Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple's 27" LED Cinema Display Now On Sale
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
A completely brand new display versus a used and refurbished iMac? What is so odd about that? If you were to compare a brand new iMac to the display it would seem less odd.
I don't get those of you complaining that this monitor isn't "consumer friendly". They killed off their 30" monitor that was matte, 16:10 and 2560x1600 and replaced it with a 27" monitor that is glossy, 16:9 and 2560x1440 (reduced vertical resolution); plus it has a webcam and speakers! It is quite a bit cheaper than the 30" its replacing. This monitor is way more consumer friendly then the monitor its replacing.
While I can appreciate a cheap monitor that does the job, I view monitors as a more of a long term investment so I think spending a bit more makes sense. At home, my current two monitors are 7 years old and almost 10 years old (a CRT!). If I were to buy a new monitor it would sit in between these two monitors, and I'd probably still be using the new monitor 10 years from now.
As for no one caring about the Dell U3011, I actually *do* care about the mentions of Dell U3011 as I hadn't heard about that yet and I have been mulling over the purchase of a 2560x1600 matte display with multiple inputs for years.
While I can appreciate a cheap monitor that does the job, I view monitors as a more of a long term investment so I think spending a bit more makes sense. At home, my current two monitors are 7 years old and almost 10 years old (a CRT!). If I were to buy a new monitor it would sit in between these two monitors, and I'd probably still be using the new monitor 10 years from now.
As for no one caring about the Dell U3011, I actually *do* care about the mentions of Dell U3011 as I hadn't heard about that yet and I have been mulling over the purchase of a 2560x1600 matte display with multiple inputs for years.
Thanks, but I'll pass.
Rather get the sweet Dell U3011; that thing looks amazing!
The abundance of connectivity
10-bit color with:
2 High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)
2 Digital Visual Interface connectors (DVI-D) with HDCP
1 DisplayPort (DP)
1 Video Graphics Array (VGA)
Component Connectors
1 USB 2.0 upstream port
4 USB 2.0 downstream ports
7 in 1 Media reader
Get it together Apple!
Pretty much this. Apple got beat.
Umm, in my field you're wrong. The ultrasharp has the same IPS panel, same resolution, same contrast ratio, twice the response time, same viewing angle ability. It has better height, tilt and swivel adjust-ability, 1.07 billion colors compared to 16.7 Million, better color accuracy and not a shiny screen.
What else am I forgetting??? oh yeah it also has:
1- HDMI
2- DVI
1- DisplayPort
1- VGA
Component Video
Composite Video
1 USB 2.0 upstream port
4 USB 2.0 downstream ports
8 in 1 Media reader
So the Apple is LED backlit and is 25cd/m2 brighter. Like I said, I'd take the Dell over the Apple anyday of the week. And any person who knows their assh*le from their elbow would do the same.
Looks impressive, but it's $400.00 more than ACD and it does not have a camera or speakers. Professionals and prosumers that need perfect calibrated color care about this...the ACD is for enthusiasts who want a great picture with solid audio and the camera is a plus.
Right because all those connections are used by so many. I had four Dell U2410's, ALL of them had either dead pixels, banding, color inaccuracy and could not even be properly calibrated with software or hardware. All those ports are meaningless. I used DVI and one DisplayPort. That was it.
The ACD is an IPS LED LCD with a good webcam and decent speakers. Find me a similar display for under $1000 and I'll eat my words. Until then, Dells are horrible and their customer service is known for being horrendous.
i'm glad that it's on sale now, but why can't apple use normal connections (DVI) like everyone else?
I said in my field. And yes, in my field having all of those choices on a single monitor is important. It can be a main display, it can hooked up to a capture card for accurate monitoring of final output, you can hook up multiple sources to it. Just because you don't use them doesn't mean others don't.
You're either lying, extremely unlucky or don't know what the hell you're doing. I would venture to guess all 3 since I wasn't talking to you and you needed to come in all hot and bash Dell.
Can't think of anything to say so you repeat the same argument? Nice work there Lou.
And indeed you are saying how great it is when the Dell has the same specs for most things and the rest are better. And who uses speakers built into monitors? Sorry, I'm too busy using my KRK monitors or my Sony headphones. And if I want to skype someone, I'll use my MBP that sits next to me while I'm working as an email machine.
Start eating them because Like I said, the Dell will smoke the Apple.
