After patiently awaiting the news for a new line of Apple notebooks to surface during its Tuesday’s special live event, Apple has finally released redesigned and revamped Macbooks and Macbook Pros. While at first glance the sexy exterior and pleasing performance increase seemed delightful, I am left to wonder (and complain) about one thing.
Why Apple has opted out on their matte (anti-glare) screen finish? I can understand the Macbook, but the Pro, being pushed towards the creative professionals, will not be the same anymore. Heres why:
Color accuracy! Plain and simply, the glossy glass display, which provides “more pop, increases color intensity and overall, gives a much more vivid display” is not what us designers need. We need accuracy and consistency and that’s what the matte screens provided us (in addition to not seeing ourselves and the world behind us by the annoyance of glare). And to top matters off, the only cinema display offered is now in glossy as well — ugh! The matte screens provides designers and photographers with a much truer representation from screen to print, while the new glass displays are aimed to enhance elements on the screen only. Matte does matter!
On the plus side, the Macbook’s now appear to have the stamina to provide enough performance to handle Pro applications. To those of you who want to save a bit of cash and still run the Adobe Creative Suite, go with the Macbooks.
So after all is said and done, will I be getting a new Macbook/Macbook Pro? Yes! Being the Apple nut that I am, I’m sure the complaining will quickly change to a new found love after I have my hands on one. 
So what’s your opinion on the matte verse glossy debate from a designer/photographers point of view and who’s getting one?
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I coudldn’t agree iwth you more. I have a 2.6 4GP MacBook Pro with 7200 speed HD, VMWare Fusion and XP, 5 months old. Matte of course. Why am I looking at these new ones???
Nice post; very informative - never realised they’d removed the option for the Matte screen.
Wouldn’t calibrating the monitor fix this?
I am not a graphic designer, but surely the screen doesn’t matter if you calibrate it correctly? i.e. if the colours are too saturated in comparison to printing, turn saturation down etc.
Also you can still get the other monitors, I don’t think Apple are getting rid of them totally, however they might at Macworld, in which case hopefully a designer will buy my 30″ for a tidy price when I upgrade to one of the new 30″ers (when they are released).
River Girl and Martin,
I am glad you both found this to be informative. It let’s me know I’m doing my part!
Betsy and Ryan,
I’m glad you both brought this up… Although calibrating your monitor would assist a bit, I tried this on a friends new iMac with a glossy screen and my older iMac with a matte screen, and still the colors seemed to be thrown off. Blacks on my calibrated older iMac monitor appeared dark grey on his new iMac. I think the black band that frames the monitors as well, helps enhance colors thus throwing off the colors again. I don’t know, just my opinion…
I still think they are amazing though. Just had to complain a bit.
Reasoning on why Apple hates designers? Where is the 17? They did barely any upgrades to the 17 inch and is predominately what designers buy and use ( i know others use 15’s I have a 15 but I see 17 everywhere.) I don’t think that there is too much difference between the Macbook and Macbook Pro which is a shame because PRO means us PRO’s need/want more! I do think that the glossy screen will annoy me but if its like the iPhone glass I shouldn’t mind to terribly. The price of printing proofs will go up
Good Post!! See ya on Twitter!
Chad,
They way I always have viewed it, is that for the price of the 17″ MBP I could get a 15″ and an external monitor, but the 17″ are beautiful. Thanks for the comment. See ya on Twitter
I agree Brian but, at the price of a monitor you could get a iMac desktop.
Sorry I should have been more specific Chad. Definitely wouldn’t get an Apple monitor…I have a 23″ Samsung attached to my 24″ iMac that I payed $350 for. But you are completely right by stating the iMac is the same price of an Apple monitor.
I’m confused. iMacs are more than $899. That monitor looks so slick and has built in speakers. Planning to dump my 24″ Dell for it. Anyone think that is a bad idea? Only thing I am giving up is the ability to adjust height which I do have set at lowest level. At least I would be giving up the heat off the monitor. Between the heat on MB Pro and the monitor, I don’t need heat in the winter.
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Either way you go, you are definitely getting an amazing computer. For the price of the iMacs, you get the best bang for your buck. But it’s nice to have portability with the MB Pro and the new monitor is pretty slick looking. Tough choice!
Let me know what you decide.
Alrighty!!! Here is what I decided this is the inside track at life. Ok so, a 13 inch Macbook (yes a 13 inch macbook not a pro….) has everything that a 15 has for $1000 less. So for example I am probably going to buy a 13 inch Macbook (i am cringing at the thought) and then by the 24 inch monitor with the $1000 I saved with the 13 instead of the 15. This way I basically have an ultra portable 24inch desktop. Sound good? Seems the smartest/most economic way to go. I forgot the only difference between the 13 is a 2.4ghz and the 15 has a 2.5ghz. No difference…. Opinions?
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The Macbook is missing a firewire port while the macbook pro only uses firewire 800 now. Just my opinion, but I would go with an external samsung monitor. You will save yourself around $500 and still get the exact same quality. Also far as speed difference, you wouldn’t even see the difference between the 2.4 and 2.5 if you used a stop watch. lol
Let me know what you think?
Sounds good. Basically I think what I am getting at is that the Macbook Pro is weak compared to what it should be since of how beefy the Macbook is now.
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I agree with Brian and would recommend to buy a Samsung instead. That’s unless money is the least thing you have to worry about.
I work with a G5 Mac Pro and a 24″ Samsung monitor at home and an iMac 24″ at work. I am satisfied with both solutions. The new 24″ Mac Monitor looks pretty slick but it costs about 800 to 900 Euros over here in Germany, that’s just crazy.
I agree Simon. What do you think about the refresh of the line?
I think the updates are pretty sweet but there is something strange going on with Apple in general.
I am not sure if Apple made the mistake with putting it on the market so late or if the growing community made it much less exciting by spreading the word about the new updates many months ago.
No one was really surprised about the updates. Even Steve’s Keynote was quite boring and you did not hear one “ooh” or “aah” from the crowd like you are used to when Steve usually presents new or updated products.
The new Macbooks are what everyone already expected them to be many months ago. It’s a much needed update. Is it worth buying? Well, if you now have the “old” Macbook you most likely do not use it for your work anyway and it will do its job for a few more years. If you do not own a notebook yet I think it’s THE notebook to buy right now.
However, there is one thing I really liked about the introduction of this new line. Jony Ive, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Design is doing a great job by announcing the new Macbooks on the ad on Apple’s website. Just listen to him talk. That’s just fabolous marketing.
I couldn’t agree with you any more Simon with loving the fact that Ives could be the new “voice” of Apple. Young, smart and talented. Makes sense right?
Had to go to the Apple Store to see and touch for myself. New Macbook was most impressive as something more lightweight to tote around that still would be able to run CS3, VMWare Fusion, etc.
Considering converting existing Macbook Pro (see specs above) to my desktop( I use it with Dell 24″LCD) and using new MacBook 2.4 for back and forth. What do you guys think about that?
Wanted to pick up the new Macbook Pro to see if it felt less clunky to tote, but it was affixed to the shelf. Supposedly same weight as the old one.
New monitor was gorgeous but VERY HOT. More heat than my Dell 24″ LCD which I thought was hot before I saw this. Problem is when you see this display, you are going to want it badly from a design perspective. Beautiful. Not sure about the glare.
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That’s sounds like the move I’m going to make. Go with the higher end Macbook.
As far as the monitor feeling very hot, have you ever felt Apple’s 30″ monitor. You could cook an egg on that sucker, but non the less I never heard it burning up before.
It doesn’t look beautiful! I will admit that…