iMac 24" too big?

[93MPH]

I will be buying a new iMac soon to replace my old 15" G4. I can't decide whether to get the 20" or 24". I am a little worried that getting a 24" would be too big for my room since I'm so used to my 15". Any 24" owners ever felt this way?

[stujmac26]

...the day my 24" iMac arrived, my girlfriend freaked out and said it was too big - had to go back. Then she used it, and loved it within about an hour.

Never looked back! :):):)

[EmperorDarius]

Everything will look bigger, better and you'll have a higher resolution. I don't think it'll be too big...just better.

[mik34]

When I brought it home I thought it was huge. I almost returned it. I'm so glad I didn't. You'll get used to it.

PS--Your girlfriend probably just isn't used to large things.

[Mike in Kansas]

I will be buying a new iMac soon to replace my old 15" G4. I can't decide whether to get the 20" or 24". I am a little worried that getting a 24" would be too big for my room since I'm so used to my 15". Any 24" owners ever felt this way?

I've been an owner of a 24" for 5 months now and I have loved it. I just picked up a 20" for my kids, as their PC recently died. I couldn't fit the 24" into the space we want to put it, so I went with the 20". I was afraid it would be too small after having the 24", but to be honest it is fine. Actually, the smaller screen fits better into my field of vision. However, I do a lot of photo and video editing, and the 24" comes in handy for that, as does its ability to have two full pages of a document open. But overall, I don't feel that the 20" is limiting even after working on a 24"; the 20" feels larger than I thought it would. Moving up from a 15" will be great!

[Eanair]

Probably depends on the space you have, I think.

I have a small desk in a rather small office area in my apartment. I got the 20 inch because of my space considerations, and let me say - I'm glad I did! The 24 inch would have been way too big and would have made me feel boxed in and cramped if I had gotten it instead.

If space isn't an issue, consider what you'll be using it for. Lots of graphics? Pics, videos, movies, etc? If space is not something you have to take into account, and you expect to be doing a lot of graphics heavy work, a 24 inch might be better.

[wwooden]

I use a 24" screen at work all day and then go home to my 20" iMac; I don't feel limited by the smaller screen. For my personal use, the 20" is more than adequate. I also have a fairly small desk at home and a 24" iMac would have looked awkward on it.

[Jeremy81]

Not at all. Actually, I think it's the perfect size for a desktop. I went from using a 13" MacBook as my primary computer for 2 years to the 24" iMac. It did seem huge at first but once I got used to it I wouldn't have anything else. My sister has the 20" which is also great but once you use the larger screen it's hard to think of using anything else.

[stujmac26]

When I brought it home I thought it was huge. I almost returned it. I'm so glad I didn't. You'll get used to it.

PS--Your girlfriend probably just isn't used to large things.

Cheeky!! :o

[The Hammer]

It would be nice if they were height adjustable.

[seattle]

Go with the 24". It has a much better panel and you get used to it very quickly.

Here is a pic of my old G4 iMac next to the iMac 24" to compare the two.

http://nwdad.com/imacs1.jpg

[Michael CM1]

There's no such thing as a display that's too big unless it doesn't have the resolution to back it up (like a 720p HDTV for a monitor). Go with the 24", especially at $1499. Now if it's literally a situation where a 24" display won't fit, that's another issue. But I don't think anything is too big. After seeing some of my co-workers still using 15" monitors on Power Mac G3 systems running 8.x, get the good #%*t!

[oldalbion]

Definitely go 24", if you have any doubt (which you may have if you are asking on here) so... my 2 cents is go large. The simple fact of the matter is that the 24" screen is fantastic, bright and great for all uses. If money is an issue, space, or if you see a really good deal on a 20" then I have seen the 20" and they are still an outstanding screen and unit.

In truth I expect there are more people regretting not being able to get or deciding against a 24" than there are people who got a 24" and wished they had got a 20"

Any 20" 'errs reading and feeling sad you still have a great system. :cool:

[wakerider017]

Too small, wish they had a 30" imac

[alphaod]

Too small, wish they had a 30" imac

Just buy a Mac mini and then a 30" ACD. :p

Won't be as powerful but it will usable.

[wakerider017]

Just buy a Mac mini and then a 30" ACD. :p

Won't be as powerful but it will usable.

I'll find a way to survive with my "measly" little 24" screen.

Besides 30" ACD costs way too much and I like my cable free iMac.

[the_fellowship]

I originally got a refurb 20" but had to return it due to being faulty.I then went to the apple store and compared both side by side and thought the extra money for the 24" was totally worth it! The 20" is still a good screen, but if money and space is not an issue, definitely go 24"! My 24" refurb is due to arrive on Monday :) I can't wait to use the bigger, brighter, sharper screen

[Sebby]

I've gone for the 24". My current PC only has a 19". I'm hoping it's not too big!

