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Wow, the 20" viewing angle really does suck!!

bluedoggiant

bluedoggiant

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jul 13, 2007
2,658
102
MD & ATL,GA
DSC00381.jpg


I know, it isnt the best picture, but i literally stood right next to the 24" iMac, barely looking at the screen, and the colors were perfect, the 20", however, the grey/white backround on the imac turned yellow, and i wasnt looking at it from a strong angle!! its the first time ive actually realized it, i knew about it, but never really seen it sooo bad!!
 
yea that really does look too good. but hows the difference when you straight at it?
 
Ok, first off, photos will never accurately show you the quality of a display. They just won't. There's too many variables in color changes of the conditions from when you're taking a pic with a camera. The most it will do is show you contrast differences of screens directly side by side from straight on. When it comes to buying electronics, always base your opinions on what you see with your eyes when you see a model in person. As for that 20" color, it looks to me like it's reflecting the color back from the counter it's sitting on. There's nothing exceptionally freaky about that
 
What do you think you angle from the 20" was?

What do you think your angle from the 24" was?

It would be interesting to see a pic of both the 20" and 24" from the same extreme angle. Of course with both having the same screen displayed as well.
 
NoRights said:
Ok, first off, photos will never accurately show you the quality of a display. They just won't. There's too many variables in color changes of the conditions from when you're taking a pic with a camera. The most it will do is show you contrast differences of screens directly side by side from straight on. When it comes to buying electronics, always base your opinions on what you see with your eyes when you see a model in person. As for that 20" color, it looks to me like it's reflecting the color back from the counter it's sitting on. There's nothing exceptionally freaky about that
Click to expand...

erm...so why is the 24" scrteen not reflecting it too then??
the angle the 20" screen is at can only reflect from above, and the last time i was in an apple store, there wasnt any tables above the screen...

sorry, but this is exactly what i noticed yesterday in the glasgow store...

the 20" screens are awful for veiwing angles....really poor. not sure what panels they are using, but the 24" is waaaay better and crystal clear in comparison

out of interest, i testing about 10 different panels in store from the LCD test that was posted http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

1 out of 5 24" screens was a bit dodgy....but im afraid that 4 out of 5 20" screens was poor...

glad i bought a 24"!
 
Let's be realistic - you cannot compare the 20" and 24" from THAT picture.

First the angles are different, secondly there is no way to confirm settings on both displays as to background color was the same. As to the 20" reflecting the table, well no I doubt it could do that ..... but what kind of display was setup in front of the computers?

I have been in several Apple Store and walked down the display aisles where they have 20" and 24" units set up side by side. I've never seen anything like that.

I feel confident that had I witnessed such a GLARING difference between the two I would have remembered it.
 
heehee said:
You are going to use the monitor that way? Why does it even matter? :confused:
Click to expand...

Well, when showing someone something, family gatherings, etc.

gorby said:
We can all agree on one thing-- reflections suck ;)
Click to expand...

You don't notice them unless you look for it.

vincebio said:
erm...so why is the 24" scrteen not reflecting it too then??
the angle the 20" screen is at can only reflect from above, and the last time i was in an apple store, there wasnt any tables above the screen...

sorry, but this is exactly what i noticed yesterday in the glasgow store...

the 20" screens are awful for veiwing angles....really poor. not sure what panels they are using, but the 24" is waaaay better and crystal clear in comparison

out of interest, i testing about 10 different panels in store from the LCD test that was posted http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

1 out of 5 24" screens was a bit dodgy....but im afraid that 4 out of 5 20" screens was poor...

glad i bought a 24"!
Click to expand...

24" imacs use IPS displays, 20" uses TN, the old 20" imacs however used IPS.

harcosparky said:
What do you think you angle from the 20" was?

What do you think your angle from the 24" was?

It would be interesting to see a pic of both the 20" and 24" from the same extreme angle. Of course with both having the same screen displayed as well.
Click to expand...

Quite clear, the 24" was much better. I also saw the 20" from the same angle if you want to argue, but i didnt bother taking a pic, this is good enough.

NoRights said:
Ok, first off, photos will never accurately show you the quality of a display. They just won't. There's too many variables in color changes of the conditions from when you're taking a pic with a camera. The most it will do is show you contrast differences of screens directly side by side from straight on. When it comes to buying electronics, always base your opinions on what you see with your eyes when you see a model in person. As for that 20" color, it looks to me like it's reflecting the color back from the counter it's sitting on. There's nothing exceptionally freaky about that
Click to expand...

they're both on wood tables, with white ceilings, and right in front of them is a black wall, this is at best buy, and it looks the same as how i saw it, so the picture is accurate.
 
vincebio said:
erm...so why is the 24" scrteen not reflecting it too then??
Click to expand...
Because the 24" is being viewed from a different angle. That's also why it's reflecting more from the ceiling lights than the 20" is as well. Try taking this exact same shot from the opposite side, the 24" will most likely reflect the same amount of color as that 20"
the angle the 20" screen is at can only reflect from above, and the last time i was in an apple store, there wasnt any tables above the screen...sorry, but this is exactly what i noticed yesterday in the glasgow store...
Click to expand...
You've never sat a monitor on a colored table and had the color reflect back on you? Because it's pretty obvious that's what's happening in that photo. Look, you can even see the wood grain being mirrored back
bluedoggiant said:
they're both on wood tables, with white ceilings, and right in front of them is a black wall, this is at best buy, and it looks the same as how i saw it, so the picture is accurate.
Click to expand...
Yes, the picture is accurate in showing you the effects of a glossy display reflecting objects back ;)
 
I didn't realise quite how much worse the viewing angles were until I bought Mum a 20" last weekend.

