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Apple Officially Discontinues 30-Inch and 24-Inch Cinema Displays

Well, they stopped making printers a while back. My old Personal LaserWriter 320 was still kicking long after the SCSI interface no longer worked on macs.

Now it's monitors.

Just so long as they keep on making the big hog desktops, I'll be okay.

When my 30" ACD's all go to monitor valhalla, I'll look at NEC's. Maybe even the HP.

No big deal.

Messed up thing is that 30" now looks kind of small. It's amazing what you can get used to. I may even go bigger one day if I can find an answer.
 
Would have thought Apple would be listening to their customers after introducing a matte option on the MacBok Pro for long-time creative industry users.

My 2005 23" Cinema Display is slowly dying and there's no way I'm having my beautiful 2010 "anti-glare" Macbook Pro sitting next to a "pro-glare" glassy 27" display.

Not a great idea Apple. I'd love to see the percentage of matte screen adopters and the total amount of money those customers pump into Apple.

One more option please Apple.
 
ArcaneDevice said:
Actually I see this forum as becoming more like a bunch of people who are becoming indicative of the shallow Apple market that only came on board when the iPod became popular.

People who really have no clue about the origins of Apple, never used Apple in a professional capacity and have no idea how far out of touch Apple is going with regards to professional users. The users who kept Apple afloat before it became shiny and popular with the kids and soccer moms.
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THANK YOU!!! nice to see I am not the only one that feels this way! :D
 
gramtrax said:
And still no mention still of a matte version of the display.......
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It will never happen. We need to give up on that. Jobs has already dictated that glossy is what everyone needs to like.

As sarcastic as that sounds, I'm serious.
 
jamesryanbell said:
It will never happen. We need to give up on that. Jobs has already dictated that glossy is what everyone needs to like.

As sarcastic as that sounds, I'm serious.
Click to expand...

I'm just reading this thread and continue to be astonished. There are literally HUNDREDS of decent choices from other manufacturers to get a monitor. Here in my office, we do professional editing. We use MacPro's matched with Dell monitors.

Why would you care so much whether Apple happens to make the monitor you want ... buy one of the many other choices!

You don't sit there getting pissed off that Apple doesn't make a style of photo scanner that you want, or printer, or Apple designed desktop lamp... why are you so concerned whether Apple makes the monitor you want?
 
Mac is Losing Me

As an Art Director/Graphic Designer + (photographer) I've been pretty 'devoted' to Apple for 15 years or so. I've waited a few years for Apple to advance/update the 30" monitor. I could have gone to NEC, but, no - i waited. But, this just won't do. I wanted 30". And, the one thing i dislike about my Macbook Pro 15" is the glossy screen. No more of that for me. I guess i will just have to deal with an aesthetically 'mismatched' desktop system. I guess an NEC is in my future.

This iPhone 4 mess... Safari 5? I went back to Safari 4 and i'm quite happy now. What's going on in Cupertino? The wheels are coming off. And, with this glossy issue, i can't for the life of me figure out why Apple is letting "consumers" make decisions on pro-oriented products. They used to offer choice. Now professionals are having to make compromises? Pros are why the consumers fell into the brand.

I am not a pigeon. But i AM distracted (disturbed, actually) by shiny objects. Bring back MATTE.
 
macnews said:
I think people need some cheese with their wine. So Apple isn't making a 24 or 30 inch display any more. You claim they don't care about the pro market.

Really?

Apple is in to making computers. There are plenty of monitor manufactures out there. If you want another monitor go buy one. There are cheaper options and we could probably argue until we are blue about the specs and which one is better. It doesn't matter - you can buy adapters 'til the cows come home to make any monitor fit pretty much any computer including Macs. If you look at this from a BUSINESS stand point, trying to get into the monitor business probably is not that lucrative and likely proved by the lack of sales of 30 inch monitors. It makes sense to have a monitor the same size of a screen you are buying to make an all-in-one computer. This is pure inventory control and allows Apple to save money in one area to invest in another.