[VoodooDaddy]

I used to think 24" was major overkill for the majority of the buying public. I got a 20" last year, partly because of cost savings, partly because I didnt think 24" was necessary. But I just placed an order for a 24".

I came from a 4:3 19" lcd and I thought the 20" widescreen iMac was HUGE in comparison. The 24 vs the 20 is about the same striking difference. I really dont need a 24" screen for what I do, but with the 24" refurbs at $1199 I thought it was too good to pass up. I expect to be using this new 24" for 3+yrs.

I've gone for the 24". My current PC only has a 19". I'm hoping it's not too big!

You'll think it is at first, but after a while you wont notice.

[blkdogb]

Sorry if this is a dumb question.
The 24" would probably force your eyeballs to move more, now is that good or bad for your eyes if you use the computer all day?

[maclover001]

PS--Your girlfriend probably just isn't used to large things.

ZING

[macperegrine]

Well, I had previously almost always had laptops between 15"-17". When I initially bought the 24" iMac, I must admit it seemed pretty overwhelming, but within a couple of days I had completely got used to it. Now, I'm very happy with the screen-size, and wonder why I didn't get one sooner.

[The Hammer]

Does the new 20" still use the technically inferior screen technology compared to the 24"?

[Sebby]

Yep, it uses a TN panel.

[63dot]

I will be buying a new iMac soon to replace my old 15" G4. I can't decide whether to get the 20" or 24". I am a little worried that getting a 24" would be too big for my room since I'm so used to my 15". Any 24" owners ever felt this way?

You have to adjust and maybe set the monitor back some, that's all. If you sit too close to a 24" inch or a 30" inch, then you will find yourself moving your head too much and get serious neck strain. I have done that before.

I have a very small desk and used a 12" inch laptop, 15" inch LCD display, and a 17" inch LCD there. Anything bigger would require me to set the monitor back and a 24" inch at the current desk is just too big.

The key to avoiding neck strain is to have some peripheral vision beyond the screen when looking dead on. With little or no peripheral vision, then you will have to constantly move your head back and forth and over time, that hurts.

[The Hammer]

Yep, it uses a TN panel.Thank you.:)

[GimmeSlack12]

Don't be such a girl. Get the 24".

[aidricksdad]

YEAH ........ girls suck

[cjslator]

I initially thought that the 24" was going to be too big but now I struggle to use my 22" PC monitor without having the 2nd screen attached.

If space permits then 24" is the way ahead :)

[AAPLaday]

The 20 inch is a great imac but if you look at the 24 you will end up wanting it! If money isn't an object and you dont have small desk i would go for the 24. The extra screen estate and higher resolution are well worth it

[nickcliborne]

Just buy a Mac mini and then a 30" ACD. :p

Won't be as powerful but it will usable.

Only the new mini with the 9400m graphics card can run the 30 ACD at it's full resolution (the whole reason you'd buy the monitor in the first place).

[L0s7man]

Yep, it uses a TN panel.

What's the difference?

[Zmmin3]

What's the difference?

The 20" uses the TN type of display and the 24" uses the S-PVA display(someone correct me if I am wrong)

Here is a basic definition between the two:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

[Theophany]

PS--Your girlfriend probably just isn't used to large things.

LMAO!! :D

Personally, I think the 20" iMac is too small, both from the perspective of visual real estate and from an engineering perspective - it's too much of an enclosed space for hot components inside.

I was, up until one week ago today, using a 28" monitor on my Macbook, which was great for watching TV shows and films from iTunes, but as something I had to work with every day, I found my eyes darting to different parts of the screen because they couldn't take in the sheer size of the screen all at once. Now, whilst this is, in part, due to the fact that my desk here at university is not as large as my desk at home, I believe it's partly because 24" is the sweet spot for display sizes.

This is because 24" monitors support a resolution of 1920x1200, which is the highest resolution screens can achieve under 30". So all those 28" TFT LCDs on the market can only beef out a resolution equal to a 24" screen, and due to the increased size (4" diagonally is a lot) the picture is actually of a lower quality. You also have the added benefit of being able to take in the beautiful vista of your desktop without having to move your eyes to different parts of the screen, which is so much of an annoyance ;)

EDIT: to reference the old adage - all size is relative. Whilst the 24" will seem huge at first (heck, it's 9" more real estate than you're used to), you will acclimatise to it quickly. As a point of reference, the 52" LCD TV in our living room seemed gigantic when we switched from our old 32" Plasma TV, now it feels so small we're considering a high definition projector to use the entire wall as a TV screen.