MacRumors.com Apple Displays Rumors Summary

[MacRumors]

Apple's most recent display update was in March 2002 - with the relatively surprise introduction of the 23" Cinema HD Display at MacWorld Tokyo.

This newest display brought a 23" 1920x1200 pixel resolution display into their LCD product line. Now with 15", 17", 22" and 23" sizes.

The only hint at the 23" Display was a small mention in an EETimes article in January. This same EETimes article reported that Apple was working on other flat-planel technolgies "including stereoscopic displays"... fueling the minds of Apple-fans.

Original rumors of an update to the rest of Apple's LCD line began in December from RailHeadDesign.com. At that time, the 15" display was to be dropped, and a new 19inch model introduced.

At the following expo (MWSF02), no new LCD's were introduced, but we did see the introduction of the 15" LCD iMac. Rising LCD prices throughout 2002 may have aborted the introduction of these rumored displays. This also forced Apple to increase the price of the iMac during this time. With LCD prices stabilizing, there is hope that LCD upgrades will be seen.

Spymac reported a similar rumor in April that MWSF 2003 would see the introduction of a 19inch Apple LCD. And agressive rebates for current Apple LCD Displays may pave the way for future upgrades and price cuts.

 

[MhzDoesMatter]

Almost forgot...

Does anyone else sometimes forget what site there on when reading this roundups? For a second there, I thought this was a Real News site reporting on Real News. Spooky....



Truth Hertz...

 

[eyeONdoor]

New displays...

i really want one of the apple displays but am unsure about a few things.

does anyone know what the lifespan on the backlight of one of these things is? i'd hate to have to replace such an expensive item.

if apple is going to produce a 19" with the same specs and look of the current models i'd rather just buy the 22". the display rebate ended yesterday and there still is no word from apple about new displays or whether they will extend the rebate.

oh well, whats a mac user to do...

 

[mcrain]

I posted this in the 17" and 19" iMac thread (just what I'd like to see):

People here have talked about duel monitoring the iMacs and have also talked about stand alone 19" screens.

I'd like to see a 17 or 19 inch screen on an imac base that is just the screen on top of a base that just holds the screen and arm, and connects to the iMac (with computer) with a base to base connector.

I'd buy a 19" iMac and a second 19" iScreen. Connect the two and you'd then have two floating screens on your desk. Put the iPod dock between the two, and you've got a system I'd buy in a heartbeat.

 

[Mr. Anderson]

Apple will need to get on the ball with the 19" wideformat soon, Formac is putting out a 20.1" LCD that looks damn good and has the same native res as the 23" - but at half the cost. So you could buy 2 20.1" for the same price as a single 23".

I'm thinking this is the way I'll be going when I get a new computer.

http://www.formac.com/

D

 

[Timothy]

$1699?

While I agree that the Formac looks nice, I've got to wonder why you wouldn't just buy 2 Apple 17" monitors? For the same price (using the recently passed rebate, or the anticipated price drop) you'd get a hell of a lot more screen real estate.

The ability to double the smaller and less expensive monitors leaves me wondering why anyone would buy the larger and more expensive monitors. But, I guess I've just grown used to running dual monitors. I actually like the break between the two.

 

[vniow]

Originally posted by dukestreet
Apple will need to get on the ball with the 19" wideformat soon, Formac is putting out a 20.1" LCD that looks damn good and has the same native res as the 23" - but at half the cost. So you could buy 2 20.1" for the same price as a single 23".

I'm thinking this is the way I'll be going when I get a new computer.

http://www.formac.com/

D

Actually, the Formac is a standard 4:3@1600x1200.
The 23" Cinema is 16:10@1920x1200.

 

[sanjef]

Still waiting to "Switch"

Been watching over the Apple fence for quite a few years now. Still waiting for the right time. We're getting really close - I can tell. I'm beginning to like where Apple is going with their hardware offerings and I *really* like where they're taking the OS.

What am I waiting for? The hardware is just not quite "there" for me yet. Faster (hyper) bus speeds would help. The supposedly impending decision on which processor is going to power their future machines really needs to be addressed - and soon! If Apple is staying with Motorolla or moving to IBM... I'm going to need to know this BEFORE I switch over.