You say Apple is forgetting the pro market. Since when? You mean you can't buy a Mac Pro and stick in a video card of your choosing? Last I checked, the only thing which would limit me from installing ANY video card was driver support by the manufacturer. Now maybe I'm missing something and not any card can be installed but I have installed many high end cards in Mac Pros so at least I have options just as I do on the PC side.

Perhaps you mean Apple is ignoring the Pro market because they aren't making a 30 inch monitor? Hmm, so do you have two sitting with every Mac you or your business own? My guess is the MARKET (which includes PROS) didn't support Apple's 30 inch monitor enough to make it worth while. Should they keep throwing money down the toilet like MS does on losing projects just to satisfy a smaller market? Again, not like you can't go buy a 30 inch from someone else!

Maybe you mean Apple is ignoring the Pro market by not updating software enough? Wait, you did say Apple right? Not Adobe? Not Quark? Not some other high end Pro software creator? Not MS who plans to support XP for 20 YEARS? Surely not Apple who has released how many updates and new versions of the OS over the past 10 years? I hope you weren't expecting Apple to dictate how other companies write their software!?

Now for some TRUTH:

1. If you work in a large company, odds are you are still running a later version of most PRO software. I bet you are still running CS4, perhaps even CS3 and I know a few businesses still running Quark 4 granted largely due to OTHER legacy systems the company doesn't want to UPGRADE! Know what? They are still producing PROFESSIONAL stuff! The bean counters hold back software and hardware upgrades more than Apple will ever hold it up in a large corporate environment.

2. If you are a small pro business - you understand value and know that just because a new version of Final Cut/Adobe Creative suite comes out doesn't mean the one you own stops working or is no longer "professional." You also know how you can't always afford to upgrade to the latest hardware, no matter how much you might "like" to upgrade. Again, a new Mac Pro or PC doesn't mean your older computer stops working or means you can't produce professional work.

3. I'm NOT defending Apple at all, just calling out all the FUD. 10 years ago when the candy colored iMacs came out people were saying the same thing. 10 years later people are still producing great things on Macs. What I don't see are some of the same PC manufactures in business! Hmmmm, maybe that is a clue.
Click to expand...

Apple made its money on the 30" when they were double the price that they are now! do you even know how long they have been on sale? :eek:

Shake, X-RAID, Apple 30', iSight*, all great Pro tools ALL GONE!

X-SERVE and MacPro WELL OVERDUE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL

27" mirrors and more new iGadgets Apple stills cares about its pro users? :rolleyes:

P.S.

You got something right! "Save money and invest in other things" MORE iGadgets for the iCrowd :p





* I know some of its parts where made illegal in Europe, but a replacement was not made.
 
macnews said:
Yes, Apple makes a profit it is not a crime or sin. Last I checked, many of those other tech companies aren't doing so hot. Oh, and we live in a free market where no one is holding a gun to your head to buy an Apple product.
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There has to be a balance between profit hunger and decency. Most companies seem to have no trouble finding that balance but Steve lacks the decency gene. I'm happy to pay a premium for premium products because I expect that the manufacturer put a little extra into it that reflects the higher asking price. If I buy a Bentley I get nice touches like an umbrella that slides automatically out of the door when I open it, if the rain sensor detects rain. But if Steve was put in charge of Bentley, he would go on a scruple free corner-cutting rampage. He'd raise the prices and then eliminate all color options except silver metallic, remove the windshield wipers ("because water is beautiful!"), replace the engines with ones he got from Kia for a bargain price ("because it's greener!"), remove the headlights and replace them with a single one ("because less is more!"), replace the seats with wooden chairs ("because it improves your posture!"), and to top it off he'd combine the gas pedal with the break pedal and call it the "Magic Pedal". If you wanna sell premium products, don't be a scroogy cheapskate like you were making toasters for Wal-Mart.

