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New 24" iMac with 24" LED Cinema Display

S

stukdog

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 20, 2004
323
522
For the last couple weeks, I've been trying to decide on whether I wanted to get one of the Apple LED Cinema Displays to couple with my 24" iMac. I searched around online and found very little about how others liked that setup. But more importantly, I wasn't able to find any good photos of the two of them together and how it looked. I looked thru plenty of sites and forums, and all the photos on Apple.com have it coupled with a Macbook.

Well, yesterday I purchased one and set it up. So, for those in the future that are deciding on this setup, I thought I'd post photos so you can get an idea. Also, some thoughts as I use it. (This isn't really a FULL review, as there are plenty of those already. Just my observations. )

So, here goes:

As many have noted in the past, the two displays don't line up with each other. I thought this would really bother me, but quickly I got used to it.

Photos from the front, close, and from a distance. (The one up close is on it's side, not sure why macrumors upload did it that way. Didn't see a way to turn it.) Also a shot of the back.

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So here are a few things I noticed:

With the USB in the back of the iMac, the Cinema Display USB works as you'd expect. Basically a nice, big hub. That USB also carries the sound to the cinema display speakers. You can choose which speakers to use as output in the System Preferences. I found a nice freeware called SoundSource that makes it real easy to switch back and forth. I use this a lot because when I watch MLB.tv on the secondary display, I like the sound coming from there.

(Speaking of MLB.TV, since the player for 2009 is Flash, you can't play it full screen on the secondary monitor while you work on the first one. As far as my research tells, this is a big in Adobe Flash.)

Turning on a screensaver, plays it across both displays. However, the iTunes Visualizer only plays on one monitor while the other monitor just goes black.


Anyway, back to the display. The cord is indeed short as many others have noted. My original plan was to drill holes in my desk to run the wire down, over and back up, but it's actually not long enough to do that. (I really like to hide cords)

The iSight in either works fine, but you can't use both at the same time.

Since the Magsafe Power adapter isn't used with the iMac, I was glad to see that it could still provide power to my Macbook Air. This is something you'd expect would work, but thought I'd confirm it for others. (picture below)

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Let me know if you have any other questions.
 

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i posted a topic about this when they were announced. i didnt get much of a answer. but from what ive read is that you gotta have that adapter right? well anyways the pictures dont work. i wanna see this set up!
 
veeco3110 said:
i posted a topic about this when they were announced. i didnt get much of a answer. but from what ive read is that you gotta have that adapter right? well anyways the pictures dont work. i wanna see this set up!
Click to expand...

Sorry about the pictures, they worked for me, but looks like it was the cache. I've fixed them now.

The new iMac doesn't require an adapter since it has mini-displayport now.
 
I am running the same setup. I bought the LED Cinema Display to use with my MBP, but swapped it over to the iMac later. It's a great setup. The height difference is not massive, but I do find it a bit annoying. I just need to find a solution more pleasing than a book under the LEDCD.

My next step is to buy some speakers, though I am not as much of a hurry, as the iMac speakers are better than I thought they would be. Certainly better than those in the LEDCD. Still, I think I will be picking up the Logitech Z-5500 set to here in a month or two.
 
Could you describe image quality differences, if any, between two monitors? Thanks.
 
nutmac said:
Could you describe image quality differences, if any, between two monitors? Thanks.
Click to expand...

The iMac screen takes longer to come to full brightness. When it reaches that full brightness, it is not quite as bright or as white as the LEDCD. But I mostly only notice this if I move a window from one to the other. The difference is not huge. Otherwise, they seem to be of very similar quality, again with slight props to the LEDCD.

With typical use, I don't notice the difference.
 
Nice set up! Although you lose points for having the stubby keyboard.

Anyway, quick suggestion, you could make a nice little stand to make the viewing areas even on the two display that would also make for a nice place to hide you AIR under the CD.
 
To make the height differential go away, would putting the NewerTech miniStack underneath the CD be perfect?

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministack/

It's 1.5 inches high and it looks like an Apple product. Someone is going to make a nice chunk of change making a product that makes the two monitor heights match...
 
CharlesCA said:
To make the height differential go away, would putting the NewerTech miniStack underneath the CD be perfect?

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministack/

It's 1.5 inches high and it looks like an Apple product. Someone is going to make a nice chunk of change making a product that makes the two monitor heights match...
Click to expand...

Would look kind of dumb putting that big monitor on top of that little box, dont cha think. :cool:
 
I am going to setup my iMac with my 24" Dell, then, if I use the second screen enough I will get rid of the Dell and replace it with a LED ACD.
 
CharlesCA said:
To make the height differential go away, would putting the NewerTech miniStack underneath the CD be perfect?

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministack/

It's 1.5 inches high and it looks like an Apple product. Someone is going to make a nice chunk of change making a product that makes the two monitor heights match...
Click to expand...

That's only going to make the setup look like a guy with two different length legs who needs to wear a shoe with extra thick sole to compensate for the difference.
 
Thanks for posting the pics.

I've wanted to see an iMac and a 24'' CD, beside eachother, since they came out.

So the cable looks short, I'm assuming it won't work with the LEDCD on the other side of the iMac?
Also, thats cool that it can still power a notebook (however, I would still wonder how this is on the system of the iMac, regarding strain?)

It's obvious that Apple has a gap to fill regarding a secondary display that will work with their iMacs, or I should say that it's obvious that these LCDCD were designed specifically for notebooks.

Regardless, it looks sweet!
 
buyusfear said:
Thanks for posting the pics.

I've wanted to see an iMac and a 24'' CD, beside eachother, since they came out.

So the cable looks short, I'm assuming it won't work with the LEDCD on the other side of the iMac?
Click to expand...

It would work on either side. I have it running thru the circle hole on the iMac, so it could reach either direction without a problem.
 
portrait and landscape

I hooked up my Gateway 24" (rotatable with adjustable height), so the monitors line up perfectly. This is a great setup for editing a full page of text at 110% (portrait) or a two-page spread at about 95% (landscape) while leaving another monitor available for e-mail, reference materials, iTunes, etc.

Note that VMware is running in Unity mode on the iMac screen.
 

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This is a perfect example of my "Apple makes awesome products, that have one or two little things that make you slap your head and go 'who the hell was not at work the day this got finalized?' belief". I love their stuff, but there is always something that makes you go "wtf?"

Why isn't the LEDCD height adjustable, or at least have a setting to match the 24" iMac perfectly? Its not like they didn't know what the height would be. :(

That said, I still want this setup bad. I just got my new 2.93GHz iMac (GT 130 Vid Card), and I love it. I have an MBA for portable duties, so the 24" LEDCD would be a perfect compliment.
 
buyusfear said:
... Also, thats cool that it can still power a notebook (however, I would still wonder how this is on the system of the iMac, regarding strain?)...
Click to expand...

I'm not sure why the iMac plays into this. the LEDCD still has its own power cord, which is what is powering the MagSafe connector. The iMac would have no clue the MagSafe plug is even in use.
 
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