I’m in the market for a new laptop. I spend almost the entire day working on my computer, so for me the screen is pretty much the most important part. My current laptop is a 4 or 5 year old Dell with a very high resolution non-glossy screen which is fantastic. Unfortunately it is getting a bit long in the tooth for doing numerical simulations and the like, so I want to upgrade to a newer model. However, in the time since I bought this computer, glossy screens have taken over the laptop world. I’ve tried them and I have to say they’re impossible to use in an office environment because they reflect the overhead lights and windows too much.

So now when I go to Dell’s site, for example, I find that my screen options are very limited. Almost all models offer non-glossy screens, but only in low resolutions. Upgrade to a higher resolution, and you’re forced to get a glossy screen (Dell calls it TrueLife). The exception is the significantly higher priced Latitude models, aimed at businesses, which offer high resolution non-glossy screens. The non-glossy screens don’t cost more to produce, so to me it seems to be a pretty clear case of price discrimination — Dell can squeeze more money out of business consumers who have a strong preference against glossy screens, compared to other consumers. The same is true with Apple’s laptop lineup — only the more pricey Macbook Pro models have non-glossy screens.

Of course this makes sense from the point of view of profits, but it sucks from my point of view as a consumer.