You say Job's has a "profit hunger which is unparalleled in the business." Have we forgotten about MS who used it's market influence to strong arm companies to install a crappy web browser or shove out other intel based OSes?
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What the hell does that have to do with profit margin on hardware? What financial gain was there for Microsoft in outmaneuvering Netscape, when IE shipped free with the OS that people were paying for anyway? They were power tripping, not cutting corners.

Apple also upset the apple cart in the cell phone industry DECREASING the cost of data plans AND the cost of applications for cell phone while at the same time IMPROVING the quality of those applications and the phone itself.
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In the US, maybe. Here in Europe we were already up to our necks in 3G infrastructure and the iPhone hasn't done squat to improve any of that. Instead, the carriers tried to use the iPhone as leverage to jack up the plan prices, perhaps thinking they could borrow some of that "higher prices for no valid reason" magic from Apple. Getting an iPhone here sets you back way more than any other phone does. You can buy it unlocked for a zillion or go with one of the extra expensive plans; here in Sweden they market them as "iSurf", "iMini", "iMidi" and "iMaxi".

If you really are that unhappy with Macs/Apple the great thing is our capitalist market system will allow you to speak with your wallet.
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I do vote with my wallet by purchasing Apple products, so Apple wins. That doesn't however stop me from sensing the rotten stench of corner cutting and predatory greed that oozes out from under the keyboard, it's a stench that shouldn't be in the room when I buy premium products.
 
It's good that Apple got rid of the 30 inch display, IMO. It looked too thick and boxy compared to the other displays and even the product lineups of other Apple products. It just looked out of place.
 
Is it not likely that the 27" becomes the small display in the lineup- and a new 32" version comes out at some point in the near future?

I do agree that 27" is pretty large for 'small' option- but if you look at where we were 5-10 years ago, most people were running 15"-17" monitors- with 19" models being the big/nice ones (btw-i get the change from 4:3 to 16:9).

Now it seems like 20"+ monitors are the norm- and in a couple years the 27" will be what the 24" is today.

I'd be shocked if we don't see a nice big display option in the next 6 mths.
 
z4n3 said:
Apple made its money on the 30" when they were double the price that they are now! do you even know how long they have been on sale? :eek:

Shake, X-RAID, Apple 30', iSight*, all great Pro tools ALL GONE!

X-SERVE and MacPro WELL OVERDUE A COMPLETE OVERHAUL

27" mirrors and more new iGadgets Apple stills cares about its pro users? :rolleyes:

P.S.

You got something right! "Save money and invest in other things" MORE iGadgets for the iCrowd :p

* I know some of its parts where made illegal in Europe, but a replacement was not made.
Click to expand...

Yes, I do know how long the 30 inch has been available. What you are forgetting is just because they might make what seems like a large profit on a per model basis to manufacture, there are other costs such as maintaining inventory and demand levels to keep your manufacturing costs low. Still, my point is other options for a 30 inch monitor are available for your Mac. And like many have pointed out, glossy displays are not great for most pros.

Shake - yes no longer really updated and not even sure if it is being sold. Industry standard though - not really. Was getting there and being used but was shuttered before it had a chance. Great software (IMHO) but far from being a true "pro" app which was widely used and then abandoned. Sad to see it go, yes. Indication of Apple leaving pro users behind, I would disagree. I see the loss of Shake as Apple choosing to leave a pro app like that to other software creators who can make equally as good if not better products.

iSight - not sure what your * means but I would not consider the iSight a "pro" device. Plus, all macs now have a built in iSight so I don't see your point here.

