

Is it time for another 1984 commercial where someone shatters SJ's image on a glossy screen? While holding an iPhone?

I am a Graphic Designer who is staring at the gloss 12+ hours a day and when I had glasses, it maybe had a glare, but then I got Lasik and Glossy Rocks. No Issues Here.

I think all the complaints about the glossy are from the geeks who have 1983 glasses that are 1/2 inch thick and can't see crap anyways!

MW: "Then" as in "Then I got Lasik!"

Funny... 100% of the creative pros I know (design, pre-press, photography, video, film, web) have embraced the glossy screen. Perhaps not at first, but in the end, when all had been said and done, not one of them would be caught dead with a matte display screen.

Even Steve has openly said the public clearly preferred glossy over matte. You tell me where ZDnet came out with this one. I certainly can't see how they would come up with this.

Weird...