CinemaDisplays
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Apple launching new Mac Pros, speedbumped iMac, new Cinema Display and maybe the Magic Trackpad tomorrow?
Sure, we've been hearing whispers that Apple's got a new Mac Pros and some updated iMacs waiting in the wings, but our friend John Gruber at Daring Fireball seems just a mite more confident about things -- in a post trumpeting the return of his podcast The Talk Show, John coyly says tomorrow "might hypothetically" bring new Mac Pros, speedbumped iMacs (we'd guess the Core i3 will make its OS X debut), and a new 27-inch 16:9 Cinema Display will all arrive tomorrow. John also says the Magic Trackpad might also arrive tomorrow, but he's calling that one a "double-hypothetical," so who knows -- we'd think anything more serious than hardware refreshes would warrant a Jobs introduction, but hey, maybe Steve's all talked out for the month. We'll see what happens -- stay tuned. [Thanks, Travis]
iSight prices on eBay skyrocket - will there be an encore?
Apple's stand-alone FireWire iSight may have recently gone end-of-life, but people's interest in the devices is still going strong, so sayeth eBay. While the iSight's retail price was $129, I'm seeing actual bids ranging from $152 all the way up to $280 as of this writing, with Buy It Now sellers bringing on the greed with prices in the range of $289 up through $500+. Even more astonishing are the completed listings - items that have actually sold (barring any fraudulent activity, of course) - which top out at $610 for a new, in-box iSight. As before, we're still just as curious as you are as to whether there will be a stand-alone iSight 2.0. With most of Apple's lineup now sporting built-in iSights, and rumors of the Cinema Display line not being far behind, it's questionable as to whether we should hold our breath. Thanks Austin!
Forget the faster Mac, get a bigger monitor
Don't waste your money on a new Mac if you are looking to upgrade, just get yourself a huge monitor. That's Paul Boutin's theory, and I agree. Computers now a days are pretty much powerful enough to handle whatever the regular user throws at them (I'm not talking about pro users like video editors and the like, they have known the benefits of a large monitor for a long time). You'll get the most bang for your buck with a new, crisp, big monitor.My new 23 inch Cinema Display at work has really increased my productivity. I have a lot more room for everything I need.Give it some thought when you're next in the market for a new computer.
Apple's 20 / 23 / 30-inch Cinema Displays get bumps, price cuts
Looks like there was still a little bit that didn't make it into Steve's keynote yesterday that'll make it a little easier to sink a couple grand into a new Mac Pro: Apple's 20, 23, and 30-inch Cinema Displays all got price cuts and spec bumps. Their 20-inch is now down to $699 from $799, their 23-inch is way down to $999 from $1,299, and their 30-inch is way, way freaking down to $1999 from $2499; likewise, the 20-inch now has a 300cd/m2 brightness, up from 250cd/m2, while the 23 and 30-inchers hit a 400cd/m2 brightness up from 270cd/m2; all have a 700:1 contrast ratio, up from 400:1. Still not quite competitive enough to best Dell's 800:1 contrast ratio / 300cd/m2 20-inch 2007WFP, their 1000:1 contrast ratio / 450cd/m2 24-inch 2407WFP, but the 3007WFP 30-inch is a at a comparable 400cd/m2 brightness and 700:1 contrast ratio -- so but they sure are trying. How you like 'dem Apples?[Via TUAW]
Apple drops display prices, ups specs
We've already blogged about the price drop on the Apple displays earlier today, but what we didn't mention was that you now get more for less (at least where the 20 and 23 inch monitors are concerned).What am I talking about? Both the 20 and 23 inch screens have the same contrast ratio as the 30 incher (700:1, up from 400:1) and they both are brighter. The 20 inch now has a brightness of 300 cd/m2 (from 250 cd/m2) and the 23 checks in at 400 cd/m2 (from 270 cd/m2).So for less money you get brighter, higher contrast screens. Thanks, Apple!Thanks, Kurt Williams.
The "Duh" factor: glossy, iSight Cinema Displays up next
Saw this on digg: Dennis Sellers, a writer over at Macsimum News writes:"Now that the MacBook Pro, MacBook and iMacs all have built-in iSights, it makes sense for Apple to revamp its display line and include the same feature" and "if such updated monitors are in the works, it will be interesting to see whether Apple offers them with glossy and non-glossy screen options as it does with the MacBook."Now, a bunch of -- what I can only assume to be matt screen loving/iSight hating -- digg users have reported that the story may be inaccurate, but how far from the truth can it be? You don't need to be a genius to see MacBooks with iSights and glossy screens and think "hey, maybe Apple will make new Cinema Displays with those features!" We even guessed this in the latest edition of the TUAW podcast just over a month ago -- if we could guess it, everyone and their dog should be able to! Yet more evidence that the majority of Apple rumors consist of Mac users looking at Apple's current line-up and letting their mind wander into the land of obvious features.When was the last time there was a factual Mac rumor about something that wasn't immediately obvious? Or, for that matter, the last time that an obvious Mac rumor was inaccurate?
How many dead pixels are too many dead pixels?
Ed Foster is on a mission to end dead pixels, or at least to figure out what company's policies are in regards to them. His latest post concerns Apple and where they stand on the dead pixel issue. Specifically, how many dead pixels do you need to have on your screen before Apple will replace it. Turns out there is no hard and fast number, rather a 'bring it to an authorized Apple service provider and let them look at it (though you might be charged for that)' attitude which is detailed in this KB article.So dear readers, have you had to deal with a crop of dead pixels on some Apple gear? Did Apple replace it? Let us know in the comments.
