Glass or matte display and screen size on laptop

[Hollie]

I've been reading the threads here on laptops for editing and am surprised at the acceptance of shiny screens and small 13 - 14 inch screen sizes.

I've been editing on Dell Precisions for many years because they had matte screens and 17" screen sizes.

Now it's time for me to buy a new computer for editing and now I wonder...how are you all with XPS, Alienware, etc. pulling off editing on small shiny screens. Maybe it's easy, I don't know.

I know someone will tell me I should be using a PC but I'm not willing to sit in a room at a desk by myself for hours of editing. This Dell Precison has done just fine especially in a darkened room.

So I'd like to know, is it fine for you all to use such small screens and isn't the glass too reflective?

Hollie

 

[malch]

My laptop has a 14 inch gloss display.

My desktop has a 24 inch matt IPS panel.

Guess where I do all of my photo editing?

There is no comparison.

My laptop has plenty of power and storage and I did do some photo editing while on a recent trip. Frankly, when I got home, I was not happy with that work and re-did much of it on the desktop.

With the laptop, I didn't find the gloss finish too much of an issue. The problems were more to do with screen size and viewing angles.

 

[Hollie]

malch wrote:

My laptop has a 14 inch gloss display.

My desktop has a 24 inch matt IPS panel.

Guess where I do all of my photo editing?

There is no comparison.

My laptop has plenty of power and storage and I did do some photo editing while on a recent trip. Frankly, when I got home, I was not happy with that work and re-did much of it on the desktop.

With the laptop, I didn't find the gloss finish too much of an issue. The problems were more to do with screen size and viewing angles.

Thanks Malch,

The only matte screens I'm finding are Lenovo or another Precision. The Lenovo w530 is 15.6" screen size but that is 16:9.

Anyone edit on a screen that small?

This Dell Precision has been surprisingly true to color but it's so heavy it might as well be a desktop.

 

[Jim Cockfield]

Hollie wrote:

I've been reading the threads here on laptops for editing and am surprised at the acceptance of shiny screens and small 13 - 14 inch screen sizes.

I've been editing on Dell Precisions for many years because they had matte screens and 17" screen sizes.

Now it's time for me to buy a new computer for editing and now I wonder...how are you all with XPS, Alienware, etc. pulling off editing on small shiny screens. Maybe it's easy, I don't know.

Huh? What are you talking about (XPS and Alienware users needing to edit on smaller and shiny displays)?

Do you not realize that they make XPS and Alienware laptops with larger screen sizes that are matte (anti-glare coatings)?

Lots of the XPS and Alienware configs have matte displays available in 17" size.

I'm not sure where you're looking. But, Dell offers both XPS and Alienware models with matte screens (including the XPS 17R, XPS 17R SE, and the Alienware 17 if you prefer a 17" matte screen.

For example, note the 17R config on the right side of the second page of available configs for it (right column on this page -- the one that shows it comes with an anti-glare display):

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17r-5721/fs?3x_page=2&filterCollapsed=false

This config:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...el_id=inspiron-17r-5737&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Or, look at the XPS 17R SE (Special Edition) configurations and you'll find a number of different configurations with a 1080p resolution matte display (the ones with the anti-glare coatings). MOST of the available configurations for the 17R SE models have anti-glare screens. For example, all of them except for the config in the third column on this page are matte screens:

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17r-se-7720/fs

Most of the available Alienware configs with 17" displays are also matte. Again, just look for the ones with anti-glare coatings. For example, 4 out of 5 of the available configs I see for the 17" models on this page are matte (anti-glare coatings):

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17/fs

Of course, having a Matte display doesn't mean it's good for image editing. You need to look for things like reports about color gamut supported, viewing angles, etc. Models with IPS displays are usually better for viewing angle purposes. But, color gamut supported, brightness, etc., varies a lot.

So, I'd read through the reviews you can find for a specific model with a specific display to see more about how it holds up in those areas. Some of the reviews on the 17R SE (Special Edition) models with 1080p displays are favorable for viewing angle and brightness. But, I don't know about color gamut and display type. So, you'd need to dig around to figure out more about the pros and cons of each model's display.

--
JimC
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[hotdog321]

Funny, I guess I'm about the only guy in the universe who likes glossy screens. The matt screens always look muddy to me. I always angle the screen so it is parallel to my eyes and there are no hot spots.

I'm a photojournalist and sometimes work on a tiny, powerful 11.6" laptop in the field. But I've found that the color tweaks and whatnot are just about dead on if I double check the images on my desktop later.

