Earlier, I said I wanted to get a regular 13″ MacBook over a MBP (mainly for the physical dimensions) and customize it with more RAM and more hard-drive space? Well, I’m reading this one article on Slashdot: Laptop Screens, Glare or Matte?. Some people don’t have any problems with their glossy displays, while others mention some problems like objects reflecting off of them or lighting making it hard to view.
A quick look at Wikipedia showed me:
Despite the perceived increase in the quality of glossy displays, they tend to exaggerate colors and shade, to the point in which they over-saturate and have poorer grayscale accuracy. This makes glossy displays unsuitable for people who seek to use their computers for graphics work which requires color accuracy. This is why detractors claim that glossy displays are used as a marketing gimmick.
Now because I plan to do web design as a living later on, what I do will show up on other people’s monitors, so I think color accuracy is an important thing.
Only problem is that regular MacBooks don’t come with matte displays, only glossy. MBPs come with either one.
At this point, I’m wondering if I should suck it up and get a 15″ MBP for the matte display. I say “suck it up” because I like having a 13″ laptop. It’s not too big or bulky, and it doesn’t take up a lot of room in my backpack. Most of what I do is entirely web-related—i.e. I won’t be doing anything graphic design/print media-related, so screen real estate’s not a problem for me. I’m happy with my 1280×800 display. But at the same time, I want my web designs to show up accurately on other monitors as well.
And there are other perks I see in getting a MBP (no annoying screen flicker—which is kind of what this is about, and can any MacBook Pro owners tell me if their case is cracking?).
So…if anyone has anything to say that would help convince me as a web designer, to stay with a MacBook or get a MBP, speak now. 
I’m open to both sides.
Modified: July 07th, 2008
I have a Macbook Pro and love it. After a year, it’s still solid. And as a graphic designer, I need the accuracy.
In terms of it’s size, it’s really not that big, I don’t think. I’m able to comfortably carry it in this little tote bag I got from Target, and sometimes I just carry it my hand (which I really shouldn’t do because I’m clumsy).
Finally, I prefer the matte over the gloss. At the store where I got my Macbook Pro from, they have it side by side to the Macbook and I couldn’t stand the glare I was getting from the lights on the glossy screen.
And no, my case isn’t cracking, it’s pretty solid actually.
Thanks for your comment.
I was kind of worried about its size, but I guess I’m just so used to my tiny little MacBook.
As for the cracking case, I think it’s just from when the display closes down over the keyboard. I have to keep a strip of painting tape there, to make sure the plastic doesn’t come completely off. (I had to tell my sister not to remove the tape, when it becomes hers. Maybe I should ask if she really wants this particular MacBook. :P)
Hmm, the new iMacs in my school’s lab have shiny screens … it annoyed me. 24″ screen and all it’s good for is to see what’s going on behind me, and on the ceiling! (It also gave me headaches since I became light sensitive for some reason. :/)