I have a 24" and if I happen to be standing in front of it rather than sitting, there's not a substantial difference. I was standing in above Mum's last weekend while setting it up and you could see a shape around the mouse arrow when you looked at it. It's fine from the front view but the top/side angles are significantly poorer.
 
whats the difference between isp and tn displays?
btw anyone know what the 20inch cinema displays use?
 
NoRights said:
Because the 24" is being viewed from a different angle. That's also why it's reflecting more from the ceiling lights than the 20" is as well. Try taking this exact same shot from the opposite side, the 24" will most likely reflect the same amount of color as that 20"
You've never sat a monitor on a colored table and had the color reflect back on you? Because it's pretty obvious that's what's happening in that photo. Look, you can even see the wood grain being mirrored back
Yes, the picture is accurate in showing you the effects of a glossy display reflecting objects back ;)
Click to expand...

Have you ever seen these in person? I have and the photo is relatively accurate...the 20" displays definitely turn yellow at various angles. And no, this FLAT surface can't be reflecting two different angles (it's physics). Even if there was ambient "yellow" light reflecting off the table, you wouldn't see it like this. Look at the reflection and you'll notice that it's reflecting objects more distant in the room and not the table.

Most will agree that this is what the TN panel looks like at this angle.
 
NoRights said:
Ok, first off, photos will never accurately show you the quality of a display. They just won't. There's too many variables in color changes of the conditions from when you're taking a pic with a camera. The most it will do is show you contrast differences of screens directly side by side from straight on. When it comes to buying electronics, always base your opinions on what you see with your eyes when you see a model in person. As for that 20" color, it looks to me like it's reflecting the color back from the counter it's sitting on. There's nothing exceptionally freaky about that
Click to expand...


I'm sorry but this picture shows exactly what a TN panel does- turn to crap when you move away from dead center. It's not reflecting the counter. That doesn't even make sense.
 
CBAviator said:
Have you ever seen these in person?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have seen the new iMacs in person.
And no, this FLAT surface can't be reflecting two different angles (it's physics). Even if there was ambient "yellow" light reflecting off the table, you wouldn't see it like this. Look at the reflection and you'll notice that it's reflecting objects more distant in the room and not the table.
Click to expand...
So you're teaching me physics now? :rolleyes: Just because you're seeing lights and objects across from the screen reflecting back it doesn't make it an impossibility for any other light to bounce off it. Sheesh. If you pointed a flashlight at the screen up from the table I guarantee you it'd reflect back. The presence of light from one angle does not negate the presence of light from another. It's pretty obvious from the photo that there are overhead lamps above the tables. That's light shining straight down onto the wood and bouncing up to the screen. And that screen's color looks suspiciously like the wood on the table it's sitting on. But whatever. Your mind's made up. :p
 
clin86 said:
whats the difference between isp and tn displays?
btw anyone know what the 20inch cinema displays use?
Click to expand...

Basically the SIPS are superior to TN displays there's a thread explaining the differences on this site somewhere. Also 20" Cinema Displays (ACDs) use SIPS panels
 
Guys we need to stop arguing, some of the 20" Aluminum iMac screens suck big time. I own one of them and yes it is as bad as depicted in the first post, it color shift really bad from left to right, brightness gradient from top to bottom. Thank god I color correct my photo with numbers instead of with my eyes. Every time I goto my local Apple store I cringe when I look at, yes some are that bad. I know we all love Apple, but sometimes they do mess up!
 
It does yellow from non center angles, but unless you are doing photo editing on a south by northeast angle what does it matter? I never really noticed this white-yellow change until seeing this post. If you need a better monitor then buy the 24" at a higher price. I haven't actually seen the 24" so I don't know what happens to it.
 
I own the 20" and i must say that once you get the computer into a room with a different light source other than florescent light there is a big difference. Not only that but the computer is at a higher view angle that is pointing up at the lights, where as in your home it will be pointing at you. The 20" is an amazing computer just as the 24" and some people have been have problems with the 24" screen.
 
The 24" screens are better, but the picture isn't a good comparison.

I'm sure the 20" screen would look much better if you shot it at the same angle as the 24".

I was at BestBuy last night, and was actually checking for the screen difference. It certainly was pretty close to me.
 
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