Both monitors are calibrated with a Spyder 3 Express, which is satisfactory for my needs.

Just another viewpoint--not trying to sell anyone.

 

[Hollie]

hotdog321 wrote:

Funny, I guess I'm about the only guy in the universe who likes glossy screens. The matt screens always look muddy to me. I always angle the screen so it is parallel to my eyes and there are no hot spots.

I'm a photojournalist and sometimes work on a tiny, powerful 11.6" laptop in the field. But I've found that the color tweaks and whatnot are just about dead on if I double check the images on my desktop later.

Both monitors are calibrated with a Spyder 3 Express, which is satisfactory for my needs.

Just another viewpoint--not trying to sell anyone.

God, this is great to hear Hotdog....that you can work on a tiny, glossy laptop and color is spot on. What brand of laptop are you using and is it hard to see the whole photo on that little screen without it being too small?

You've opened a world of possibility for me....

Hollie

 

[Hollie]

Jim,

I just called Dell and went over all their screens. The anti-glare screens are not matte, they are shiny plastic but not always gorilla glass. That goes for the XPS and Alienware displays, I haven't double checked the new Precision 6700, it may have gone to plastic too.

Jim Cockfield wrote:

Hollie wrote:

I've been reading the threads here on laptops for editing and am surprised at the acceptance of shiny screens and small 13 - 14 inch screen sizes.

I've been editing on Dell Precisions for many years because they had matte screens and 17" screen sizes.

Now it's time for me to buy a new computer for editing and now I wonder...how are you all with XPS, Alienware, etc. pulling off editing on small shiny screens. Maybe it's easy, I don't know.

Huh? What are you talking about (XPS and Alienware users needing to edit on smaller and shiny displays)?

Do you not realize that they make XPS and Alienware laptops with larger screen sizes that are matte (anti-glare coatings)?

Lots of the XPS and Alienware configs have matte displays available in 17" size.

I'm not sure where you're looking. But, Dell offers both XPS and Alienware models with matte screens (including the XPS 17R, XPS 17R SE, and the Alienware 17 if you prefer a 17" matte screen.

For example, note the 17R config on the right side of the second page of available configs for it (right column on this page -- the one that shows it comes with an anti-glare display):

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17r-5721/fs?3x_page=2&filterCollapsed=false

This config:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...el_id=inspiron-17r-5737&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Or, look at the XPS 17R SE (Special Edition) configurations and you'll find a number of different configurations with a 1080p resolution matte display (the ones with the anti-glare coatings). MOST of the available configurations for the 17R SE models have anti-glare screens. For example, all of them except for the config in the third column on this page are matte screens:

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17r-se-7720/fs

Most of the available Alienware configs with 17" displays are also matte. Again, just look for the ones with anti-glare coatings. For example, 4 out of 5 of the available configs I see for the 17" models on this page are matte (anti-glare coatings):

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17/fs

Of course, having a Matte display doesn't mean it's good for image editing. You need to look for things like reports about color gamut supported, viewing angles, etc. Models with IPS displays are usually better for viewing angle purposes. But, color gamut supported, brightness, etc., varies a lot.

So, I'd read through the reviews you can find for a specific model with a specific display to see more about how it holds up in those areas. Some of the reviews on the 17R SE (Special Edition) models with 1080p displays are favorable for viewing angle and brightness. But, I don't know about color gamut and display type. So, you'd need to dig around to figure out more about the pros and cons of each model's display.

--
JimC
------

 

[hotdog321]

As a photojournalist, I was looking for a combination of maximum power plus tiny size. I sometimes even wear the laptop in a fannypack as I shoot pictures because I dare not set the laptop down.

It's not easy working on such a small laptop--but my last "field" laptop had a 10.6" display! I couldn't find one that small again, so I settled for the "larger" Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 11.6-Inch laptop.

It has an i7 processor, plus I bumped the RAM to 8 GB and replaced the hard drive with a SSD, so this thing handles big RAW files with no problem or slowdown.

Working on a tiny screen is certainly an acquired skill, but I really am used to it. You just hunch over that sucker and get to work. When you are pounding out images on deadline, you don't even notice.

 

[Tom_N]

I'm not sure what the question is about.

Dell makes several laptops with 17" or 18", 1920x1080 screens. HP makes several with 17", 1600x900 screens and at least one with a 17", 1920x1080 screen. I'd be surprised if Lenovo didn't.