You see, for a PC user, looks *do* count for something (does the term "case-mod" sound familiar?) but what's under that shell counts more. I (we) need to know that we're buying the absolute best that the manufacturer we're staking our hard-earned cash on can make. We'd also like to be fairly comfortable with the knowledge that there won't be any major architectural changes that would put our new purchase in an obsolete class by itself (as would happen should Apple one day announce that next year's model will be built on IBM's CPU running at twice today's speed and 5 times the bus traffic).

For now, I'm still straining my neck as I look over the fence at Apple's latest offerings - and still waiting for that last feature set (internal hardware bandwidths) to sway me. Here's hoping!

 

[robguz]

Sorry, but you gotta be nuts to even consider formac. They have the worst customer service and tech support in the mac industry. They lied to me repeatedly, failed to return my calls and emails, and sold me a CDRW which fried my firewire, necessitating a logic board replacement. That company ought to be shut down. I can't tell you how many threads I've come across on various forums about people and their Formac horror stories.

as for the main topic. Apple is overdue for refreshing the monitor line. They still have stupid pinstripes in them. They cost about 50% more than comparable LCDs from other companies. Their contrast ratio's aren't great, and there is still a problem with poor viewing angle which really needs improvement if they're asking such high prices. A 19" should be $999. A 17" should be $599, and a 15" should be $349. They'd still make a hefty profit on them and would likely sell many, many more. Their LCD prices haven't dropped in 18 months (minus the Cinema displays), and no other LCDs can say that.

 

[RogueLdr]

Originally posted by robguz
Apple is overdue for refreshing the monitor line. They still have stupid pinstripes in them. They cost about 50% more than comparable LCDs from other companies. Their contrast ratio's aren't great, and there is still a problem with poor viewing angle which really needs improvement if they're asking such high prices. A 19" should be $999. A 17" should be $599, and a 15" should be $349. They'd still make a hefty profit on them and would likely sell many, many more. Their LCD prices haven't dropped in 18 months (minus the Cinema displays), and no other LCDs can say that.

Apple's monitors have one thing that necessitates them costing more: the ADC. While ADC is a fantastically simple and elegant solution to video/power/USB cabling, it does make the monitors cost more. Also, the fact that they have ADC means that they sell primarily to Apple computer customers, meaning that they do not sell in the same sort of volume as, say, a DVI/VGA based LCD designed for the PC standards. This, sadly, means that revenue must come from high prices instead of high volume. You are completely right to say that the prices should have come down on the smaller monitors, given the time frame; the only thing keeping me with my 17" Apple Studio CRT with ADC is the steep price structure on Apple LCDs. The only reason I haven't gotten another brand of LCD is that it would feel like a cobbled together substitute compared to the ADC connector.

As far as the pinstripes are concerned, they will probably stay as long as the pinstripe motif remains a part of Aqua. It can be a nice touch for the monitor and OS to look like they go together.

RL

 

[TyleRomeo]

Originally posted by robguz
Sorry, but you gotta be nuts to even consider formac. They have the worst customer service and tech support in the mac industry. They lied to me repeatedly, failed to return my calls and emails, and sold me a CDRW which fried my firewire, necessitating a logic board replacement. That company ought to be shut down. I can't tell you how many threads I've come across on various forums about people and their Formac horror stories.

OK thats your own issue with their CDRWs. The topic here is LCDs and Formacs monitors are as good as LCDs come, especially the new 2010. I haven't heard any complaints about thier monitors and they seem to have great reviews. check out cnet.com. Although Apple LCD are visually pleasing (even with their pinstripes) they lack in modern LCD technology. Does anyone know when the 15', 17' and 22' came out. I know the 23' came out in april 2002 but im guess the other ones are over 2 years old. They need to really hurry up with a model makeover.

