Apple 17'' Widescreen LCD?

[Spanky Deluxe]

I don't know if this has been posted here yet or not, I did a quick search but turned up nothing.

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20061127PD208.html

Originally Posted by digitimes.com

LCD vendors such as ViewSonic and Apple are set to launch 17-inch widescreen LCD monitors by year-end or the first quarter of 2007, according to industry sources.

LCD monitor vendors expect 17-inch widescreen monitors to replace entry-level and middle-range 15-inch and 17-inch LCD monitors in the future. The prices for 17-inch widescreen monitors will not necessary be higher than 17-inch 4:3 models amid more efficient panel cutting by makers, according to the vendors.

Currently, LCD panel makers such as HannStar Display and China-based players have launched 17-inch widescreen panels in the market. A fifth-generation (5G) substrate from HannStar can be cut into fifteen 17-inch widescreen panels or fifteen 15-inch 4:3 conventional-sized panels, the sources said.

According to International Data Corporation (IDC), widescreen LCD monitors will account for 34% of the overall monitor market in the fourth quarter of 2007 with 19-inch widescreen monitors being the largest segment among all widescreen monitors. The proportion of 19-inch and 17-inch widescreen monitors will increase to 15.2% and 11.4%, respectively, by the fourth quarter of next year, the research firm added.

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

Digitimes claims that Apple is planning on launching a 17" Widescreen LCD" monitor "by year-end or the first quarter of 2007".

According to vendors cited by the article, 17" widescreen monitors will not necessarily be more expensive than the current 17" 4:3 models.

Apple previously had sold a 17" 4:3 ratio LCD until June 2004, when it revamped their monitor line to what it stands today:

• 20" Cinema (1680x1050) - $699
• 23" Cinema HD (1920x1200) - $999
• 30" Cinema HD (2560x1600) - $1999

A 17" Widescreen LCD would fall in the bottom end of the monitor line. While intriguing, the report comes from Digitimes whose rumor reports have been historically inaccurate.

[Shacklebolt]

Creating a low end monitor would be a very, very wise decision on Apple's part. Buyers of Mac Minis would appreciate having a less expensive Apple monitor to go with their stuff.

[godrifle]

It's about time Apple provided Mini buyers with a branded monitor option.

[OwlsAndApples]

Or get an iMac...

[aricher]

meh - does this matter? Isn't 17" is getting to be a bit skimpy by any consumer standards.

[jholzner]

Originally Posted by aricher

meh - does this matter? Isn't 17" is getting to be a bit skimpy by any consumer standards.

I don't know anyone who has something bigger and are just consumers and not prosumers.

[mahonmeister]

Apple is making good strides in filling the holes in their line-up. Still a ways to go if they want their market share to keep climbing.

[WildCowboy]

Originally Posted by aricher

meh - does this matter? Isn't 17" is getting to be a bit skimpy by any consumer standards.

I don't think so. Many people (myself included) who use notebooks as their primary computers without an external monitor. 17" widescreen is a great size.

Entry-level mini buyers don't want to spend more on their monitor than they do on their computer.

[DMann]

This may pave the way to larger wide-screens.
I would love to see a 40" widescreen.

[shadowmoses]

This would be a really great release hope it is true. I am also sure that many including myself would be willing to pay a slight premium for a 17" Apple widescreen display....

ShadoW

[aswitcher]

Digi have such a poor track record I doubt this but if Apple can do something new with a 17" (inbuilt isight, portrait mode swivel, higher def than 1280x1024) then I might go nicely with the mini.

[macman2790]

this would be cool. It would even be better if someone other than the digitimes discovered it.

[Spanky Deluxe]

Wow, for the first time ever I actually beat MacRumors: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...78#post3095478

I think a 17" model would be a good idea for Apple. It'll stop people buying Minis from getting their LCD fix from elsewhere to some extent and won't cost Apple a bean in R&D costs since they already use 17" panels in the iMac and have all the internals ready because of the 20" and 23" ACDs. It would only need a different sized chassis to be designed.

