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Totally agree. HNers do understand the tradeoffs better. It's like when they started making laptop screen reflective. All my non-tech relatives were saying: "w

by d--b 8y ago

Totally agree. HNers do understand the tradeoffs better. It's like when they started making laptop screen reflective. All my non-tech relatives were saying: "wow that screen is super nice" while I was thinking: "holy crap, the matte screen is disappearing, how I am going to work?"

nkristoffersen 8y ago
Although I would argue you should not want the matte screen. They get washed out from ambient light and thus have poorer contrast than reflective screens that can reject ambient light (at proper angles).
- llampx 8y ago
  Glossy screens can be great in the correct lighting. A few point sources of light that are not directly behind the viewer are great, and you can benefit from the increased contrast that foregoing the matte layer gets you. However, in a situation where you have ambient light from everywhere, like an open office with many windows, glossy screens are insanely distracting. I much prefer the matte screens for that. Yes things on the screen can be harder to read, but way better compared to the "looking into a mirror" effect of a glossy screen.
jfoutz 8y ago
apple has masterful market segmentation. they want the inexpensive option to not really fill a specific niche, they want it to be a little uncomfortable, that you're already making compromises so you'll pay a grand for the fancy one instead. What i'm trying to say is, making a smaller option would be cheaper. That would cannibalize high end sales. From the seller's point of view, you want the best alternative to compromise all of your desires, so it's not that big of a deal to just upgrade. something inherently small violates that. HNers can identify the tradeoffs. Apple probably understands the tradeoffs better though. Apple exploits them. (I say this as a loyal iphone owner.)
- slededit 8y ago
  They’ve done this forever with their computers. Happy with the CPU but don’t want a horrible 5400rpm hard drive (Yes iMacs still ship with those)? Well you’re going to need to bump up to the higher CPU model.
- toufiqbarhamov 8y ago
  I would normally agree with you, but Apple’s recent issues with iPhone sales suggests to me that this might be changing. As adoption rates continue to ebb, maybe tapping as fully into your market becomes a better strategy than trying to dictate to the market.
  - jswizzy 8y ago
    Yep, Apple realizes that it and Android are platforms. If you buy into an ecosystem you are more likely to remain in that ecosystem when it comes time to upgrade your device.
simonh 8y ago
For me it’s the aspect ratio. 3:2 is ideal, so kudos to Google and MS, but 16:10 on the MacBooks is still significantly better than the mass of 16:9ers out there. Recently got a 14” Zenbook for my daughter. Lovely machine honestly, but the screen ratio is annoying.
- kijin 8y ago
  Every screen nowadays is optimized for (occasionally) creating and (mostly) consuming video content. Most video is 16:9. There is no other explanation. Having a large screen is also good for watching Netflix and YouTube. For many people, the phone has almost completely replaced the TV. I guess that explains why the screens keep getting bigger.
isostatic 8y ago
> how I am going to work?" My luggable laptop for real work away from home or in equipment rooms has a 2010 4:3 matt screen My portable laptop for quick emails while moving and occasional corporate stuff is a 13" gloss screen mac, but when it comes to productive work give me a good OS on a good laptop any day.

by d--b 8y ago

nkristoffersen 8y ago

Although I would argue you should not want the matte screen. They get washed out from ambient light and thus have poorer contrast than reflective screens that can reject ambient light (at proper angles).

llampx 8y ago
Glossy screens can be great in the correct lighting. A few point sources of light that are not directly behind the viewer are great, and you can benefit from the increased contrast that foregoing the matte layer gets you. However, in a situation where you have ambient light from everywhere, like an open office with many windows, glossy screens are insanely distracting. I much prefer the matte screens for that. Yes things on the screen can be harder to read, but way better compared to the "looking into a mirror" effect of a glossy screen.

jfoutz 8y ago

apple has masterful market segmentation. they want the inexpensive option to not really fill a specific niche, they want it to be a little uncomfortable, that you're already making compromises so you'll pay a grand for the fancy one instead. What i'm trying to say is, making a smaller option would be cheaper. That would cannibalize high end sales. From the seller's point of view, you want the best alternative to compromise all of your desires, so it's not that big of a deal to just upgrade. something inherently small violates that. HNers can identify the tradeoffs. Apple probably understands the tradeoffs better though. Apple exploits them. (I say this as a loyal iphone owner.)

slededit 8y ago
They’ve done this forever with their computers. Happy with the CPU but don’t want a horrible 5400rpm hard drive (Yes iMacs still ship with those)? Well you’re going to need to bump up to the higher CPU model.
toufiqbarhamov 8y ago
I would normally agree with you, but Apple’s recent issues with iPhone sales suggests to me that this might be changing. As adoption rates continue to ebb, maybe tapping as fully into your market becomes a better strategy than trying to dictate to the market.
- jswizzy 8y ago
  Yep, Apple realizes that it and Android are platforms. If you buy into an ecosystem you are more likely to remain in that ecosystem when it comes time to upgrade your device.

simonh 8y ago

For me it’s the aspect ratio. 3:2 is ideal, so kudos to Google and MS, but 16:10 on the MacBooks is still significantly better than the mass of 16:9ers out there. Recently got a 14” Zenbook for my daughter. Lovely machine honestly, but the screen ratio is annoying.

kijin 8y ago
Every screen nowadays is optimized for (occasionally) creating and (mostly) consuming video content. Most video is 16:9. There is no other explanation. Having a large screen is also good for watching Netflix and YouTube. For many people, the phone has almost completely replaced the TV. I guess that explains why the screens keep getting bigger.

isostatic 8y ago

> how I am going to work?" My luggable laptop for real work away from home or in equipment rooms has a 2010 4:3 matt screen My portable laptop for quick emails while moving and occasional corporate stuff is a 13" gloss screen mac, but when it comes to productive work give me a good OS on a good laptop any day.