Apple 24-inch Cinema Display hands-on
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Oct 14th 2008 2:23PM
posted Oct 14th 2008 2:23PM
Sure it may not look like much, but we're confident there's more than a few cats and kittens out there who want to get their hands on Apple's new 24-inch superstar. As usual, the screen looks painfully crisp. Check the gallery below for a number of views!
S-IPS or not?
WTF's with all this Apple spam/crap?!?
...
While I agree completely with your question, I'd like to submit a small correction:
H-IPS or not should be your question. The last iteration had H-IPS panels, not the slightly older (based on the same tech) S-IPS.
If this is in fact a PVA-based monitor, Apple just lost all credibility with graphics professionals. They may already have with the LED backlighting as I am fairly certain that 'white' LEDs, even cutting-edge ones, are fakery and cannot output a proper full gamut. Nevermind the fact that no professional is going to want to be looking through a mirror into his screen.
Go ahead, vote me down if you are too ignorant to understand what I just said.
Engadget mistakenly announced this as the "24-inch Cinema Display," not the "24-inch LED Cinema Display." My above comment was assuming this was intending to replace the current 23-inch Cinema Display, which is apparently not the case.
True professionals will buy the 23" model which is based on H-IPS and has the features they need... most of which are lacking from this new display. IMO Apple should not have named this the way they did, as it increases the confusion considerably. This new display does not cater to the same market as all previous displays they released with the words "Cinema Display" in the name did; this is a consumer-oriented model.
It also should be priced at least $150 less than the current 23" Cinema Display, probably $200 under, instead of at parity which is the current case.
It could possibly be the same panel currently used in their 24" iMac's. Those are LG.Phillips H-IPS panels.
Any graphics or photographic professionals I've spoken to (and thats a fair number) say that Apple have no credibility for their monitors anyway. Combination of inadequate colour representation, uneven backlighting and the number of faults they've had.
Eizo seems to be the only really trusted brand nowadays....
Josh,
The glossy finish makes this unusable for critical graphics/color work anyways, so it really doesn't matter what kind of display is within. It could be a 16-bit nano-OLED display with 150% color gamut and I still wouldn't touch it because it's glossy - how am I supposed to tell my image from the reflections? After using high end Eizo monitors for a few years (before that I was using an apple 20" cinema s-ips LCD), I don't even trust apple's "classic" h-ips matte displays. Apple used to be somewhat of a leader in the display field, but the cinema line has been ignored for what seems like more than a year and they've yet to release a monitor with leading edge technologies that's usable for critical graphics work. Not that I can blame them, that market is pretty small and already dominated by established players like eizo - I just wish those other players had half the design sense that apple does in so far as creating a product that is not only useful but something I don't mind looking at when it's switched off.
Dopefish, i totally understand you. Call me a stone ager or not but i still love my 17", pro grade iiyama CRT's. They are fantastic display of colour gamut. Highly accurate.
I wish i could get 2x Eizo 24"ers but just don't have the money. **sigh** Im not a graphics professional, just obcessive with quality (although i use photoshop on a daily basis, just not professionally).
Nice! but a bit pricey for a 24" no?
Also, rather impressed that the rumors had everything pretty much spot on!
I thought that the rumor was that it'd be a $900 laptop, driving Apple into the economic mainstream, not just a monitor.
in response to your comment anonymous, the rumors said that there was going to be a 900 dollar ITEM released. people speculated and debated whether it wouldve been an ultraportable and cheap touch screen netbook, or a display. as we got closer to the apple event people realized that it was more likely to be a display.
coincidentally, if you go to http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook then you can see that there IS in fact a 999 dollar laptop, although it is the old squeaky white plastic crap laptop with no changes, except for the price drop.
I wasn't very disappointed about this though, because I have needed a display for very long and a netbook to be released now would only get criticized.
jcgeary wrote " there IS in fact a 999 dollar laptop, although it is the old squeaky white plastic crap laptop with no changes, except for the price drop."
I think you'll find the 999 model now comes with a super drive, and there may be other changes as well. That's not an easily-dismissed change.
sexy.
Are you referring to the person's reflection in the uber-glossy screen?
probably same quality that they have in the 24" imacs, which is horrible...