X-serve and MacPro - I LOVE the X-serve and REALLY love the X-RAID not to mention my Mac Pros (I deal with those in the next graph). The X-serve and X-RAID were Apple's attempt to enter the enterprise market and I think were great products. If you ask network admins though and true server IT folks, the X-serve and X-RAID were seen as "also ran" type products and NOT up to the enterprise level. I think they were, and still are, great products. I think Apple has chosen to target a different market than compete in the enterprise server level market. Do I like that choice? No. Does the X-serve still work great and do I plan to buy a new one next year to replace my vintage 2004 model - yes. Does it mean Apple has abandoned a pro market? No, and I have used their server software since 1998. Even then it was not considered truly professional.

Mac Pros and even the iMacs get infrequent updates. However, if you look at the history of Apple, they do not update their computer hardware that frequently. This is not like the PC market where you can buy a PC and six months later your computer is outdated. Apple has NEVER operated on this line of hardware upgrades. If you look at their history this is NOTHING new. Starting from 1990 through 2011, Apple has been pretty consistent about how often they update their hardware. If anything, the move to Intel has INCREASED the frequency of updates compared to the PPC days. If you remember those days it was almost embarrassing how long it would take to update a machine. It was so infrequent I planned my buying cycles (I manage labs) on a 18-24 month cycle.

I'm not saying Apple is perfect just some of the claims by people are being blown way out of proportion or at least perspective.
 
Long said:
Did people complain about glossy displays when CRT was the only choice?
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Your CRTs were glossy? Good lord, must've been a pain what with the curved surface and all. Mine were all coated. I do however remember glossy oldschool TVs that showed a warped reflection of me when I switched them on, but that was in the 1970's.
 
kmiahali said:
It's good that Apple got rid of the 30 inch display, IMO. It looked too thick and boxy compared to the other displays and even the product lineups of other Apple products. It just looked out of place.
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Yeah but nobody forced them to keep the old design from 2004, they could've made a new 30" design similar to the 24"/27" if they wanted, but as I said, they stopped designing displays in 2004. Everything after that has been iMac derivates they knocked together from panels they were making anyway.
 
robeddie said:
I'm just reading this thread and continue to be astonished. There are literally HUNDREDS of decent choices from other manufacturers to get a monitor. Here in my office, we do professional editing. We use MacPro's matched with Dell monitors.

Why would you care so much whether Apple happens to make the monitor you want ... buy one of the many other choices!

You don't sit there getting pissed off that Apple doesn't make a style of photo scanner that you want, or printer, or Apple designed desktop lamp... why are you so concerned whether Apple makes the monitor you want?
Click to expand...
+1
macnews said:
Yes, I do know how long the 30 inch has been available. What you are forgetting is just because they might make what seems like a large profit on a per model basis to manufacture, there are other costs such as maintaining inventory and demand levels to keep your manufacturing costs low. Still, my point is other options for a 30 inch monitor are available for your Mac. And like many have pointed out, glossy displays are not great for most pros.

Shake - yes no longer really updated and not even sure if it is being sold. Industry standard though - not really. Was getting there and being used but was shuttered before it had a chance. Great software (IMHO) but far from being a true "pro" app which was widely used and then abandoned. Sad to see it go, yes. Indication of Apple leaving pro users behind, I would disagree. I see the loss of Shake as Apple choosing to leave a pro app like that to other software creators who can make equally as good if not better products.

iSight - not sure what your * means but I would not consider the iSight a "pro" device. Plus, all macs now have a built in iSight so I don't see your point here.

X-serve and MacPro - I LOVE the X-serve and REALLY love the X-RAID not to mention my Mac Pros (I deal with those in the next graph). The X-serve and X-RAID were Apple's attempt to enter the enterprise market and I think were great products. If you ask network admins though and true server IT folks, the X-serve and X-RAID were seen as "also ran" type products and NOT up to the enterprise level. I think they were, and still are, great products. I think Apple has chosen to target a different market than compete in the enterprise server level market. Do I like that choice? No. Does the X-serve still work great and do I plan to buy a new one next year to replace my vintage 2004 model - yes. Does it mean Apple has abandoned a pro market? No, and I have used their server software since 1998. Even then it was not considered truly professional.

