Apple Now Selling LG's UltraFine 5K Display, Extends $974 Sale Price Until March 31

[BWhaler]

I bought the 5K because I want the pixels and I like the aspect ratio; for me, these wide screen displays don't match my workflow well.

But I feel dirty ordering it. So, so, ugly. Feels rushed and undesigned. Feels very un-Apple.

I remember when Apple partnered with Motorola on that junk phone. It was clear it was a step towards something bigger. Steve's subtle pantomime on stage hinted at the need for something better.

But this is Tim Cook's Apple. Despite their Lady Macbeth protests to the contrary, the Mac is a second or third class citizen. And this display shows to me their lack of care.

 

[jimthing]

All the specs and the data sheets are posted now on the LG USA site www.lgusa.com
1. Cable: 2 meter, Thunderbolt 3, active
2. Camera: Yes. No more info. Assume 720.
3. Speakers: 5Wx2, 77dB (Based on LG Standard)

1. Sure we know that, but what BRAND is it: as no other long TWO METER Tbolt 3 cables on the market offer 85W charging, along with having Tbolt 40Gbit and USB-C 3.1 10Gbit. Who makes these ones being supplied with the LG 5K? (I'd love a second one for general non-5K display usage!)

Not sold. Even LG's UltraFine 21.5-inch shares the same frame thickness. And there are plenty of 21+ UHD displays, including LG's own, that have thin bezels. (This LG UltraFine style resembles the NEC Display monitors.)

Yes, but again, they're all 4K/UHD displays. And as for the LG 4K 21.5", that's likely just to match the design needed for the matching 5K model in the same UltraFine range.[/QUOTE]

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Great news. I'll get one after the Holidays after I recoup from buying the 15inch. Lol

2017 tax deduction. Lol

 

[TigerWoodsIV]

Great news. I'll get one after the Holidays after I recoup from buying the 15inch. Lol

2017 tax deduction. Lol

It has been quite a month... I just paid off my credit card when the 15" charge hit today. Why not throw a 5k display right on top of that lol.

 

[tomdwan]

just ordered mine.

I have 2 questions:
1) can I use an adapter to connect my apple TV to his monitor?
2) can I use an adapter to connect my iMac 5k (late 2015) to use the ultrafine as a second display?

help much appreciated, thanks!

 

[jimthing]

just ordered mine.

I have 2 questions:
1) can I use an adapter to connect my apple TV to his monitor?
2) can I use an adapter to connect my iMac 5k (late 2015) to use the ultrafine as a second display?

help much appreciated, thanks!

No and no, AFAIU.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

The same "Pros" complaining about not having a 32GB option are complaining about the asthetics of a 10bit 5K monitor.

On top of that "Pros" are opting for LG's non thunderbolt, non 10bit, 4K montior just because it "looks" better.

That's quite funny.

I agree with you, relative to being funny. If you are a creative, then you use the proper tools of your trade. No if's or but's. Bezels be dammed.

Having said that, you do make two assumptions, that are not correct (check the specs published at www.lgusa.com )

1. The 5K Ultrafine is not a 10-bit monitor. It is an 8-bit monitor + 2-bit A-FRC (dithering) (same as the LG 27UD88-W)

2. The 4K monitor is simply a USB-C monitor not a Thunderbolt 3 monitor. The 4K Ultrafine gets fed native DisplayPort on Alternate Mode through the four lanes of the USB-C cable. As a consequence, when displaying, the cable cannot provide more than USB 2.0 (480Mbps) up/down to/from the upstream hub (as the four USB-C lanes are taken over by the DisplayPort stream).

NOTE: The 5K UltraFine is a Thunderbolt 3 display so it tunnels (encapulates/decapsulates) up to 40Gbps to/from the display, so it does not suffer of bandwidth starvation, as its 4K brethren does. (Thunderbolt protocol tunnels, USB-C multiplexes)

 

[Appleaker]

You are going to be waiting a very very long time then...

I'm not waiting but if and when they choose to release it, I'll probably buy it. We'll see what happens.
[doublepost=1482264506][/doublepost]

If only there were some technology where you could put a modular and replaceable GPU into the same box as the CPU. A high end display can easily be in service for 10+ years and that would let you keep updating the graphics capability of the display. It would be so cool for multi-display setups.