Personanly I bought the 2010 and have had no issues with thier customer service. I wanted a monitor with an ADC connection and a similar look to my Powermac. Formac is the only other company that does this. And i wanted a monitor that is between 17-22 inches for video editing. I dont have room on my desk for two 15s or 17s so Formac's 20.1 inch one is a great deal. Ohh yeah now their contrast radio is 100% better then the 22' Apple LCD. 600:1, now you can't be that with any LCD.

tyler

 

[iJon]

I think we will see new displays soon because apple has already discontinued the 15 inch monitor for the g4 towers. thats a pretty big clue if you ask me.

iJon

 

[jammer]

Well, if no new displays are released soon, I'm getting the Formac 2010. I'm going to wait about 20 more days. I would be very surprised if they waited until 2003 to release new displays. That's too long for the current, tired display line. October 31st has cropped up as a possible new release date for the new displays, and that will have allowed about 2 weeks for the IBM chip news to sink in.

I really think Apple is brewing something big here, call it a hunch (or wishful thinking). The success of the new iMac and the actual temptation of pro users like myself to its sleek design and gorgeous, elegant display/arm solution makes me think Apple is taking a long time here for good reason. I think a tower/display rethink is a brewin'. It all may not come together until late next year, but I think it's coming.

Also, a lot of meaningful, useful, impactful technologies with far-reaching implications like BlueTooth, iSync, HD and Rendezvous are all evolving together at once here, and I think Apple is aware of it and I just sense this "supercomputer" just around the corner. Wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, modular design, infinitely expandable, lightning fast chip, reliable, ultra-compatible and sleek.

Zzzzzz...zzzzzz....huh?...wha? I'm sorry I must have been dreaming!

 

[vixapphire]

I'd love to see a new display set soon too. One thing is clear: the image/looks-conscious product mavens at apple aren't going to keep the 22" around in its current appearance much longer: it's still got the "ice" colored apple on it (i.e. the first generation G4's), whereas the 23 has the chrome/mirror apple logo, and a cleaner face panel surrounding the lcd. makes the 22" look sort of old by comparison, ridiculous as that seems, given its high-tech sleekness. still, i want one...

 

[KarenM]

LCD's & G3 Towers

Can anyone tell me if, and if so, how, one can use an LCD--whether Formac or Apple, with a B&W/ G3/ zip/CD-ROM/ tower? I heard I could do so, but would have to add some kind of "card" to the tower to do so.

Thanks.

 

[MacBandit]

Re: LCD's & G3 Towers

Originally posted by KarenM
Can anyone tell me if, and if so, how, one can use an LCD--whether Formac or Apple, with a B&W/ G3/ zip/CD-ROM/ tower? I heard I could do so, but would have to add some kind of "card" to the tower to do so.

Thanks.

The easiest way would to simply buy a new ATI Radeon video card for your B/W. Here's a link to PriceMac.com with a listing for the ATI Radeon 7000 Mac edition. This is the only card that will work in your B/W and give you DVI connector for the LCD monitors that you asked about.

 

[KarenM]

Thanks, MB: installation?

I appreciate your response. How hard is it to install such a card? I've never done anything like that [was also considering installing an internal CD-RW, but w/the zip drive, it looks pretty complex]...

Maybe there are instructions at the Apple site.

 

[MacBandit]

Re: Thanks, MB: installation?

Originally posted by KarenM
I appreciate your response. How hard is it to install such a card? I've never done anything like that [was also considering installing an internal CD-RW, but w/the zip drive, it looks pretty complex]...

Maybe there are instructions at the Apple site.

With any PowerMac tower starting with the B/W G3 installing any pci/memmory card is a breaze. Quite frankly I could train a monkey or a 2 year old to do it.

 

[jammer]

Just got a new system

I couldn't wait any longer. I bought a new dual 1 gig (best performance + value IMO) and I'm waiting for my Formac 2010 which is still on back order from ClubMac. It was supposed to come in on the 31st, but now it's the 8th. Sorry Apple, you snoozed, and, well... you know the rest.

Jaguar is so much fun already. Even on my Sony CRT, I feel like a speed demon in the 21st century (bought 3 512MB chips too!). I can't wait to play around and actually do some work!