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Monday, December 01, 2008, 06:05 pm
High-quality unboxing photos of Apple's LED Cinema Display
Apple's first LED-backlit and DisplayPort-based desktop monitor has arrived at AppleInsider; we now have high-quality photos as well as some early impressions.The new 24-inch screen will seem instantly familiar to anyone who's used a 24-inch aluminum iMac -- and it should, since it's eerily similar. Especially in person, it feels much like the all-in-one computer without the obvious chin that holds some of the computer component. That extends to the underside speakers, the webcam and the placement of the rear USB ports.
Having said this, the new display clearly shows Apple having learned a number of things since it released both the iMac and the very first aluminum Cinema Displays. The most conspicuous is the tapered aluminum back, which is actually part of a one-piece shell that covers all but the very front. It's thinner and more visually interesting than the old displays, and it won't collect dust like the iMac's black plastic might.
Also: there's no power brick. Or buttons, for that matter. The new model uses both the LED backlight and DisplayPort connector to its advantage to rid the screen of the external block and of the need to turn the display on or off. Leaving with your MacBook? Unplug the display and it powers down gracefully.
Image quality will need further testing but is definitely better than many low-cost displays with vivid colors and good viewing angles. It's not, however, the exact same display from the iMac: the new model definitely has a different white point.
About the only caution we have at this stage is that the lack of a chin makes the display harder to tilt without smudging the glass; users and friends who aren't especially careful will likely find fingerprints on the display's bottom lip before too long.
Expect a review within the next few days. Those eager for additional thoughts can also read Ars Technica's own impressions as well.
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Previous Comments View All
They look real nice, but unfortunately I will never purchase one... no firewire and the glossy screen absolutely kills it for most people doing graphics work.
They look real nice, but unfortunately I will never purchase one... no firewire and the glossy screen absolutely kills it for most people doing graphics work.
Ditto. This will never be a monitor I could buy. For one, it's entirely marketed to MacBook/MacBook Pro users.
Glossy...built-in speakers...built-in iSight...no Firewire.
It would be interesting if Apple announced/released a Mac Pro, Mac mini version that had Front Row IR receiver, Firewire.
The current notebook-only monitor is a gimmick. It will be short-lived by its ultra-nicheness. Not many people buy a MacBook or MacBook Pro thinking that they'll be using it as a desktop computer.
The current notebook-only monitor is a gimmick. It will be short-lived by its ultra-nicheness. Not many people buy a MacBook or MacBook Pro thinking that they'll be using it as a desktop computer.
I'm not in the market nor am I disputing your statement. For me however, as a current iMac owner, the move to a MacBook/Pro would only come if I also had a satisfactory "home base" for it, including a larger monitor than on the machine. If I could afford to do all that, this new monitor seems a reasonable option (as I'm sure are countless 3rd party monitors that are available).
Well to be honest I have a white MacBook and I don't understand why you would want an extra monitor for it, really. Ok if you lap's screen is dead THEN ok. I understand that you can use one screen for programs and the other for something else but still if your lap's screen works why bother. I just hope they will come out with NORMAL connections to be used on Mac Pro!!!!
Does anyone know where that desktop image comes from? The one that comes with Leopard is quite similar, but not the same.
One thing I don't get is why put an isight on the display if it's designed for Macbook users who already have an isight? You can't even stream in 3D as the lenses would have to be closer.
Glossiness aside, I really like how the 24-inch model looks. I've always disliked the iMac appearance on every model after the dome G4 one. If they made one like that display but instead of the Apple logo, wrote iMac at the bottom, that would be a big improvement.
There should be enough room behind that display to fit all the parts. They should design it so that you can take off the back though to get at the drives. Either that or just make it so that the base flips back out the way and a panel at the bottom opens to let you install Ram and the drive would slide out on a tray like from the Macbooks or the Mac Pro as it's a 3.5" drive.
Maybe 2 x 2.5" drives would be better. This way you could put in a new drive more easily and do a RAID setup or simply use one as a time machine backup without having an external plugged in or having a slow NAS drive.
SSD is all 2.5" and 2009 will be the year for it coming in so they may as well accommodate it.
What if you close the MacBook lid and use the monitor like a desktop?
One thing I don't get is why put an isight on the display if it's designed for Macbook users who already have an isight?
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Ditto. This will never be a monitor I could buy. For one, it's entirely marketed to MacBook/MacBook Pro users.
Glossy...built-in speakers...built-in iSight...no Firewire.
So having built-in speakers (which I don't believe the original Cinema Displays had) and a built-in iSight camera (which the original ADCs definitely lacked) are negatives?
It would be interesting if Apple announced/released a Mac Pro, Mac mini version that had Front Row IR receiver, Firewire.
Firewire what? FW400 is dead (at least to Apple) and FW800 was never available on ADCs.
What would be the point of an IR receiver-equipped version? The only Mac lacking built-in IR is the Mac Pro.
The current notebook-only monitor is a gimmick. It will be short-lived by its ultra-nicheness. Not many people buy a MacBook or MacBook Pro thinking that they'll be using it as a desktop computer.
What do you mean by "notebook-only" monitor? Apple has already stated Mini DisplayPort will come standard on all new Macs going forward. Also, while people may not buy a Mac notebook with the assumption they'll use it as a desktop replacement, considering how good Apple's notebooks are in terms of performance, many may find little point in buying a second, desktop computer when they can just hookup their notebook to an external display.
Considering that notebooks are outselling desktops, that gap will only continue to grow. A monitor that allows a notebook to be used like a desktop isn't such a bad idea. To think that it is a bad idea is only a lack of imagination.
Their is advantage in using a larger monitor, a full size keyboard, and a mouse. This allows you the best of both without having to buy a notebook and a desktop.
The current notebook-only monitor is a gimmick. It will be short-lived by its ultra-nicheness. Not many people buy a MacBook or MacBook Pro thinking that they'll be using it as a desktop computer.
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It's a great looking unit. Unfortunately when I got mine today it came with a red line of pixels about 4" off the right margin. I called Apple and have to send it back to get a new one.
Has anyone else got an imperfect one they have to send back??