Its the 20" that looks terrible. It has a TN panel in it. The 24" has a PVA panel and it looks much much better.
Can't you just like make an Apple spinoff of Engadget!?
Does the name TUAW mean anything to you?
80% of engadget is already Apple.
You could scroll.
If you think Engadget has Apple bias, you haven't seen anything yet. Go to Gizmodo.
"Tiptup300 @ Oct 14th 2008 2:39PM
80% of engadget is already Apple."
90% of the comments in Apple posts are people bitching about Apple. No matter. Engadget makes money on the ads either way. :)
The simple solution would be to add a filter option to Engadget accounts so users could filter out news tagged Apple, Microsoft etc. That would be great for everyone since the Microsoft fanatics wouldn't have to see the Apple news (which for some reason causes them to burst into fits of rage) and I wouldn't have to see the Microsoft fanatics whine about the Apple news.
And before anyone accuses me of being an Apple fanboy, I've never owned a single Apple product in my life. I just find this new breed of Apple hating Microsoft fanatics to be extremely irritating.
Agreed. Me thinks Gizmodo has a stake in apple stock.
You are right.. Giz left white sticky mess all over their articles today.
You are right.. Giz left white sticky mess all over their articles today.
I'm just tired of seeing so many posts about the engadget people creaming themselves over a picture of a case. Whooo! Cases! When they ignore more important news.
and no matt selections ?
i don't like to see my facial expressions while working.
Yeah... but if it's glossy then your boss won't sneak up on you while you're "working".
I was hoping for a 30" :(
That's what she said?
Like most Apple fanboys, she surely had unrealistic expectations then.
So what is it baby, S-IPS or H-IPS?
Looks like the 30" didn't get updated today, is that correct?
Correct, nor the 20". In fact, all the old displays are still available (you know, for those of us still rocking DVI on anything but a new laptop).
I would imagine we will see the 30 and possibly the 20 updated silently in the new few months. Thats the way Apple has done it in the past, they make a huge deal out of releasing the redesigned look, typically the best selling of the product line, then they update the rest of the line quietly. that how they did it when they moved to the Aluminum PowerBooks, moved to Intel MacBook Pros, ect.
what the hell is going on... does mac want to get rid of all it's professional graphic-users? Glossy MacBook Pro AND Glossy Cinema Display?? wtf?
Yeah they can pretty much suck it on behalf of one post company.......
Apple is becoming more and more for the fanboys only. Professional will go with pc equivalent.
wow, new shinny stuff from the Ipod company!!!
I don't see a Mini Display port to DVI adapter. This thing isn't backwards compatible with with older Macs?
They announced DisplayPort-DVI, DisplayPort-Dual DVI, and DisplayPort-VGA adapters... during the MacBook accessories bit.
Works only with the new books at the moment (of truth)
It's not backwards compatible, the adaptors are mini displayport TO dvi/vga, so you can use the new laptops with current screen technologies not the other way around. We would need adaptors that are dvi/mini dvi - mini displayport to use this screen any computer not announced today. Sucks cause it would be nice to have a display with isight for the mac pro or mac mini, who needs it with a laptop that already has it built in?
Didn't think about that...
The iSight would be useful for those who put their notebook underneath a stand with the monitor on top, and use a separate mouse and keyboard.
I can't imagine that Apple would not make an adapter for DisplayPort to DVI, they haven't even updated the two macs that NEED a Display with a DisplayPort... Port. Unless they just include the adapter with said Macs.
Does the Mini DisplayPort carry audio too (I thought at first this was the mini DVI port they've always had)? The new display has speakers built in as well, and Apple's spec page does not show an audio-in port. I suppose if I was making an educated guess, it would use the USB connection and be detected as external hardware (just like the iSight). Seems strange they wouldn't just use an 1/8th inch connector, but we all know how much Apple hates wires.
It had better be S-IPS or PVA.
