You can't use the iMac as a separate display, but you can use a separate display with the iMac, if you want two monitors on your computer (spanning or mirroring). You can't, for example, hook a PS3 up to your iMac and use the screen separately.
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New iMacs Released
- Thread starter yagran
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This is an absolutely worst-case scenario picture. With a matte screen you could produce a near-same image, with the picture being washed out and unreadable. In real-world situations, (as in using your eyes, not a photo lens), a slight adjustment to the screen will get rid of the glare. Use a Macbook or MBP (with glossy display) in a store to see what I mean. Even with windows and fluorescent lights overhead, a slight monitor adjustment will fix the problem.for everyone who is "unsure" or has never seen a glossy screen before, this picture from engadget is pretty eye-opening (and horrifying)
Only slightly let down
I am mostly satisfied with everything on the new iMac except the video card. The 2600 would be fine as a baseline card, but give me the choice of paying for something better!
I have to say that I am a little let down by the design. Getting rid of the black square around the LCD and making the entire case out of aluminum would have been the slickest way to go.
It still looks good enough for me to buy. But I am going to wait up to 6 months and hope for a refresh that includes a decent video card.
I am mostly satisfied with everything on the new iMac except the video card. The 2600 would be fine as a baseline card, but give me the choice of paying for something better!
I have to say that I am a little let down by the design. Getting rid of the black square around the LCD and making the entire case out of aluminum would have been the slickest way to go.
It still looks good enough for me to buy. But I am going to wait up to 6 months and hope for a refresh that includes a decent video card.
OK I just turned my white iMAC directly towards my window. It is bright out here in San Francisco and I have a huge window -almost floor to ceiling. The matte screen does NOT reflect outside but the white plastic surrounding the actual screen does reflect a bit. So there is a HUGE difference and i would buy now if there was a matte option.
What the USB keyboard should've looked like
I also think this would have been a great opportunity to make a backlit keyboard which is why I made the legends blue. What do you think?
http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=81781&stc=1&d=1186593104
I also think this would have been a great opportunity to make a backlit keyboard which is why I made the legends blue. What do you think?
http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=81781&stc=1&d=1186593104
Attachments
I think I might do this as well. I have the x1600, and I hate taking at minimum a side-step in video card and a downgrade, if I chose the $1199 model.
The prices on the last generation machines are pretty good at apple.com refurb section too. I might consider that just to get a core 2 and larger screen.
What is so bad about the video card? I don't keep up to date with video card changes so have no idea how new or old technology is the video card.
Also, when you are talking about how poor it is, are both video card options bad? A 2400XT w/128MB of ram and the 2600Pro w/256MB of ram are both options in both 20" and 24" models.
As to the rest of the design, it isn't bad but nothing earth shattering. I don't like the black around the edges. I think it makes the screen look smaller and doesn't add to the overall design. I'm not sure how much thinner it looks either, but not seeing it in person I can't really compare.
Also, when you are talking about how poor it is, are both video card options bad? A 2400XT w/128MB of ram and the 2600Pro w/256MB of ram are both options in both 20" and 24" models.
As to the rest of the design, it isn't bad but nothing earth shattering. I don't like the black around the edges. I think it makes the screen look smaller and doesn't add to the overall design. I'm not sure how much thinner it looks either, but not seeing it in person I can't really compare.
Not reflection - washing out of the screen. Putting a matte display in direct sunlight makes it quite tough to read. Matte washouts are actually worse than glossy glare (IMO) because usually, with glossy glare, you can at least see a portion of the screen outside of the glare area. With a washed out matte display, the entire screen is whitish and tough to see.
EDIT: Here's an example of what I'm talking about comparing the two. Matte glare is IMO much worse than glossy glare. It's horrid.
http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/03/tft_glare.jpg
for everyone who is "unsure" or has never seen a glossy screen before, these pictures from engadget are pretty eye-opening (and horrifying)
Just look on the brightside, no pun indended, you now get both an imac and a mirror together. Talk about an all in one.
You can use the iMac as a "display" for another machine via software, but it's pretty horrid. There's lots of lag; it would be okay for reading webpages or displaying photos or even writing. But you could never watch a video or use it as a primary monitor or anything.
