Apple Cinema Displays

[jez-m]

Hello - I use a Mac iBook (soon to be joined by a desktop Mac) and want to connect ot to a larger display as the 14" screen is getting a bit restrictive. I really like the Apple Cinema displays and the quality seems superb, but is there anything else I should be looking at? The Apple displays are pretty expensive and as I don't really know anything about displays I thought it worth asking the question.

Thanks

[GetCarter]

I use one for me job and it's stunning... they are expensive though.

The main thing to check is the connectivity - they have a digital & firewire & USB connection. (Which wouldn't even connect to my 3 year old Mac)

[matthew_h]

I'm pretty sure that the monitor will work with an ibook but the graphics card won't let you run the monitor at a different resolution to the ibook.

My ibook is only 1024x768 and that is all it will display on a cinema display so it would be futile as I wouldn't gain any more resolution, just size.

Powerbooks and the macbooks will support this but ibooks don't.

Obviously, your desktop would though

Edited by matthew_h on Tuesday 16th January 09:35

[miniman]

Are you sure the iBook won't run a higher resolution with the lid shut? My Dell will only run 1024x768 on its own panel, but will run an external monitor at 1280x1024.

[matthew_h]

I'm 99% sure. I looked at doing it for mine.

One of the reasons I really want an iMac or a macbook. Doing my PC up instead though

[g_stacey]

Weve used these montitors at work for nearly 2 years. All three were replaced because they banded colour. Screens were not neutral, a lot warmer on one side etc. Repalced ones are better but still not consistant. I work as a retoucher so our work is very colour critical. Though as our work is still proofed to cromalin and judged on a light box ( not screen ) you can forgive the screen colour varying a bit. Nice and sharp, good size and landscape format suits most images. Not putting you off. Thats just what weve found.

G

[jez-m]

Thanks for the advice chaps. Looks like the Mac Mini upgrade will be happening at the same time! Are there any other display brands/models I should be considering?

[aspender]

Am facing the same problem with a 12" iBook G4 which provides very little real estate for Lightroom or PS Elements. My solution however is going to be a 24" iMac once Leopard comes out.

I used to own a 17" Studio display (the old style 4:3 one) and it was a very nice piece of kit (though I wasn't doing any colour critical stuff at all) Be aware that there were rumours before MacWorld that the displays would be getting an update (HDMI being mentioned) so it might be worth holding off for a while.

As for alternatives, Formac are meant to be good and slightly cheaper.

[dxg]

miniman said:

Are you sure the iBook won't run a higher resolution with the lid shut? My Dell will only run 1024x768 on its own panel, but will run an external monitor at 1280x1024.

My G4 iBook happily runs its own screen and a 1680 x 1050 lcd at the same time. This is with the lid open - I've always thought that was better from a cooling point of view anyway.

Edited by dxg on Tuesday 16th January 11:50

[matthew_h]

dxg said:

miniman said:

Are you sure the iBook won't run a higher resolution with the lid shut? My Dell will only run 1024x768 on its own panel, but will run an external monitor at 1280x1024.

My G4 iBook happily runs its own screen and a 1680 x 1050 lcd at the same time. This is with the lid open - I've always thought that was better from a cooling point of view anyway.

Really? Then that means I need to ry mine when I get home. Might be the answer to my problems. I was crtian that they can't but if your's will then mine should too.

[dxg]

You will have to run this patch, first though...

www.rutemoeller.com/mp/ibook/supportlist_e.html

It works so long as your machine on that list. Much cheaper than buying a Powerbook to get the functionality.

It works so well, in fact, that I had forgotten that I'd done it until your query above!

[matthew_h]

Excellent, mine's on the list.

Job's a good'un

[jez-m]

OK, another question for you Mac fans - 24" iMac or Mac mini (upgraded to 2GB) and 23" Apple Cinema Display? The price is about the same, give or take £100 or so. I'm erring towards the mini & separate display as I'm just a bit worried about being limited from an upgrades point of view on the iMac. Any thoughts?

[aspender]

My reasons for going for the 24" iMac are:

- 7200rpm SATA drive as standard compared to a 5400rpm drive in the Mini. In my experience drive speed is crucial, and 5400rpm is too slow. Also the mini can only go up to 160GB compared to 750GB for the iMac.

- Mini only has onboard Intel graphics which share the same RAM as the system.

- Mini can only support one display. iMac can use two (its own and an extra cinema display for instance)

- Mini only supports 2GB of RAM, 24" iMac goes up to 3GB

- Mini only uses Intel Core Duo, versus the Core 2 Duo in the iMac

- Price. Decent Mini spec + 23" display: £1618. 24" iMac with 2GB and 500GB HD: £1609.01

If you think you might go the route of getting a Mac Pro in a year or two then the mini and display might make more sense as a stop-gap measure.

ETA: Forgot to mention. Firewire 800 port on the iMac which will be very useful for external storage such as a Lacie triple interface hard disk. Vastly outperforms USB2: www.barefeats.com/usb2.html

Edited by aspender on Tuesday 16th January 14:59

[marctwo]

jez-m said:

OK, another question for you Mac fans - 24" iMac or Mac mini (upgraded to 2GB) and 23" Apple Cinema Display? The price is about the same, give or take £100 or so. I'm erring towards the mini & separate display as I'm just a bit worried about being limited from an upgrades point of view on the iMac. Any thoughts?

I was also weighing up the Mini + 23" screen vs 24" iMac. You get so much more with the iMac for the money I really think it's a no brainer. Also check the Apple refurb store for bargains, you can save a few hundred on the iMac.

[hardboiledPhil]

aspender said:

iMac with 2GB and 500GB HD: £1609.01

For that money you could by an iMac 20" and an extra 20" cinema display.

I ran a G4 Powerbook for a year, then the last three years I've run it dual screen with a 20" cinema display. Now I've got a 20" iMac running with the additional cinema display and it's excellent 40" rules - lol

For things like Photoshop and Aperture it's really handy to have all the tools and browsing windows on one screen and just the photo being worked processed on the other screen without any borders/menus/windows etc. Even the extra screen space of a 24" screen can't give the same results

[aspender]

hardboiledPhil said:

For that money you could by an iMac 20" and an extra 20" cinema display.

Good option, hadn't thought of that. Agreed that a dual display is useful for photo work.

However, the 20" iMac is a bit lower powered in terms of graphics than the 24" and misses out on Firewire 800, which given the limited expansion capabilities of the iMac is an important feature for adding fast disk space. Secondly, for some the 1920x1200 resolution of the 24" might be important for the reason it is capable of displaying 1080p HD video.

I also think I'd have a hard time justifying two displays and the resultant space requirements to SWMBO

[ehasler]

If you're going for the 20" display, then it's worth looking at the Dell version, which is exactly the same panel but less money.

[marctwo]

aspender said:

Good option, hadn't thought of that. Agreed that a dual display is useful for photo work.

However, the 20" iMac is a bit lower powered in terms of graphics than the 24" and misses out on Firewire 800, which given the limited expansion capabilities of the iMac is an important feature for adding fast disk space. Secondly, for some the 1920x1200 resolution of the 24" might be important for the reason it is capable of displaying 1080p HD video.

I also think I'd have a hard time justifying two displays and the resultant space requirements to SWMBO

I also considered the HD video issue but isn't 720p enough? The firewire 800 issue is also a bit misleading as I have heard that most firewire 800 drives are certainly not twice the speed of their 400 counterparts. I guess if you really need to edit 1080p video then you probably should go for the 24" + firewire 800 option. Otherwise the 20" + 20" option is probably better (although perhaps not as pretty).