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23" vs. 30" ACD - interesting findings

jjahshik32 said:
I have a crt from emachines.. but it looks like crap still compared to my 23" acd! :D
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o.o eMachines? Lol, that's why. eMachines... suck... and I'm guessing the monitor did too, lol. Was it even a flat screen, or was it like, curved? ;)

At one point, I had two 21" CRTs running a 1600x1200 each with my old PowerMac G4. Not only did it bend my table, the images were never a crisp and clear as my LCDs. Given a choice, I wouldn't go back to CRTs...
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Haha, well there's no denying they've got a rather large footprint. Not crisp/clear? Perhaps you just needed to adjust them a bit... you can adjust pretty much everything on the CRT since they're not physical pixels, but lights being fired by a cathode ray tube. It can be a little painstaking, but there's a reason serious graphic professionals who absolutely need clarity/color fidelity still use CRTs more often than not.

Apple has always supplied top-quality monitors, though, so you're basically getting the best of the best when you buy them.... the 23/30" ACDs are no exception.
 
Today's the day for shopping for a second monitor for my mac pro!! Hmm I'm actually considering the samsung 245BW.. I'll have to go check it out later tonight, I have a feeling I'll end up with the 20" ACD.
 
So how "out of date" relative to what's come out recently (like that fancy new 30" NEC MultiSync) are the ACDs?

I'm still using a Dell 2405 (yep, 05) monitor and have been thinking about upgrading to something newer.

Stuart
 
sturob said:
So how "out of date" relative to what's come out recently (like that fancy new 30" NEC MultiSync) are the ACDs?

I'm still using a Dell 2405 (yep, 05) monitor and have been thinking about upgrading to something newer.


Stuart
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Get an ACD you WONT regret it!! 23" preferrably. :D If not go all out on the 30".. man even to this day my 23" ACD everytime i stare at the screen the colors are so nice and clean and so vivid! So colorful! The color rendition is excellent and even compared to the my 17" hi res, the 23" acd is more vivid in colors and rendition of the colors are way more detailed. Easy on the eyes and great viewing angles, even viewing from 120 degrees the colors stay the same and vivid! =D

I've owned the 20" ACD before this 23" and I know what to expect from the 20". 20" ACD is a very nice little monitor and I think it would go perfectly as a 2nd monitor! Cant wait until after work!!
 
sturob said:
So how "out of date" relative to what's come out recently (like that fancy new 30" NEC MultiSync) are the ACDs?
Click to expand...

The two biggest drawbacks I see with the ACDs are the lack of inputs (no HDMI or DisplayPort) and the lack of HDCP support, so they will not show protected high-definition digital content (HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, etc.).

If Apple gives me both at 30", I will buy an ACD with my Mac Pro this upcoming holiday, otherwise I will chose another S-IPS display that meets those requirements. I can't see ever replacing a 30" display outside of component failure, so I need it as future-proof as possible and the current ACDs are, unfortunately, already stuck firmly in the past in some areas.
 
"Today's the day for shopping for a second monitor for my mac pro!! Hmm I'm actually considering the samsung 245BW.. I'll have to go check it out later tonight, I have a feeling I'll end up with the 20" ACD."

JJ,

I just received my MacPro yesterday from UPS...will be setting it up this weekend with a 23" ACD...but my PC is connected to a Gateway FHD2400 (street at about $500)...a fantastic monitor. I will be comparing them side by side this weekend.

The bonus with the Gateway is connectivity...it is HDCP compliant with HDMI, component, and DVI-D...also price.

I just wanted my first MacPro to have itself a Mac monitor, just being anal I guess...but I am looking forward to the comparison.

And I do agree with an earlier poster about the accuracy of CRTs. Whether it is computers or home television choices...the CRTs are the hands down winner for color accuracy and black/contrast...the problem is they are less and less available and supported! No one is making rear projection TVs anymore because of demand "to hang my TV on the wall" and computer CRTs are harder and harder to find...especailly good ones! And, with desk real estate in demand, the "size/weight cost per inch" is heavily in favor of LCDs. Also, we are getting much better LCD technology than even two or three years ago for much better pricing...with more pixels, higher resolution, and better colour accuracy then ever before.