Gloss is okay I suppose since this will always be used with same lighting and indoors.
comes with :
-backlight bleeding
-gradient issues
$800 = fail
it's $111 more than the comparable Dell monitor, the DELL ULTRASHARP 2408WFP
$101 more than the Samsung SyncMaster 245T 24" Widescreen Black LCD Display
and $29 less that the NEC MultiSync LCD2470WNX-BK 24" Widescreen Black LCD Monitor
Personally I don't think $100 is too much to pay for good industrial design, but if it was $300 more, than no.
BTW, neither the Dell nor the Samsung is LED backlit...
You're quoting MSRPs, CraigJ. The nice thing about all of the other monitors you mentioned is that they usually go for lot less than MSRP, especially through resellers.
It's also $900, not $800, so add an extra 100 to all of those prices.
I see that CraigJ is at it again, it seems, propagating erroneous information in order to either pimp his own or company's stocks, or more likely, to worship his choice of religion.
I do sort of agree with his point about the price though– it's not that bad as long as it's S-IPS.
But glossy display is sub-optimal for most people who would be in the market for a serious display like this one and the lack of compatibility is disappointing.
Here, I did the work for you.
Dell 2408WFP: $619 ($280 less)
Samsung 2408WFP: $659.99 ($239 less)
NEC LCD2470WNX: $809.99 ($90 less)
Screaming deal if that is IPS.
None of the screens mentioned so far is LED backlit. None of them are IPS
My NEC 2490 IPS screen was over $1000 and it isn't LED backlit.
I recently bought a Dell 2408WFP for $552 including tax (free shipping).
Why have PVA monitors gotten more expensive? Before the market got flooded with crappy 24" TN monitors, some 24" PVA monitors fell to a $599 MSRP. But those models have been replaced by far inferior TN models, leaving no inexpensive PVA monitors.
Apple's 24" monitor is the ONLY PVA monitor the FutureShop and BestBuy sells anymore. Everything else has switched to TN now. It's really unfortunate. Technology is supposed to improve, but instead 24" monitors have gotten crappier!
1. Those numbers came from Dell's website.
2. AFAIK none of the monitors is LED back-lit
3. AFAIK none of those has a built in web cam
My bad, I thought the monitor was $800, not $899. Regardless, $899 for a 24" LED back-lit monitor with 178° horizontal; 178° vertical angle and 1000:1 ratio, and 16.7 million colors (not crappy 6-bit TN) doesn't really seem that expensive to me, regardless of the manufacturer. This monitor does seem a bit slow at 14ms, but I'm more interested in proper color rendering than speed.
rod, just because you hate Apple doesn't mean you have to be such a raging douchebag, but I'm sure you just can't help yourself.
this Apple display is no comparison to any of the others.
None of the others have limited inputs or lack of versatility. Apple is still limiting the user while other monitors offer HMDI, DVI, component, composite, USB, PiP, adjustable base heights, rotation ...
It still amazes me that people buy the limited offerings from Apple when there are multitudes of better (and cheaper) options for consumer use. I haven't used an Apple monitor since the Applevision 1710 and haven't regretted it once.
Of course, with those product comparisons you're omitting the way this new monitor has the webcam built-in, likely the newer higher-res version of the iSight, and the way that there's a magsafe power connector built in for charging or powering your MacBook or MacBook Pro, as well as being a 3-USB hub, and LED backlighting. Some of these unique features to the field of monitors mentioned only benefit Apple/MacBook/Pro owners, but they're still what you get for that price - so you may not consider those adding value at all, and I can accept that, as long as someone can understand I don't consider a 9-in-1 media card reader on a Dell a feature I need. But I suspect many of the people that turn away when they see that price aren't Apple users anyway. In which case, I just see a lot of people taking shots at a product that never would have appealed to them, nor were they the target.
Commenting on Apple products is engadet's version of fantasy leagues...
With 24" monitors falling in price this is a pretty obscene markup for a webcam/microphone/usb hub. Not trying to hate but I can't for the life of me see the added value in this.
I just checked the prices on DELL website: Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP comes at 796,11 euro. Apple store here in Netherlands has not yet been updated with new monitor - but if it is 899 euro - 100 euro premium for webcam and usb hub is not bad at all!
