Glossy Screens (why do something stupid like this)

[Perryg114]

What is up with glossy screens on consumer laptops. They are a real pain to use with any ambient light and the viewing angle is such that it maximizes reflections. This defies common sense and basic physics. How does this trend benefit the manufacture?

Perry

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

They look good in stores. People buy laptops in stores based on looks more often than performance.

 

[corkyg]

My old laptop has a glossy screen. Looks great in most areas where I use it. However, my new laptop has a matte screen and I prefer that. My desktop monitors both have matte screens.

Hmmm! I have never bought in a store.

 

[TheStu]

What is up with glossy screens on consumer laptops. They are a real pain to use with any ambient light and the viewing angle is such that it maximizes reflections. This defies common sense and basic physics. How does this trend benefit the manufacture?

Perry

My understanding is that screens are manufactured glossy, it is an extra step to make them matte.

Also, glossy screens reflect light by design. Light hits screen, light bounces off of screen. Light from behind screen is amplified in this fashion, thus making images on the screen brighter and more vibrant.

Some of us like glossy screens.

 

[Hacp]

Glossy is good if you don't plan on using your laptop as a laptop.

 

[Perryg114]

Maybe someone should come up with a stick on material that will fix this. Something removable that won't damage the screen. Not something like those old glare screens for the CRT monitors that made the image so dark you could not seen anything at all.

Perry

 

[aceO07]

Glossy probably looks better in the store so people buy it.

I'm more concerned with the downgrading of display resolutions over the last couple of years.. 1378x768? It's nice and width, but there's a lot of vertical scrolling..

 

[TheStu]

Glossy is good if you don't plan on using your laptop as a laptop.

I used my laptop as a laptop for years with a glossy display. Glossy gets a lot of hate, but I am really not sure how much of it is deserved, I for one have no problems with either.

 

[Perryg114]

Yeah I don't like the HD 16:9 format on laptops or desktops. Everything is being driven toward HDTV formats which are not good for computer monitors because of the lack of vertical real-estate. Win7 compounds the problem by getting rid of the quick launch bar and forcing you to use the bottom bar for everything. It would seem like putting tool bars on the right would make more sense with the wide screen monitors.

Monitors are being driven by the 10% of the population who think computers are a glorified DVD player.

Perry

Glossy probably looks better in the store so people buy it.

I'm more concerned with the downgrading of display resolutions over the last couple of years.. 1378x768? It's nice and width, but there's a lot of vertical scrolling..

 

[corkyg]

Glossy is good if you don't plan on using your laptop as a laptop.

My rule is never use a laptop as a laptop. As a notebook, yes. But on the lap, it is easily over heated and bad for the gones.

I only use my laptop when I travel. Then it is mainly in hotel rooms or a cruise ship cabin.

 

[C1]

The reason for the glossy is because images are sharper than anti-glare/frost. That's because the anti-glare scatters the light & this takes the edge off sharpness, particularly small detail (eg, small text).

My fix for the glossy is just to let the screen become dusty. Just let the normal fine dust accumulate on the screen & ergo, it cuts some of the glare.

PS: I agree about the 16:9 as being not as desirable for computer work. My guess is that this is happening because key hardware development weenies bought out some of the big media companies plus it is just cheaper & easier to manufacture/stock one screen size standard.

 

[alkemyst]

It's personal preference. I like matte mostly, but in the right conditons glossy has far more impact.

 

[corkyg]

As you can see - it really is a matter of personal preference. I totally agree with Alkemyst.

 

[Perryg114]

I have no issues with glossy screens being an option but it seems that matt screens are not even being offered unless you get into business class laptops. I would at least like the possiblity of having a choice. You should be able to get either type of screen.

Perry

 

[C1]

Glossy screen may be OK on a notebook (have two already), but no way in hell would I buy a large (eg, 24" on up ) desktop computer screen with it. Particularly annoying also is a glossy plastic bezel. I also see that many notebook manufacturers are making the whole notebook computer glossy/highly reflective (screen, bezel, keyboards and all else). That is piss poor, annoying and is simply unacceptable.

 

[zagood]

It would seem like putting tool bars on the right would make more sense with the wide screen monitors.

Right-click taskbar.
Deselect "Lock Taskbar"
Drag taskbar to right side of monitor.
Right-click taskbar.
Select "Lock Taskbar"

 

[corkyg]

. . . It would seem like putting tool bars on the right would make more sense with the wide screen monitors.

That's your choice - put 'em where ever you want 'em - top, bottom, left or right.

That started in Vista.

 

[Binky]

You all have it wrong. They are glossy so you know when your boss is sneaking up behind you!!!

 

[corkyg]

You all have it wrong. They are glossy so you know when your boss is sneaking up behind you!!!

No way! I got no boss!

 

[Throckmorton]

What is up with glossy screens on consumer laptops. They are a real pain to use with any ambient light and the viewing angle is such that it maximizes reflections. This defies common sense and basic physics. How does this trend benefit the manufacture?

Perry

Sharper image. The rough surface of a matte display always reduces sharpness some, plus you can see the texturing if you look at an area of pure color like the background of this page.

 

[Throckmorton]

Yeah I don't like the HD 16:9 format on laptops or desktops. Everything is being driven toward HDTV formats which are not good for computer monitors because of the lack of vertical real-estate. Win7 compounds the problem by getting rid of the quick launch bar and forcing you to use the bottom bar for everything. It would seem like putting tool bars on the right would make more sense with the wide screen monitors.

Monitors are being driven by the 10% of the population who think computers are a glorified DVD player.

Perry

You can get back the quick launch bar. Google it

 

[C1]

Take back any favorable thing I may have said concerning acceptability of glossy screens (on notebooks). They are simply plain shit! Trying to work now (as I type this in the library) & all Ive been doing is dodging florescent light reflections from the screen. What a pain in the ass!

 

[alkemyst]

You can get back the quick launch bar. Google it

Also search for Windows 7 GodMode.

Very good tools with that.

 

[Ika]

That's your choice - put 'em where ever you want 'em - top, bottom, left or right.

That started in Vista.

XP, actually. Maybe before, don't have any machines to try.

 

[Anubis]

XP, actually. Maybe before, don't have any machines to try.

you could do it in 2k i dont remember if 98 had it and i never used ME