Still...the best calibrated CRT is tough to compete with...IMHO

Jeremy
 
If you're gonna compare different monitors, make sure they're connected to the same computer. OS X will display an image differently to Windows, even on the same monitor....
 
And I do agree with an earlier poster about the accuracy of CRTs. Whether it is computers or home television choices...the CRTs are the hands down winner for color accuracy and black/contrast...the problem is they are less and less available and supported! No one is making rear projection TVs anymore because of demand "to hang my TV on the wall" and computer CRTs are harder and harder to find...especailly good ones! And, with desk real estate in demand, the "size/weight cost per inch" is heavily in favor of LCDs. Also, we are getting much better LCD technology than even two or three years ago for much better pricing...with more pixels, higher resolution, and better colour accuracy then ever before.

Still...the best calibrated CRT is tough to compete with...IMHO

I have a Multisync 19" CRT Display, I'll probably put it up in the marketplace or ebay. the calibration difference isn't that big a deal to me as I can easily compensate for the black point & brightness of the lcd.
 
CWallace said:
The two biggest drawbacks I see with the ACDs are the lack of inputs (no HDMI or DisplayPort) and the lack of HDCP support, so they will not show protected high-definition digital content (HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, etc.).
Click to expand...

I have no problems watching 1080p/720p movies that look absolutely gorgeous on my 23" ACD running it from my mac pro! :D But I hardly do because that's what hdtv's are for~ ;)
 
"If you're gonna compare different monitors, make sure they're connected to the same computer. OS X will display an image differently to Windows, even on the same monitor.... "

Will do, for sure.

In fact, my thoughts are to move the 24" Gateway over to the Mac permenantly...with the 23" ACD for dual purpose. I have an older 22" Viewsonic LCD that I will use with the PC.

I am very excited to turn on the ACD...I've heard nothing but praise for too long now and it's hard to get a good feel in the store on "torch" settings.

It is going to be an incredible weekend...this is my first Mac desktop, ever. Unless you consider my Apple IIE a Mac...circa '86;)

Jer
 
Well, I have my 30" ACD plugged back in...going to try it for awhile longer and see if I can really get used to it. It is indeed a *very beautiful* display. It's super bright and the colors are vibrant, everything on the monitor is sharp and nice.

I think part of my problem is that the desk I work at (it's a corner unit)...the table is up pretty high, about 3 and a half feet. I can't really change the table height at all. So the top of the display is much higher than the top of my head. I'm not having trouble with the text being too small, the display is about 2 feet away from me currently. I think the key is part of the following:

1. Getting the viewing distance right
2. Getting the height right (height of display or height of your chair)
3. Getting the tilt right on the display

I'm going to work with it for a few days and see if I can get used to it. I really love the display and don't want to ditch it, but in the end, I really want something that's both functional + comfortable, and so far I feel good with the 23". Indeed, the 30" does give you ALOT more space...and, it takes up ALOT more space...but it's the king daddy. LOL
 
junior77 said:
If I'm not mistaken, the dpi or dots-per-inch are exactly the same between the 23 & 30" ACD. I don't have time to go through the calculation...but should be simple. Someone please confirm me on this...
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Practically identical...

Apple Cinema 23": 98.4 PPI (dpi)
Apple Cinema 30": 101.6 PPI (dpi)

Other Mac displays:

iMac 24": 94.3 PPI
iMac 20": 99.1 PPI

MacBook: 113.5 PPI

MacBook Pro 15" (1440 x 900): 110.3 PPI
MacBook Pro 17" (1680 x 1050): 116.5 PPI
MacBook Pro 17" (1920 x 1200): 133.2 PPI
 
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