Whether or not you can see what you're working on is one debate, but what matters the most to me is eyestrain!for everyone who is "unsure" or has never seen a glossy screen before, these pictures from engadget are pretty eye-opening (and horrifying)
I suffer from so much eyestrain (during long days at the screen) that I wear reading glasses. (I am 27 and I have perfect eyesight.) Seeing actual objects reflected in the screen in front of me is a nightmare; it's brutal on my eyes. On a matte screen, sometimes it washes out and I have to change the angle. But on a glossy screen, I couldn't even wear a white shirt because my own reflection would constantly be catching my eye and causing me to refocus.
To buy a machine with a massive 24" mirror on the front, I'd have to paint the wall behind me black and get blackout curtains for my windows.
Ok, decision time....
I have a PC and am very tired of all the cables, badly placed USB ports, 19" display etc. I have virtually NO experience with Apple (except for my iPhone, which I love!)
I actually LIKE the new iMac design.
I currently have a P4 3.05Ghz with a RADEON XT800 graphics card installed. Virtually the ONLY game I play is world of Warcraft, everything else I use my 'puter for is surfing, music, email, etc.
I want to get the new 24' iMac (loaded). Am I going to be severely disappointed with the WoW gameplay on the new machine?? I think a small setback in gaming will be outweighed by the convenient USB's, the streamlined look, less cables, etc. with the new system. But then again, I'm a 40+ year old with very little computer jargon under my belt. Wading through specs just gives me a headache.
Would upgrading from what I have now be a serious setback or a sideways move or an incrimental increase??
Please leave personal ASTHETIC viewpoints at the door and help a potential new Mac Addict out.....????
JimmyD
I have a PC and am very tired of all the cables, badly placed USB ports, 19" display etc. I have virtually NO experience with Apple (except for my iPhone, which I love!)
I actually LIKE the new iMac design.
I currently have a P4 3.05Ghz with a RADEON XT800 graphics card installed. Virtually the ONLY game I play is world of Warcraft, everything else I use my 'puter for is surfing, music, email, etc.
I want to get the new 24' iMac (loaded). Am I going to be severely disappointed with the WoW gameplay on the new machine?? I think a small setback in gaming will be outweighed by the convenient USB's, the streamlined look, less cables, etc. with the new system. But then again, I'm a 40+ year old with very little computer jargon under my belt. Wading through specs just gives me a headache.
Would upgrading from what I have now be a serious setback or a sideways move or an incrimental increase??
Please leave personal ASTHETIC viewpoints at the door and help a potential new Mac Addict out.....????
JimmyD
I agree. No serious gamer would consider a Mac, particularly not a consumer rig like the iMac. I think the specs on this are just right, which is why I plan on getting a 24 for the family PC. I've been waiting a long time for this!
I still plan on running my PC as my main rig, though. The 24" iMac will be my second foray into the Apple world - one step closer to the complete switch!
No, CRTs aren't harmful to your eyes. If you run them at too low a refresh rate they'll cause eye strain, though. For most people, that's not a problem at or above 75-85Hz.
Very poor video card 'upgrades'
The 2400XT and 2600Pro are complety poor 'upgrades' to the X1600 and 7600GT with a real low value - the add-in card versions for PCs are currently about (UK) £35 to £45 for the 2400XT and between £50 and £60 for the 2600Pro - and that was from the first online store I looked at without shopping around.
In 3D applications (okay, games!) they perform substantially worse than the 8600GT, which in turn has been derided by the gaming community for being on average a worse performer than the 7600GT (the graphics card of choice in my gaming PC/Hackintosh)
I'm really surprised they've gone down the ATI route for the desktops. I was expecting an Nvidia 8600GT for the new 20" and possibly an 8600GTS for the 24".
I am thoroughly underwhelmed.
In fact, I am thorough underwhelmed by the new iMac altogether.
I don't like the way they look either. They are noticeably thinner, but are an inconsistent mishmash of materials. Anodised aluminium, glossy black surround, matt black back, white keys on an alu board, and same old clunky plastic white mouse. Looks a design mess... and why have they covered the screen in glass, therefore making it reflective and nullifying the best thing about LCD screens?
(Please can someone tell me why people refer to reflectivity as 'glare' - glare is when a screen is too bright it hurts the eyes!)