Apple no longer makes 17" MacBook Pros, but they do make two types of 15" MacBook Pros. The Retina ones have 2880x1800 resolution and can be set to simulate a 1440x900 workspace (best) or a 1920x1200 (scaled) one.

So if you don't want to use 13" or 14" screens, and you don't mind the weight and bulk that goes with a larger screen, I'm not sure what's keeping you from getting a large (17"+) or medium (15") screen.

(Finding laptops with matte or anti-glare screens, and with IPS screens, does make things harder, so I focused just on screen size here.)

 

[Hollie]

The question is, which is preferable for photo editing on a laptop, a matte or glossy screen and what size is preferable.

Experiences are appreciated.

Tom_N wrote:

I'm not sure what the question is about.

Dell makes several laptops with 17" or 18", 1920x1080 screens. HP makes several with 17", 1600x900 screens and at least one with a 17", 1920x1080 screen. I'd be surprised if Lenovo didn't.

Apple no longer makes 17" MacBook Pros, but they do make two types of 15" MacBook Pros. The Retina ones have 2880x1800 resolution and can be set to simulate a 1440x900 workspace (best) or a 1920x1200 (scaled) one.

So if you don't want to use 13" or 14" screens, and you don't mind the weight and bulk that goes with a larger screen, I'm not sure what's keeping you from getting a large (17"+) or medium (15") screen.

(Finding laptops with matte or anti-glare screens, and with IPS screens, does make things harder, so I focused just on screen size here.)

 

[Hollie]

hotdog, you are a real inspiration. I don't know that I could acquire the skill to work on such a small laptop but I guess it's possible to adapt to conditions. You said the color from the small laptops was good, did you end up having to do many over on a bigger monitor?

I guess I could go down to a 15" and have a more manageable size of laptop if you can work on a 10". I'll just have to remember to "hunch over that sucker and get to work".

Thanks,

Hollie

hotdog321 wrote:

As a photojournalist, I was looking for a combination of maximum power plus tiny size. I sometimes even wear the laptop in a fannypack as I shoot pictures because I dare not set the laptop down.

It's not easy working on such a small laptop--but my last "field" laptop had a 10.6" display! I couldn't find one that small again, so I settled for the "larger" Acer Aspire TimelineX AS1830T-68U118 11.6-Inch laptop.

It has an i7 processor, plus I bumped the RAM to 8 GB and replaced the hard drive with a SSD, so this thing handles big RAW files with no problem or slowdown.

Working on a tiny screen is certainly an acquired skill, but I really am used to it. You just hunch over that sucker and get to work. When you are pounding out images on deadline, you don't even notice.

 

[hotdog321]

Thanks! It isn't fun working on a small laptop, but they get the job done. I haven't had to modify any of the photos afterwards, which surprises me, too.

If I had to do precise fine art editing, I would only work on the desktop. But for editorial, PR, sports photography in the field, you can get a lot of good work done on these little guys.

 

[karl k]

The correct answer should come from an eye specialist, ie ophthalmologist.

Such an expert can give you expert guidance that will benefit you in the future, - not what is convenient for you now and what you like to hear, -- it appears.

 

[BobSC]

It's not so hard, it just takes a bit of time. I could probably get good color most of the time on a B&W screen (not that I could buy one anymore). At least 90% of the time I don't need to adjust color, so I guess from that standpoint I'd get good color most of the time by simply never adjusting it.

But you can tell an awful lot about your color by watching the RGB histograms, and knowing how your printer is going to interpret them.

Hollie wrote:

hotdog, you are a real inspiration. I don't know that I could acquire the skill to work on such a small laptop but I guess it's possible to adapt to conditions. You said the color from the small laptops was good, did you end up having to do many over on a bigger monitor?

 

[jwhig]

I am with the first reply from malch. I use a 14in Lenovo laptop with shiny screen and a desktop with 24in Eizo matte screen. I agree viewing angle is the problem but it seems to be much easier with a matte screen. I have for a long time thought that it would be a priority if I replace the laptop.

 

[Hollie]

jwhig wrote:

I am with the first reply from malch. I use a 14in Lenovo laptop with shiny screen and a desktop with 24in Eizo matte screen. I agree viewing angle is the problem but it seems to be much easier with a matte screen. I have for a long time thought that it would be a priority if I replace the laptop.

 

[Jim Cockfield]

Hollie wrote:

Jim,

I just called Dell and went over all their screens. The anti-glare screens are not matte, they are shiny plastic but not always gorilla glass. That goes for the XPS and Alienware displays, I haven't double checked the new Precision 6700, it may have gone to plastic too.