Mac Pros and even the iMacs get infrequent updates. However, if you look at the history of Apple, they do not update their computer hardware that frequently. This is not like the PC market where you can buy a PC and six months later your computer is outdated. Apple has NEVER operated on this line of hardware upgrades. If you look at their history this is NOTHING new. Starting from 1990 through 2011, Apple has been pretty consistent about how often they update their hardware. If anything, the move to Intel has INCREASED the frequency of updates compared to the PPC days. If you remember those days it was almost embarrassing how long it would take to update a machine. It was so infrequent I planned my buying cycles (I manage labs) on a 18-24 month cycle.

I'm not saying Apple is perfect just some of the claims by people are being blown way out of proportion or at least perspective.
Click to expand...

+10
 
Anuba said:
There has to be a balance between profit hunger and decency. Most companies seem to have no trouble finding that balance but Steve lacks the decency gene. I'm happy to pay a premium for premium products because I expect that the manufacturer put a little extra into it that reflects the higher asking price. If I buy a Bentley I get nice touches like an umbrella that slides automatically out of the door when I open it, if the rain sensor detects rain. But if Steve was put in charge of Bentley, he would go on a scruple free corner-cutting rampage. He'd raise the prices and then eliminate all color options except silver metallic, remove the windshield wipers ("because water is beautiful!"), replace the engines with ones he got from Kia for a bargain price ("because it's greener!"), remove the headlights and replace them with a single one ("because less is more!"), replace the seats with wooden chairs ("because it improves your posture!"), and to top it off he'd combine the gas pedal with the break pedal and call it the "Magic Pedal". If you wanna sell premium products, don't be a scroogy cheapskate like you were making toasters for Wal-Mart.
Click to expand...

My Macs still outlast PC's in terms of their average life of the hardware. Apple has always had a premium and most of us expect better hardware and software for that premium. I don't see it the same way as you as Macs are not cheap hardware. Do they dictate some things - no question. However, the crux of your argument lies with Apple saying "we aren't going to do...." This line of thinking is what lead to Apple removing the 3.5" floppy drive and at that time many PROS were bemoaning how stupid Apple was and how they were leaving PROS behind because what were they supposed to do with all their old 3.5" floppy drives!?!? Turns out Apple was right. When Apple didn't have as many USB ports in their computers as their PC counterparts and instead included some Firewire ports, again the PROS complained. Turns out Firewire400 was better than USB1 & 2 (or at least comparable). Turns out Apple was right but now people are complaining there aren't any Firewire 1600 or 3500 connectors, of course this is because USB3.0 is competing and maybe Apple wants to see which really is BETTER?! Apple has also tried to make BETTER products and force those on the users only to have the users and market declare otherwise. Case in point, the Apple Display connector. An all-in-one connector which could provide your display connection, power to monitor, carry USB and Firewire signals. Yup, this went they way of the dodo despite eliminating cables and making more room on your actual desktop. PROs then complained about why Apple wasn't going with the cheaper yet more widely available DVI connectors. Oh, and this inconvenient fact no one was forcing people to buy an Apple monitor and you could still connect other monitors to your computer.


Anuba said:
What the hell does that have to do with profit margin on hardware? What financial gain was there for Microsoft in outmaneuvering Netscape, when IE shipped free with the OS that people were paying for anyway? They were power tripping, not cutting corners.
Click to expand...
Umm, everything! MS was pushing IE to battle the force of the internet, provide an excuse to tie a web browser in to your OS and get money from search engines (Netscape and others get paid for including search engines by default). The IE thing was ALL about money and getting people to use a FAR inferior product. IE has largely been blamed for many of the botnets that exist today and the problems of their non-standard use of HTML. IE was made to "look" better ONLY if you did it the MS way.