The white iMacs were special. They looked and felt special. These new black and silver jobbies, well... they just like all the other PCs out there (er, minus the big clunky cases and wiring I guess!)
Tech specs are a bit underwhelming too - processors and system bus only a little bit faster really, slightly more hard drive space and still only 1gb of memory as standard on all but the top end 24"? LMFAO
Still, at least they're are cheaper - though I only refer to the higher education discount prices as I work for a university. UK£702 for the low end 20" iMac is pretty good really - it'll mean the second hand white iMac market prices will drop quite a bit... ore maybe not?
I waited with bated breath for this update which fell on my birthday after various false starts. I was hoping to persuade my employer to get me one so I can actually do my design and layout work properly, and be able to pass on the crappy Pentium IV PC with 17" screen I've been stuck with for 3 years to a new admin person. I'm now thinking I'd be better tyring to source a previous model 24" with a 7600GT instead.
(I do like the MacBook-like keyboard though - my MacBook's keyboard is the best keyboard I've ever used and I hardly ever mistype with it or get tired hands!)
The 2400XT and 2600Pro are complety poor 'upgrades' to the X1600 and 7600GT with a real low value - the add-in card versions for PCs are currently about (UK) £35 to £45 for the 2400XT and between £50 and £60 for the 2600Pro - and that was from the first online store I looked at without shopping around.
In 3D applications (okay, games!) they perform substantially worse than the 8600GT, which in turn has been derided by the gaming community for being on average a worse performer than the 7600GT (the graphics card of choice in my gaming PC/Hackintosh)
I'm really surprised they've gone down the ATI route for the desktops. I was expecting an Nvidia 8600GT for the new 20" and possibly an 8600GTS for the 24".
I am thoroughly underwhelmed.
In fact, I am thorough underwhelmed by the new iMac altogether.
I don't like the way they look either. They are noticeably thinner, but are an inconsistent mishmash of materials. Anodised aluminium, glossy black surround, matt black back, white keys on an alu board, and same old clunky plastic white mouse. Looks a design mess... and why have they covered the screen in glass, therefore making it reflective and nullifying the best thing about LCD screens?
(Please can someone tell me why people refer to reflectivity as 'glare' - glare is when a screen is too bright it hurts the eyes!)
The white iMacs were special. They looked and felt special. These new black and silver jobbies, well... they just like all the other PCs out there (er, minus the big clunky cases and wiring I guess!)
Tech specs are a bit underwhelming too - processors and system bus only a little bit faster really, slightly more hard drive space and still only 1gb of memory as standard on all but the top end 24"? LMFAO
Still, at least they're are cheaper - though I only refer to the higher education discount prices as I work for a university. UK£702 for the low end 20" iMac is pretty good really - it'll mean the second hand white iMac market prices will drop quite a bit... ore maybe not?
I waited with bated breath for this update which fell on my birthday after various false starts. I was hoping to persuade my employer to get me one so I can actually do my design and layout work properly, and be able to pass on the crappy Pentium IV PC with 17" screen I've been stuck with for 3 years to a new admin person. I'm now thinking I'd be better tyring to source a previous model 24" with a 7600GT instead.
(I do like the MacBook-like keyboard though - my MacBook's keyboard is the best keyboard I've ever used and I hardly ever mistype with it or get tired hands!)
The video card has unfortunately rendered this possibility mostly moot. The hardware minus the video card is great, and you absolutely could run most games with a 2.4/2.8GHz C2D(E), 1/2GB ram, 320/500GB drive, etc... It's the video card that makes it tough on this system. Which is why I'll be sticking to my PS3 for gaming.
I think you'd be quite happy with the upgrade. Your system - minus games - would run just as fast (if not faster with OS X) as your current system. Are you planning on buying the C2E? If so, it'll be quite speedy. You do have a better graphics card than what you'll be getting on the iMac, but you have to decide if it's worth the tradeoff. With Leopard, it should be.
Seriously the glare is NOT an issue. I have a macbook pro with the glossy screen and use it a lot in the chem lab which is ALL fluorescent lighting. ALL you have to do is adjust your monitor 2 degrees forward or back.
Those pictures were most likely perfectly positioned.
Those pictures were most likely perfectly positioned.