I also have a gloss 13′ MacBook Pro to hand, so have experienced both in all conditions.  I will try to give a fare comparison but my preference is the matte version

The first thing you notice with the antiglare MacBook is the silver bezel it has. The gloss MacBook has a black border.  I find this silver bezel gives the MacBook a more professional and expensive look.  Prior to buying I read a few comment saying it looked cheap.  However it looks fantastic and some of my close up photos will show this.  It does however make the matte screen slightly more difficult to clean rather than wiping over a continuous sheet of glass as on the MacBook gloss.

Out of the box and side by side I did feel that the colours on the MacBook gloss looked a little richer.  I did then calibrate the matte screen and that brought the colours to as good as the gloss screen.  I wouldn’t say they looked identical but both acceptable.  On the phone Apple tells me that their professional graphic designers use the gloss screen version in rooms which are correctly lit to prevent reflections.  Any differences seen when side by side are indistinguishable when you use either on its own.

The biggest issue with the gloss is that its very reflective. Almost like a mirror at times.  I found that in a well lit room the reflections gave me eye strain and couldn’t be used for extended periods.  Many times through the summer I used the gloss version on the patio. Although usable it was very difficult and would be used in this situation only when absolutely necessary.  The MacBook Pro Antiglare was flawless in any condition. The reflections were unnoticeable and is why this version is the one of choice.  The one situation where I felt the gloss was better was when using it in a dimly lit room where the light source was directly above the screen. I had a swan neck lamp which I placed above the laptop and it this environment it was a joy to use.

Finally.. On the MacBook’s there is a brightness control.  I do believe that the MacBook gloss version is slightly brighter.  I would say about one notch brighter.  Its a point to note, but not one to worry about.  Indoors you never use either at full, and outdoors a one notch difference isn’t distinguishable.

 Hope this article helps you make your mind up and if you still have doubts visit the Apple store and compare for your self.  To round up I would say the graphical and colour quality of both is very good it just about if you can put up with the reflections and the environment you will use it in.

Here is a video of the MacBook Pro antiglare version.  In my next post I will video some examples of its performance so keep checking back.

MacBook Pro Close up from Carlo Saltalamacchia on Vimeo.

The first of 2 videos I created to show of the MacBook Pro antiglare.
For a large screen version of the video click HERE

Take a screenshot of desktop - Shft+Cmd+3
Take a screenshot of a selection - Shft+Cmd+4
Take a screenshot of an element - Cmd+Shft+4+Space
Screen Zoom Ctrl+Scroll or 2 Fingers, then 1 finger to pan
To make a file smaller Select it – File/Save as/Select jpg compression

Quit applications – Cmd+Alt+Esc or Alt+Cmd+Esc
Delete Fn+backspace
Cut, Copy, Paste, All Cmd+X, C, V, A
Quit current application – Cmd+Q
Quickview – Spacebar
Find all , Undo Cmd+F, Z
Alt mouse click 2 finger press or click & hold or Ctrl+MouseClick
Open a file – Cmd+O
New Finder window – Cmd+N

Window Switch – Cmd+Tab (only open or hidden apps..not min ones)
Minimise to Dock – Cmd+M
Hide – Cmd+H

New Finder instance – File/New Finder
Import Itunes Music File- /Add to Library or File/Import to Library
Create an alias without alias Click & Drag while holding Option+Cmd key

Spaces :
Show all – Fn+F8
Switch between spaces – Ctrl+Arrow keys
Collect all – C
Direct Switch – Cmd+Space No.

Safari :
New window – Cmd+N
New tab – Cmd+T
Mail page to contact – Cmd+L
Mail link to contact – Cmd+Shft+L
Reload page – Cmd+R
Text size – Cmd+ and Cmd—

A list of problems and solutions for your Mac :-

1. An application hangs : Press CMD + ALT + ESC
2. To open files in another application : 
   Either drag the file to the application while holding CMD + ALT or for a more permanent association Select the file then press APPLE+I/OPEN WITH/OTHER then browse to the program remembering to select change all.
3. CD stuck in : To eject restart the Mac while holding down the left mouse button or go into Terminal and type “DRUTIL TRAY OPEN”
4. To reset the Admin password : Restart the Mac with the original Leopard disk in it while holding down C. Before the laptop goes to the install sequence go to UTILITIES and reset the password.
5. Lost Airport connection : To force a research for a connection switch the Airport connection off and then back on again by selection the icon top right.  or if this doesn’t work Renew its DHCP lease by SYSTEM PREF/NETWORK/TCIP section/RENEW DHCP Lease.

This article steps you through connecting your Mac or MacBook to a network printer.  The printer is connected via usb to a windows Vista PC.  The article also details how to connect the Mac to the PC . 

On the Windows PC carry out the following :-

1. Open Control Panel/Network and Sharing Center.  Then set Printer sharing “ON” and Password Protect Sharing “OFF”
2. Open Control Panel/Programs and Features/Turn windows Features on or off.  Select Print Services/LPD print services “ON”
3. Go to Windows Explorer and share a Directory.  This is done by right mouse clicking on it and selecting “Share”.  Then choose people to share it with (everyone read only)

On the MacBook carry out the following :-

1. Plug the printer directly in to the MacBook usb then download and install the drivers.  Make sure you are able to print with it directly connected.
2. Connect printer back into Vista PC.
3. Printer must be setup at a network printer on MacBook so that we can print over lan or wifi to PC usb connected printer.  PC must be on to do this.
4. First we will give the MacBook the ability to connect to folders on the PC via the network. Open “Finder” on the Mac and select “GO” from the top menu. Type in PC details smb://networkname.  Then press “Connect”.  Type in the password and select the volume.  You should now be connected to the shred PC directory (it will appear in the Finders shared L.H panel)
5. To set up the Printer go to System Preferences/Print and Fax then select “+” to add the printer.
6. Press the “Ctrl” key on the MacBook and select “More Printers”.  From the drop down box select “Customize Toolbar” and drag “Advanced” on to your toolbar
7. Select this “Advanced” button and fill in :  Type = Windows, Url = smb://networkname.

Thats it should be done.  Once all working you may want to review what folders you have shared and your permission settings.

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