# How to work with a laptop in the sun

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-work-with-a-laptop-in-the-sun/548199>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 27, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-work-with-a-laptop-in-the-sun/548199 "2010-07-27T16:52:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-work-with-a-laptop-in-the-sun/548199/1 "2010-07-27T16:52:53Z")

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I once had a laptop with a matte-like finish to the screen. It worked fine outdoors. Not in direct sun, of course, but good in general. My current laptop has a glass screen that looks nice and shiny. Too shiny. If I’m outside, about all I can see is a reflection on the screen, not the image (though worse in direct sun, it’s problematic even if it’s just bright out).

Is there anything that can be done? Would polarized sunglasses help? Maybe run some 400-grit sandpaper over the screen to diffuse the light? Wait 8-10 hours until the glare fades?

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**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-work-with-a-laptop-in-the-sun/548199/2 "2010-07-27T17:06:36Z")

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You could try something like [this](http://www.photodon.com/c/LCD-Protective-Films.html).

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-work-with-a-laptop-in-the-sun/548199/3 "2010-07-27T17:20:06Z")

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closing your eyes will reduce the troublesome glare.

sunglasses will also remove troublesome glare along with image.

i have seen, though never used, cloth hoods which you set the laptop in.

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**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-work-with-a-laptop-in-the-sun/548199/4 "2010-07-27T18:47:43Z")

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> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> You could try something like [this](http://www.photodon.com/c/LCD-Protective-Films.html).

This is the exact product I’ve put on my desktop and laptop computers with glare issues. I really long for the days of matte screens.

It might not be enough for the laptop to be useful in direct sunlight (it isn’t on my HP dv6000 even with the screen at its brightest setting), but it will work just fine if you can get a little shade.