Glossy displays are exclusively better in controlled lighting, because their black levels are actually good. Controlled lighting is not difficult to achieve and is already a necessity for graphics work.

Actually, it can even be better outside. A screen with reflections on it is not as bad as a screen that you can't see due to low contrast.

(I'm currently using a matte desktop LCD, but wasted tons of time looking for a model with an 8-bit screen and good contrast.)

Whatever happened to the matte-ish finish used on some late-90s-and-on CRTs? I had some with way less glare than my MBP, and, being a CRT, about as perfect black levels as you're going to get.

Not everyone buys a portable device to use it outdoors. Some people just like moving room to room indoors.

I often switch between:

* office desk * standing desk (really an ikea shelf) * kitchen table * couch * cafe (very easy to carry)

Have a three pound computer means I don't even have to think about these switches.

Glossy displays do have better contrast and lower black levels.

You really equate "portable" with "to be used outdoors"? I can't recall ever using my laptops outside.

I can't understand why Apple offers a glossy display, the screen has to be angled slightly and that's the perfect setup for glare from ambient light.

It's like trying to read a glossy magazine and you keep having to shift around to see it avoiding the glare off the page.

Whether it makes blacks blacker or colours sharper the end result is it's annoying.

It makes the display 'pop' indoors, some people like shiny things, and it is a popular platform for art-stuff.

And they're cheaper to make.

Personally I find the glare from matte displays far more annoying than that from glossy. It diffuses across the whole display and makes contrast much worse

It's interesting how people's personal preferences affect these things. I hate the gloss on my MacBookPro because it makes it very hard to watch any movie without being distracted by reflections on the screen.

I accept that it's an excellent screen, and if I was in a better environment (or doing professional work) I'd be grateful for the good screen.

At least we're not still using these things anymore. (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=screen%20filter)