Anuba said:
In the US, maybe. Here in Europe we were already up to our necks in 3G infrastructure and the iPhone hasn't done squat to improve any of that. Instead, the carriers tried to use the iPhone as leverage to jack up the plan prices, perhaps thinking they could borrow some of that "higher prices for no valid reason" magic from Apple. Getting an iPhone here sets you back way more than any other phone does. You can buy it unlocked for a zillion or go with one of the extra expensive plans; here in Sweden they market them as "iSurf", "iMini", "iMidi" and "iMaxi".
Click to expand...
Well, there I can't speak as I live in the USA. The US has really lagged behind the rest of the planet in terms of cell service. But I would expect an American company to deal with a problem unique to America and not to mention a large market. Sorry if the iPhone didn't do much for you all outside of the USA. You generally, way ahead of us there so we have catching up to do and Apple has at least help us here.


Anuba said:
I do vote with my wallet by purchasing Apple products, so Apple wins. That doesn't however stop me from sensing the rotten stench of corner cutting and predatory greed that oozes out from under the keyboard, it's a stench that shouldn't be in the room when I buy premium products.
Click to expand...

I hear you, and again I'm not defending Apple. My problem has been with people IMHO blowing this way out of proportion and perspective. I do think Apple's quality control has decreased over the past few years compared to 10 years ago. Then again, they are shipping way more product than they were 10 years ago and I'm talking about desktop/laptop computers. I think this is a big challenge for ANY company that has grown like Apple has in the past 10 years. It is a concern for me but remember this article is about a MONITOR. I have many other choices for monitors. I also know the Apple of 10 years ago worried me about just being around for another YEAR. At least now I have the luxury of getting some cool new devices and seeing improvements which keeps the market competitive.
 
macnews said:
iSight - not sure what your * means but I would not consider the iSight a "pro" device. Plus, all macs now have a built in iSight so I don't see your point here.
Click to expand...


* means see foot note.. (parts made illegal in Europe etc.)

iSight not a pro product? try fitting 3 people infront of a MacBook Pro to share video in FCS :( video conferencing, and the extra job from the bedroom on the weekend (JOKE!!!!!) :D there are allot of situations that the fixed webcam just does not work...

Just about to go out and do my daily 30Km bike ride, will reply to the rest of your comments when I have a free moment. :D
 

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Uabcar said:
Is it not likely that the 27" becomes the small display in the lineup- and a new 32" version comes out at some point in the near future?

I do agree that 27" is pretty large for 'small' option- but if you look at where we were 5-10 years ago, most people were running 15"-17" monitors- with 19" models being the big/nice ones (btw-i get the change from 4:3 to 16:9).

Now it seems like 20"+ monitors are the norm- and in a couple years the 27" will be what the 24" is today.

I'd be shocked if we don't see a nice big display option in the next 6 mths.
Click to expand...

This was my thinking too so this news has taken me by surprise. I can't believe the monitor evolution will stop at 27" and the 30" was just a Moon shot landing never to be tried again.

I know they've squeezed the same resolution width-wise into the smaller 27" but I was hoping the size/resolution would actually increase even further as well as it has always done so far. A 30" with 3000+ horizontal resolution or something. Or a 32" as you say, with even more pixels.

I guess it's like the processors where they stopped going for the bigger numbers and the focus shifted to squeezing more into the same speed.
 
Count me among the consumer level customers who doesn't understand the matte screen crying. To me, matte screens are so 2002ish. Just the site of one reminds me of the old, crappy, spyware filled Dell laptops everyone owned in my college days...stealing music off of Kazaa...haha.

I suppose if you are some fancy graphic designer that needs to pay extremely close attention to colors, pixel counts and that kind of stuff than fine. Everyone else...just accept the fact that 75+% of consumers like shiny things...not dull matte screens:D

That said, I think Apple should stop calling it's consumer level items "Pro" and have an actual small selection of truly "Pro" products for the graphic professionals...that would make everyone happy I suppose.
 
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