While their customer service isn't the best saying they are horrible is being extremely disingenuous. Ultrasharps are a staple in my field and I have seen more ACDs go down than Dells. Trust me I wish Apple would make a better monitor than they are, but truth be told it is overpriced and under featured.
Because it's nice to walk out of an Apple store and have a complete system, not buy the mini there, and then run down to Staples and to buy a monitor.
And trust me, when you use the word "crappy" you reveal yourself to be a fanboy parrot. My monitors aren't "crappy", "junky", or "clunky" (just as the Apple monitor isn't "elegant"or "delicious"). They are good general use monitors that serve 99% of the population just fine...
Oh no you have to buy a display from a different store, what a tragedy. Do you also buy the expensive Apple keyboard and the expensive Apple mouse and trackpad? Oh and you have to buy the expensive Apple remote too? All of those cost more than they should and you can alternatively go buy some cheaper ones elsewhere. You buy them because they are good quality or have the features you want, so the price is justified. The same thing applies here with the 27 inch. People who are trying to save money are going to cut costs where they feel is necessary. It's your choice, but that doesn't mean Apple has to make cheap products to sell to those people.
As for my use of the word crappy, you can take it to mean whatever you want but I was just using it as the relationship between the cheap displays (read: TN, low res, low ppi) compared to the one Apple is selling (read: IPS, high res, high ppi). If those two are not much different to you then great, you can save yourself a bunch of money, but that doesn't mean Apple has to make cheap products to sell to people like you. For many people, the difference is between a quality display and a crappy display, so they justify the price.
Obviously you never worked in the IT field and compared a Dell monitor to anything.
ANYONE who thinks Dell monitors are good obviously hasn't seen anything better. They're average, NOT great. If you don't want an ACD for whatever reason fine but there are a million better monitors then the fuzzy crap Dell puts out.
If you want a GOOD monitor, look at the models Asus has. Specs mean nothing in the monitor world but no one on Mac rumors realizes this. You can have an awesomely specced monitor but it still looks like crap.
What does IT have to do with it ? In IT, we use the cheapest monitors possible and just pair them up to get more screen real estate. What do I care what shade of grey my terminal uses ? As long as I can read the output from the server, it can be off by a red point or two. I have a Dell and HP screen at work, both 19" under 150$. They work fine, neither screams out "BAD!".
I'd give a whirl to designers and creative folks if I had questions about quality monitors, they are the ones that need accurate and even colors.
What does IT have to do with it ? In IT, we use the cheapest monitors possible and just pair them up to get more screen real estate. What do I care what shade of grey my terminal uses ? As long as I can read the output from the server, it can be off by a red point or two. I have a Dell and HP screen at work, both 19" under 150$. They work fine, neither screams out "BAD!".
I'd give a whirl to designers and creative folks if I had questions about quality monitors, they are the ones that need accurate and even colors.
IT has PLENTY to do with it if you are the person setting up these monitors, calibrating them, etc.
Dell simply does not make pro monitors. If you want as close to pro as you can get without spending $2500 or more go with the high end Asus monitors. Once calibrated these monitors are fantastic.
I know this because I've had a TON of different monitors to try out and test.
BUT ZEE COLOR GAMUT! IT MUST BE WIDE!!
Dell has always been the kind of company that uses specs to sell products rather than results. They like to use buzzwords so that it sounds fancier than it is. "OMG it has HDCP that must make it special!" As if every display made in the past two years doesn't come with that standard. "OMG look at the dynamic contrast ratio!" As if that really tells you anything about the display. It's the same BS that they use to sell people on HDTVs in stores. I am not saying Apple is perfect with it, they definitely over exaggerate the benefits of LED backlighting and things like that in the marketing material, but when it actually comes to the real specs they are pretty realistic.
Color gamut is one of those things tossed around usually by people who don't understand what it means at all, or just ignore the importance of other specs as if it's the only thing that matters. If they actually knew a thing or two they wouldn't bother recommending a Dell display, they would be talking about an Eizo or something similar.
I have to say though, I will give Dell credit for releasing the new 30 incher with 10 bit support. That is one spec that they really can't exaggerate. Too bad the display is made with the same awful plastic casing with the dust filled vents and all. So basically it will die within a year or two like my last Dell display did, and I will have to deal with their awful support people to try to get a replacement. Good luck with that!
