Apple Cinema Display - Matte Vs Glossy Screen

Matte Vs Glossy Screen

Since the transition on October 14, 2008 to the Aluminum models, Apple removed the matte, anti-glare screen as an option for its Cinema Displays. As a consequence, the Cinema Displays have been available from Apple only with a glossy screen. Apple removed the matte screen option from its line of iMac desktop computers on August 7, 2007, so Apple does not offer any desktop equipment with a matte, anti-glare screen. This has caused concern among a sizeable segment of users that need matte screens for their particular area of work, for example, graphic designers, photographers, and users that view their screens for many hours per day. A common complaint is that the reflections from the glossy screen can lead to eyestrain and headaches among a certain percentage of the population who are prone to eyestrain, known as Computer vision syndrome. The Wall Street Journal referred to Apple's removal of the matte screen as one of Apple's worst design decisions. Apple's decision to remove a matte, anti-glare screen option from its desktop product line seems at odds with polls which indicate that anywhere from 50–75% of users prefer matte screens. A report from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia indicated that there could be long term adverse health effects from prolonged use of glossy screens on Apple computers.