Why don't use go and look at some of the displays at stores that have them (Best Buy, Staples, Costco, etc.)

I've got a couple of Dell Inspiron laptops (one with an 11.6" display and another with a 17.3" display, and both of them appear to be solid glass with a matte coating).

But, even if the surface was polymer, I wouldn't care if it was a good display that met my needs. Read the reviews of models you're interested in to see what the reviewers say about the display quality

IOW, I wouldn't trust what some Dell Marketing tells you about the displays, as no offense, but it sounds like you were likely "leading" them to get the response you wanted; and they may not have known the difference between matte and anti-glare.

Most major brand computer manufacturers buy their displays from the same manufacturers (LG, etc.). So, try to look at the laptops that meet your specs to see if the displays are good enough to meet your needs.

Frankly, I'd expect that it would be more trouble to find displays without a Matte coating (as a Matte coating is the "norm" on the vast majority of laptop and desktop displays, and it has been for years).

Jim Cockfield wrote:

Hollie wrote:

I've been reading the threads here on laptops for editing and am surprised at the acceptance of shiny screens and small 13 - 14 inch screen sizes.

I've been editing on Dell Precisions for many years because they had matte screens and 17" screen sizes.

Now it's time for me to buy a new computer for editing and now I wonder...how are you all with XPS, Alienware, etc. pulling off editing on small shiny screens. Maybe it's easy, I don't know.

Huh? What are you talking about (XPS and Alienware users needing to edit on smaller and shiny displays)?

Do you not realize that they make XPS and Alienware laptops with larger screen sizes that are matte (anti-glare coatings)?

Lots of the XPS and Alienware configs have matte displays available in 17" size.

I'm not sure where you're looking. But, Dell offers both XPS and Alienware models with matte screens (including the XPS 17R, XPS 17R SE, and the Alienware 17 if you prefer a 17" matte screen.

For example, note the 17R config on the right side of the second page of available configs for it (right column on this page -- the one that shows it comes with an anti-glare display):

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17r-5721/fs?3x_page=2&filterCollapsed=false

This config:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...el_id=inspiron-17r-5737&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Or, look at the XPS 17R SE (Special Edition) configurations and you'll find a number of different configurations with a 1080p resolution matte display (the ones with the anti-glare coatings). MOST of the available configurations for the 17R SE models have anti-glare screens. For example, all of them except for the config in the third column on this page are matte screens:

http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-17r-se-7720/fs

Most of the available Alienware configs with 17" displays are also matte. Again, just look for the ones with anti-glare coatings. For example, 4 out of 5 of the available configs I see for the 17" models on this page are matte (anti-glare coatings):

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-17/fs

Of course, having a Matte display doesn't mean it's good for image editing. You need to look for things like reports about color gamut supported, viewing angles, etc. Models with IPS displays are usually better for viewing angle purposes. But, color gamut supported, brightness, etc., varies a lot.

So, I'd read through the reviews you can find for a specific model with a specific display to see more about how it holds up in those areas. Some of the reviews on the 17R SE (Special Edition) models with 1080p displays are favorable for viewing angle and brightness. But, I don't know about color gamut and display type. So, you'd need to dig around to figure out more about the pros and cons of each model's display.

--
JimC
------

--
JimC
------

 

[calson]

I have a 11" netbook, 15.4" laptop, and two workstations that share a 27" monitor. For editing in the office the 27" monitor is the best choice. For travel where I plan to do a lot of editing I take the 15.4" laptop with a non-matte screen as it is not a super bright display and a matte screen would reduce the visible contrast that I need to edit my images. When traveling where I need to go as light as possible I take the netbook and while I will use its 11" screen to review my images at night I do not try to do any editing with it but wait until I get back into the office and use the workstations and large monitor.

I use two workstations as one is a Windows 64 machine and the other is an OS X machine. I use the Apple for power editing and batch processing of large numbers of large files as OS X is much faster than Windows 64 Pro for this even with the same processors and amount of memory.

 

[hotdog321]

That's interesting--interesting to so see an objective side by side comparison of the two OS. I just assumed image crunching would mainly depend upon raw processing power.

 

[jwhig]

Sorry, Hollie, for not replying sooner. I don't have a problem with colours on my Lenovo laptop. I do calibrate quite regularly. But I DO find angle of view a problem. A slight shift up or down and the screen is considerably darker (up) or lighter (down.) I put this down to the shiny screen but may be wrong.

--
jwhig