glossy vs anti-glare

From what I've gathered, anti-glare scratches more easily, but glossy has more issues with glare. I've also heard that anti-glare basically has the same issues with glare, it's just that the reflection is spread out more on the screen. True?

Also, I was told that I can get some sort of anti-glare cover for my screen if I were to go with glossy and basically get the exact same effect as anti-glare?

Is this accurate? Anything else I should

 

No, they both scratch just as easily. No, anti-glare doesn't reflect any light but, it doesn't get as bright as glossy screens do.

 

Glossy screens just show scratches more visibly. Matte screens have no glare, at all. Getting a filter wouldn't work as well and it'd be more money for a screen with narrower viewing angles.

 

It really depends on the manufacturer. My friend has a gateway with a glossy screen, you cant see what your doing in the sun or in the dark. I have a glossy screen on my U709, and it is just perfect. The quality of the screen is what makes the difference. Cheap dell, gateway screens look like crap no matter what screen they offer you. High end laptops have amazing crisp screens which are just perfect.

K-TRON

 

So, a person needs to spend $3500 on a Voodoo in order to get a good screen??

I don't think that's quite the case, since Voodoo uses the same machines as a bazillion other companies, adds a little paint, and makes a killing on the deal.

 

One hopes that the top end laptops with premium prices always have good screens. Further down the line there seems to be less certainty about quality, not helped by the computer manufacturers often using displays from 2 or 3 sources.

However, there is no way around an anti-glare coating causing some reduction in image quality - it's an extra layer between you and the liquid crystals.

It is difficult to appreciate the benefit of the matte screen unless it is alongside a glossy screen under conditions where reflections cause a problem. If you don't see the problem then you don't know it's there. You also get used to whatever display you are using and not fully aware of how good or bad it is unless it's alongside another one (unless the display is so bad it hurts your eyes). The best matte screen I have used is on my Sony G11, probably because of the very bright LED backlight.

One other difference between matte and glossy are that the latter are much easier to keep clean because of the smooth surface. The anti-glare coating tends to absorb dirt and finger prints and is more difficult to clean without ending up with smears.

John

 

if you have a cell phone or an ipod then you should definitely know what "glossy" looks like outdoor/indoor...

 

Anti-glare screens will glare a bit in direct sunlight, but much less than glossy screens. Comparing my laptop and my cell phone both in direct sunlight, the laptop is the only one I could look at.

Scratching the screen hasn't been a problem for me with either - screens are built to be very scratch resistent. I wouldn't worry about this.

@boradori: 64 Mbps? I thought my university had a fast connection at 16 Mbps.

 

Having owned both types, I can testify to the strengths and weakness inherent in their designs, but in the end, I've decided that matte screens are best for me due to the glare issues that result from a glossy screen, which really causes me to become fatigued.

 

I have to face away from the sun and huddle around the gadget to see the screen.

 

Bingo! Give that man a cigar!