Using the iMac in "target display mode" is a pain, and you have to be booted into OS X to use it. So basically if you aren't using the iMac all the time, it's not worth it. The target display mode thing is really only designed so you can hook up your laptop to your iMac every once and awhile when you need it, not as a thing you do on a daily basis.
On the other hand if you need a new computer, the iMac is a great one.
Hubby needs a new monitor........Do I get just a new display or do I get a new display that has a computer in it?
Hence my question about the actual differences, are there negligible differences?
Apples and Oranges. Sure the Eizos are nice but they aren't in the same price range. We are discussing 2 very similarly priced monitors in the same size. Find me a better 27" monitor than the Dell Ultrasharp for under a G new. Sorry Apple fanboy, I am sitting of 3 macs within my arms length and wouldn't pair any of them with an ACD over an ultrasharp. But what do I know... I have only been using ACDs for ~10 years and Dells for ~2.5 staring at the them editing 10-12 hours a day. I love how an IT guy is telling me what is best for my line of work.
Not a fanboy, just a hater of Dell's displays. I will glady recommend Eizo, NEC, Asus, or others over the Apple display, but I will never recommend the Dell because they are not worth the money.
Questions:
Other than this, I concur with those who think these new displays aren't such a great deal, specially when they can't be considered professional grade due to the glossy finish, the lack of other inputs besides MDP, calibration, gamut and Apple's dead pixel policy. Comparing them to Dell, NEC, etc displays - including the 3 year included warranty - I don't see a reason to get too exited, apart from the
logo. iSight and speakers are a nice plus, but hardly a priority when it comes to pro usage.
Cheers!
- Exactly how "green" are these things? the specs say they take 250W while charging an (60W?) MBP... aren't LED displays supposed to take less power than LCD ones? The 24" LED takes 212W (also while charging a MBP), but a 30" ACD takes only around 135W... and similar size LCD Dell Ultrasharp displays are way lower in power consumption, not to mention their new LED displays that don't even take 80W.
- Is Audio streamed through the MiniDisplayPort connection, or is it still via the integrated USB?
- Are the USB connections fully powered, or they just pass on the power from the computer's USB port?
- How long will the MDP and USB connection cords be? a common annoyance with the previous 24" model was that the cord was too short, specially for Mac Pro owners who wanted to keep their towers under the desk...
- How do the speakers really sound? are they good enough to replace a good external set such as Logitech, JBL or Bose desktop speakers? (I really wouldn't think so).
Other than this, I concur with those who think these new displays aren't such a great deal, specially when they can't be considered professional grade due to the glossy finish, the lack of other inputs besides MDP, calibration, gamut and Apple's dead pixel policy. Comparing them to Dell, NEC, etc displays - including the 3 year included warranty - I don't see a reason to get too exited, apart from the
logo. iSight and speakers are a nice plus, but hardly a priority when it comes to pro usage.Cheers!
You have to also consider the maximum power consumption of the built in speakers. When combined with charging a MacBook Pro (up to 85W) and at full brightness (most people don't run that high), it uses up 250W. If you read the specs it says the exact amount that each extra feature could take up. So you just figure the difference of those features (85W for the Magsafe, 49W for the speakers) and the "maximum" consumption. That would come to 116W maximum without those in use. I suspect Dell's numbers aren't entirely accurate (like everything they list pretty much) so it's hard to say without using a meter to compare them in real usage.
It is streamed through MDP. USB is only used for the built in 3-port hub on the back of the display.
The specs say they are self-powered so I would assume they will work with devices that need powered usb.
Nobody knows the answer to this because it is not listed in the specs. We will have to wait until it arrives.
Not going to replace those, but it will probably still sound decent enough. Will have to wait for reviews.
Funny, the Ultrasharp series says you lie. Now whether you like them personally or not does not mean squat.
Yeah, really hate that Dell retina display.
So we can basically dismiss you by your own admission ? Great then, that's settled, your opinion doesn't count because you don't care about objectivity!
Really now ? Where did you read this ? The 24" ACD (I owned 4 of those, never got one quite right, had to return each and everyone and finally get a refund) did Audio through USB.
Oh wait, no, Apple says you lie :
http://www.apple.com/ca/displays/
Wow, right there on the front page of the product. Bother to check your facts much ?
Hope you know that Apple is so so much worse for that than Dell ever has been or will be.
You don't know what you're talking about. Dells 2209WA and U2311H are absolute bargains for their money, excellent displays at a great price (though not as much of a bargain as they were when originally released, still very competitively priced).