Well, I guess some ideas are just beyond modern technology.

I don't think Apple would do that, but anybody else who makes an eGPU display would have the sense to do it. Maybe that battle between the engineering and design teams stopped its release.
[doublepost=1482264760][/doublepost]

Right away, we get the issues with some Apple fans... complain when it's not the best product out there, but complain once it is but isn't silver and Apple logo.

I'm not complaining, this display is a great. I couldn't care less if it 'isn't silver and has an Apple logo'. My point was about the eGPU, which is something no other monitor has.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

1. Sure we know that, but what BRAND is it: as no other long TWO METER Tbolt 3 cables on the market offer 85W charging, along with having Tbolt 40Gbit and USB-C 3.1 10Gbit. Who makes these ones being supplied with the LG 5K? (I'd love a second one for general non-5K display usage!)

Not that I trust it, but Startek "says" they have a 2-meter, Thunderbolt 3 certified active cable, but at a pretty penny:
https://www.startech.com/Cables/thunderbolt-3-cables/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-cable-2m~TBLT3MM2MA

But I am not a fan of theirs.

Neither Belkin (Apple's go-to cable provider), or Kanex have active thunderbolt cables. (Passive cables, which are easier to be found, are limited to .5 meters.)

Monoprice, my cable go-to place, will not touch Thunderbolt, apparently. And are singly dedicated to USB cables.

OOOPS! Sorry. The Startek cable only provides 60W downstream. Not 100W. So your question remains unanswered.

 

[melendezest]

I just don't understand what the HELL is going on at Apple nowadays.

They just keep killing products as if they're broke.

This setup still looks better than ANYTHING that came before, or since, IMHO:

 

[MrX8503]

I agree with you, relative to being funny. If you are a creative, then you use the proper tools of your trade. No if's or but's. Bezels be dammed.

Having said that, you do make two assumptions, that are not correct (check the specs published at www.lgusa.com )

1. The 5K Ultrafine is not a 10-bit monitor. It is an 8-bit monitor + 2-bit A-FRC (dithering) (same as the LG 27UD88-W)

2. The 4K monitor is simply a USB-C monitor not a Thunderbolt 3 monitor. The 4K Ultrafine gets fed native DisplayPort on Alternate Mode through the four lanes of the USB-C cable. As a consequence, when displaying, the cable cannot provide more than USB 2.0 (480Mbps) up/down to/from the upstream hub (as the four USB-C lanes are taken over by the DisplayPort stream).

NOTE: The 5K UltraFine is a Thunderbolt 3 display so it tunnels (encapulates/decapsulates) up to 40Gbps to/from the display, so it does not suffer of bandwidth starvation, as its 4K brethren does. (Thunderbolt protocol tunnels, USB-C multiplexes)

Is the 27UD88 a DCI-P3 monitor? About the 4K I/O, that's why I said NON thunderbolt 3.

 

[WillO95]

Does anyone have any idea about the USB OUT Power output? If I can dock my iPhone and iPad into the display this would be such a cleaner desk set up and less power outlets being used!

 

[Sylvan]

Meh. I don't really care if it looks "ugly". I look at what's being displayed on the screen, not the screen itself.

 

[citysnaps]

I just don't understand what the HELL is going on at Apple nowadays.

They just keep killing products as if they're broke.

This setup still looks better than ANYTHING that came before, or since, IMHO:

I think they're killing products where there isn't significant or proprietary value added from Apple. Situations where there are plenty of competitors that have pretty much forced product commoditization at much lower prices - requiring too low margins for Apple to compete.

Displays, and basic wifi routers come to mind; along with dot matrix and laser printers in the past. I can see Apple coming up with a mesh wifi router system, perhaps embedded in something else, with their own secret sauce and feature set.

 

[jclardy]

Anyone know if you can daisy chain the 4k to the 5k monitor on one TB3 cable? the 4k version is just USB-C, but it depends on if the ports on the 5k can support display output.

 

[melendezest]

I think they're killing products where there isn't significant or proprietary value added from Apple. Situations where there are plenty of competitors that have pretty much forced product commoditization at much lower prices - requiring too low margins for Apple to compete.