UPDATE: Price in NL will be 849 euro - therefore they are asking a bit less the 53 euro for all the extra goodies (LED backlight, environmentally friendly stuff, webcam, usb hub and nice design) - NOT BAD PRICE!
ditto with OP. Also, the Dell 2408WFP is going for 619 USD (450EUR) right now in US. Comparing US prices with Euro prices is never fair.
Maybe someone can link to a monitor with built-in cam, mic, and speakers for $899? Anyone?
Seriously, comps are products that have the same features. Wow.
For a very specific market, this monitor has the fairly awesome feature of acting as a MacBook power adapter. Since a spare MB power brick is $80, that adds a fair amount of value for people pairing it with an apple portable as well. The tri-ended breakout cable also basically provides a docking solution for this crowd as well, which is a very attactive feature. Aside from that, Apple's displays have always been really nice, and REALLY expensive. If I had a new MB with display port, and I was shopping for a new display, these features would easily put this display at the top of my list. If I'm using the MB as a primary work computer, and going to be connecting and detaching the display on a daily basis, that functionality is easily worth a couple hundred bucks to me.
If you're some how surprised, or amazed that Apple has yet again made a product that is prettier and nicer than necessary, and thus more expensive than comparable products from other companies, well, its been that way for a couple decades. Get over it.
Another detail is that Apple usually uses fairly nice webcam modules. We were doing a comparison of several PC webcams for use with a Mac, and the quality difference between them and the built-in cam on the MPB was astonishing. We were pretty amazed by how bad some PC webcams are. So assuming that they didn't fcuk that up, the cam module is probably a high quality one.
The display speakers are probably somewhere between "slightly shitty" and "complete and utter shit" due to the fact that Apple's enclosures are super-mega tiny, and slender-er than anyone elses.
High end monitors don't have those things because most people don't deem them important. I mean, if you're willing to spend $900 on a monitor, a built in webcam and speakers isn't something you're looking for. You probably have stand alone versions of those that are vastly better than the ones built into this Apple monitor.
@ jaytee
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236033
No, it doesn't have a USB hub, but you can get one separately for a couple bucks. And it has DVI, VGA, and HDMI inputs.
And if you don't care about the webcam or mic, here's another 24" for $280:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824112011
Uhhh, TN panels are not comparable to PVA panels... That's to the person above linking to newegg.com
Trust me, I used to have a 24" Dell TN Panel monitor and switched to a Ultrasharp . There is a WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
If the monitor is what I think it is, it is actually very competitively priced. You're getting an S-IPS panel -- a much better viewing angle than TN and somewhat better than PVA -- and you're also getting an LED backlight which is a first in a sub $1,500 monitor of any kind that I'm aware. And then on top of that the other little frou-frou addons like the camera. If it has the specs it appears to have, you should compare this with an NEC Multisync 90-series, not with the typical $500 TN display or $600 PVA display with horribly uneven backlights. What does the NEC have that the Apple display does not? Better hardware calibration, multiple inputs, height adjustment, a nice satiny matte finish, and a better warranty and tech support. What does the Apple have that the NEC lacks? It's $200 cheaper, has a sturdier case, a presumably much better backlight given the LED, better integration with the laptops and a built in camera.
I'm thinking there has to be a catch somewhere because the prices of the other items announced today are nothing special at all. There is one obvious catch with this display and that is the lack of backward compatibility; it only works with the new "display connector" at least for now, which strikes me as a crock.
vell vell vell, i see the whole new lineup has the matching black and aluminum trim, so the most hardcore consumers can just replace everything and buy buy buy! get some bronzeberry frost throw pillows at Bed Bath to accessorize
troll
yeah how dare i rant on pointless consumerism. that's fanboyism for ya.
the kings of trolls lol
judging by the quality of your prose and the faillogic of your posts, i think it's safe to say that oceanclak/fusion fuzo spends the other half of his time on right wing blogs
Talk about epic fail. Apple must think we are stupid.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254026
I own this monitor and it is awesome. Just read the reviews on the egg...
The apple tax really is apparent in this lineup and it is just not worth it this round of upgrades..
You are an idiot. First of all.. no usb ports on the monitor you just showed. Second, ugly as hell. Third, has VGA and hdmi instead of display port which has better bandwidth than both. Fourth, that monitor is not LED backlit.