[Str8edgepunker]

Originally Posted by aswitcher

Digi have such a poor track record I doubt this but if Apple can do something new with a 17" (inbuilt isight, portrait mode swivel, higher def than 1280x1024) then I might go nicely with the mini.

Built-in iSights, now there's an idea!

[~Shard~]

Digitimes does not have the best track record, so I would take this report with a grain of salt. I think a 17" display would be nice to see and that it would definitely be appealing to Mac mini owners, however I would be concerned most about the price point. 17" displays are becoming cheaper and cheaper and if Apple puts too much of a premium on this, I don't think sales will be very swift.

Of course perhaps Apple is releasing this display to complement the upcoming handheld Mac with docking station...

[TheBobcat]

Maybe Apple just needs to lower its monitor prices to sane levels as opposed to the ridiculous prices that they currently stand at. Justify them all you want, if Apple really wants to push its monitors, those prices need to come down. They might have flew 3 years ago, but enough is enough.

I just got a 22-inch LCD for $370 (US), and it's not a piece. Quite frankly, I can't really tell the difference. Plus it has better adjustments and I/O. It doesn't have the Apple look, and it only has 1050 horizontal lines of res but, that's not worth the extra dollars for me.

[macfan70]

To fit in to the Mac line up, the price for the 17" Widescreen should not be over 399 at which point you might as well get an iMac. I think if it is real, then Apple will fill the product gap and sell them for 299. Still iffy since most 17" LCDs go for at least 50 bucks less.

[corywoolf]

Originally Posted by DMann

This may pave the way to larger wide-screens.
I would love to see a 40" widescreen.

I know you originally said 30" and then edited it before I could post. I doubt there will be a 40" any time soon. It is more likely that Apple introduces a 32" LCD TV and probably a 42" Plasma.

[Eraserhead]

I think Apple will specifically NOT make a 17" Monitor as Digitimes are so astonishingly innaccurate .

[iEric]

20" is the new 17", duh.

[scottlinux]

Many find two 17" LCDs more useful than one big LCD. Esp graphic artists, film composers, etc. They can have their tools/mixer open on one monitor, and the image or sequence open on another.

Or if someone already has a big LCD, it would be a good compliment to put a 17" alongside it.

[topgunn]

Originally Posted by Str8edgepunker

Built-in iSights, now there's an idea!

Asus has this display which includes speakers and a webcam. It would be nice if Apple introduced a similar concept with a display only. It would be prefect for the Mac mini.

[isgoed]

Originally Posted by iEric

20" is the new 17", duh.

<= So right.

And 17" widescreen?? That is just small. That is about the samy height as my 1996 performa's 14" screen.

No, but no thanks.

And apple just can't compete with other vendors when you consider the general price-point of these things.

[Josias]

Do you think such a display would sport a pwning! S-IPS panel as the other Cinema Displays, or would it be throttled down to a Dell style S-PVA panel?

I willy, willy hope for:
17" (1680x1050), S-IPS panel, 12 ms, DVI, 600:1, iSight, 400 cd/m2, alu. case, 2xUSB 2.0, 2xFireWire400 - $399.
20" (1920x1200), S-IPS panel, 12 ms, DVI, 700:1, iSight, 500 cd/m2, alu. case, 2xUSB 2.0, 2xFireWire400 - $699.
24" (some res. I can't remember), S-IPS panel, 12 ms, DVI, 700:1, iSight, 500 cd/m2, alu. case, 2xUSB 2.0, 1xFireWire400, 1xFireWire 800 - $999.
30" (some res. I can't remember), S-IPS panel, 12 ms, DVI, 700:1, iSight, 500 cd/m2, alu. case, 2xUSB 2.0, 1xFireWire400, 1xFireWire 800 - $1999.