Displays, and basic wifi routers come to mind; along with dot matrix and laser printers in the past. I can see Apple coming up with a mesh wifi router system, perhaps embedded in something else, with their own secret sauce and feature set.

They charged $1,000 for their display!!

If they made it thinner, people would still buy it.

If they took the speakers out, people would buy it.

It's Apple. Make it look nice, make it match, and charge us for it. Aesthetics are a big reason people buy Apple products, I think.

If they'd built it, we'd come.

Imagine a gold or Rose-Gold TB3 Display to match your MB.

Missed opportunity, I think, given their profits (i.e. iPhone) tunnel-vision.

 

[citysnaps]

They charged $1,000 for their display!!

If they made it thinner, people would still buy it.

If they took the speakers out, people would buy it.

It's Apple. Make it look nice, make it match, and charge us for it. Aesthetics are a big reason people buy Apple products, I think.

If they'd built it, we'd come.

Imagine a gold or Rose-Gold TB3 Display to match your MB.

Missed opportunity, I think, given their profits (i.e. iPhone) tunnel-vision.

I suspect there's not enough margin potential at that price, and, possibly not enough sales. For most it would be a secondary display.

Let's put it this way... If the number of potential sales were similar to iMac and MBP sales, and, they could get at least 40% margin, I think they'd do it.

 

[BWhaler]

I just don't understand what the HELL is going on at Apple nowadays.

They just keep killing products as if they're broke.

This setup still looks better than ANYTHING that came before, or since, IMHO:

Gorgeous. There was a time when Apple cared about all aspects of the whole experience.

 

[kingjames1970]

Been checking crazily since they were announced. Off course today I was late to the table - UK order 23 Jan-6 Feb. Just got to figure out how to make my desk fit that and the 4K LG 27UD88! (I ordered the 4K because I couldn't wait with work to do. And will make a great 2nd or 3rd screen.)

Would be nice if I can hook the 4K up to the 5k but not sure you can do that?

 

[melendezest]

I suspect there's not enough margin potential at that price, and, possibly not enough sales. For most it would be a secondary display.

Well, that's the sad part.

Apple used to build cool sh*** because they could. They built it, priced it, and we ate it up, damn the cost.

That was Steve's Apple.

 

[patrickbarnes]

It really annoys me that this monitor can't be connected to my $6,000 nMP.

The Dell UP2715K is $1,549.99 and the HP Z27q isn't... great.

 

[citysnaps]

Well, that's the sad part.

Apple used to build cool sh*** because they could. They built it, priced it, and we ate it up, damn the cost.

That was Steve's Apple.

Can't do that anymore. Steve's Apple really couldn't either, and thus why they canned the 30" at $3K and the others at $1.5K, and then $1K. The monitors looked aesthetically nice on the outside, but they were nothing special as high performance color-accurate monitors went and were not competitive for that market. NEC has that locked up for professional use with their SpectraView products. Eizo, too.

Like it or not large corporations live by margins. At one time I worked as a systems engineer in a high speed signal processing group at a large semiconductor company. If a product I pitched couldn't get close to 80% GPM with loads of customers, there would be no support for getting my project off the ground.

Of course that's different than consumer electronics. But every company has a margin number and sales targets they need to hit.

 

[smirking]

You've invented a fantasy anecdote cobbled together from half-truths, rumors, and hearsay about pros you've never met and can't prove exist, and then find funny the hypocrisy it describes. Apple fan, meet straw man.

Nevermind. You know everything. You're right. There are no pros.

 

[ctyrider]

Im more interested in the possibility of Apples own GPU display. I think it'll look a lot better aesthetically and have obvious benefits.

Good luck with that. I will be enjoying my 5K LG display, while you're waiting for a Unicorn Apple Display in perpetuity.

Great news. And good on Apple for extending the discount by three months. Nothing to complain about there.

You must be new around here. There will be ALWAYS something to complain about.

 

[smirking]

This setup still looks better than ANYTHING that came before, or since, IMHO

Oh man, you just made me miss my Mac Pro tower. I was sad the day I let it go in favor of a MBP.

I don't regret the decision though. I like having more space and it's really nice to be able to grab my whole system and go if I don't want to be holed up in my office 24/7.

I ordered one of the 5K monitors. It's ugly, but I'll get over it. As long as the screen is as nice as the 5K iMac, I won't care.