What were you thinking when you typed your comment? What are you trying to prove? That you don't know monitors for jack? lol
Since when was having a USB hub on a monitor important? Looks don't matter as long as the screen is great. And display port being better than HDMI is a fallacy when you don't need more bandwidth for one monitor. Having two inputs is better than one. And having an HDMI input allows you to use your monitor as a TV easier.
Don't forget that there's no camera or mic. The only thing "failing" is your ability to understand what "comparable" means. Seriously, try harder.
Don't forget the integrated iSight camera, microphone and speakers.
Still Dell ultra-sharp 24inch is a way better solution and at least you get Pro colors unlike that glossy crap! +Dual-dvi+4 USB+multi-card reader+serials+more I cant remember...
Put the Dell on a mac and thats it! All 3d and special fx company use it...
Does anyone know the point of glossy displays? All I see is a load more glare and reflections..
I think the black of the screens are supposed to be clearer making all the colors look more true...... But this only really applies when you can see the screen which essentially is not in the sun.......
I get better contrast on my matt LCD than my old CRT... I think most people won't care about a slight black level improvement (if it exists) when they have to deal with the issues of it being glossy.
Well, for one, I get to look at my favorite person in the whole world the entire time I'm looking at my apple screen.... hmmm.
I can get a cheaper mirror at Walmart....
It doubles as a great mirror. Now I don't have to walk all the way to the bathroom to make sure my hair doesn't look like shit.
I use a 24" glass iMac at work (graphic design, large creative agency), and i was apprehensive. but honestly, in the fixed position that it lives, there's not a single reflection that i ever notice while working. what i notice a lot of the time though is the impressive blacks. i go home to 2x 20" cinema displays and the difference is very noticeable - everything looks a bit grey and washed out on them.
people really have to get over the gloss thing (especially on fixed, indoor instances like these). the reason they're doing it is because LCD's traditionally have always struggled to reproduce black, and this is clearly a very good solution.
i'm all for glossy displays.
Anyone know anything about response time? Because the design is quite sexy, worth considering, but I play games. Very satisfied with my BenQ v2400w though, so that's purely out of curiosity.
Response time (typical): 14 ms
14ms
I originally thought this would compliment a new MacBook Pro perfectly, if for nothing more than its simplicity of moving between home and work with the same laptop. Nice crispness and pleasing graphics too. Unfortunately, a glossy display?! It's so difficult to edit photo/video on anything but a matte display. Very disappointing...
What I want to know is why it needs a built-in iSight cam when pretty much anyone who's likely to use it already *has* a built-in iSight cam. Perhaps you can set the cinema display at a right angle to your MacBook* and use data from both cams to generate a primitive 3D model of yourself.
Because the stand-alone iSight was axed about a year ago, and there has been no 'Apple' solution for Mac Pro/Mac Mini customers. Assuming these desktops get display port in the near future, you can once again get your webcams from Apple. Currently, you need to go third party, or get an old FW iSight. Apple added generic USB webcam support to iChat, but now they can sell you the camera as well.
Also, a VERY SMALL point, but for vid-chatting, the higher position of the monitor's webcam will usually result in better lighting than the laptop webcam, which is typically angled upward towards the subject.
Yeah, if you Mac Pro/Mac Mini has the display port connector. Which as of this time is the only way to use this display
Anyone call the stores to see if they are discounting the existing 24inch displays?
There isn't currently a 24-inch display. So no, no discounts.
14 ms response time.... 1000:1 typical contrast ratio... glossy display coating. Way to stay competitive in the pro market, Apple.
It's a PVA panel, most 24" monitors use TN panels. PVA panels are superior to TN panels in what counts - color gamut, true contrast, and viewing angle. You can't compare completely different LCD technologies by specs like response time and dynamic contrast. That would be like saying an 8MP cell phone camera is better than a 5MP digital SLR camera.
once again, another sexy hunk of metal
So we didn't get a MacBook dock, but I can already see some shitty accessory maker doing one by lining up the MagSafe, Display Port and USB cables from this new screen with a bit of plastic.
"Brando MacBook Dock for Cinema Display $19."
I immediately thought of the same thing.