20" or 24" iMac. Which to buy?

[CBAviator]

Just looking for some opinions on here...

I am trying to decide between the 20" and 24" iMac. I used to do a lot of photo editing in college when I worked for the city and school newspapers. I did it on a laptop of all things and wished I had a lot more room. Now, however, I do occasional photo editing as part of my photography hobby. I don't watch a lot of movies on my computer, although one now and again certainly isn't out of the question.

I am wondering through other's experiences, is a 20" usually sufficient for my situation? I don't need to have the biggest and best thing, however, I found the 17" to be a little small for the old iMacs.

Thanks.

 

[mashinhead]

i too am in the same boat. Also are there any benchmarks of the 2.0 vs the 2.4? What can you expect to see there?

 

[urbanskywalker]

i too am in the same boat. Also are there any benchmarks of the 2.0 vs the 2.4? What can you expect to see there?

That is what I would like to know. Are we talking 5% difference in speed and video card performance or 40% In the real world will this be a question of minutes or seconds....The stock answer is get the fastest you can, but not everyone has an unlimited budget.

 

[teerexx52]

Just looking for some opinions on here...

I am trying to decide between the 20" and 24" iMac. I used to do a lot of photo editing in college when I worked for the city and school newspapers. I did it on a laptop of all things and wished I had a lot more room. Now, however, I do occasional photo editing as part of my photography hobby. I don't watch a lot of movies on my computer, although one now and again certainly isn't out of the question.

I am wondering through other's experiences, is a 20" usually sufficient for my situation? I don't need to have the biggest and best thing, however, I found the 17" to be a little small for the old iMacs.

Thanks.

I just bought the 20" and love it. Fast, great screen, great value.

 

[BennyK]

i too am in the same boat. Also are there any benchmarks of the 2.0 vs the 2.4? What can you expect to see there?

Macworld did some benchtests here

 

[davidjearly]

I think that both are amazing value but went for the higher end 20" model as the 24" would mean I would also have to buy a new desk.

I'm sure you will be happy with either.

 

[Craiger]

I went with the higher end 20" also, and LOVE IT. I figure you are splitting it down the middle with the 2.4 20", not to much not too little..

 

[ndriver182]

Can anybody measure their 20" and 24" screens (width and height) and report back? That's the only thing that's keeping me from making a decision. I'm sure the 20" is what I'm interested in, but if that extra 4" makes THAT much of a difference maybe it's worth stepping up $300.

 

[cmvsm]

Just take a look at the 20" and the 24" in the Apple store. Those 2 diagonal inches at the top and bottom dwarf the 20" model. The larger 'chin' on the 20" doesn't help much either. Go for the 24" or you'll be lusting after it from this point on!

 

[puckhead193]

i would say 24" I wish i had gotten the 24/had room for the 24 (dam dorm desks)
at first the 20 seemed huge, but now its just avg.

 

[RainCityMacFan]

What about the baseline iMac w/ hard drive and ram upgrade?

The graphic card will be sufficient if you're not going to be playing any major games. But the top 20" will do good if it's in your budget, it will last longer.

 

[CBAviator]

Just take a look at the 20" and the 24" in the Apple store. Those 2 diagonal inches at the top and bottom dwarf the 20" model. The larger 'chin' on the 20" doesn't help much either. Go for the 24" or you'll be lusting after it from this point on!

Well, this is the reason for the dilemma. I was looking at a 20" and a 24" in a huge store on a plain desk with white walls. I was just hard to get a good size comparison and such.

 

[CBAviator]

What about the baseline iMac w/ hard drive and ram upgrade?

The graphic card will be sufficient if you're not going to be playing any major games. But the top 20" will do good if it's in your budget, it will last longer.

Why would the 20" last longer?

 

[ndriver182]

Why would the 20" last longer?

I think he meant the top-end 20" vs. going with the base model 20".

 

[RainCityMacFan]

I think he meant the top-end 20" vs. going with the base model 20".

Exactly.

 

[bonafide]

Go big or go home!

 

[Cole Slaw]

I have a 20 inch iMac, but I'd say if you have the room on your desk go for the 24 inch model.

 

[aliquis-]

Get the 24", you will get higher res and therefor more space, but more importantly it has better viewing angles which suggest it's not a TN-panel but mva/pva/ips, depending of which one of these it is/might be 24-bit, got better colors, contrast and so on, therefor it's better for working with photos.

Also instead of a low-end graphics card you get a mid-end one.

Edit: Looked at the macworld review, the 2600 pro didn't made much difference in UT2004, 70 vs 84 fps.

 

[megfilmworks]

"When in doubt go big"... Famous Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

 

[Tyr.]

Think carefully about it. I got the 24" and part of me wishes I went for the 20. The 24" is just so ***** big. I went from a 19" non-widescreen tft to this monster and it intimidates me Also I had to go out to a restaurant with the girlfriend because she felt neglected the minuted I unpacked it (I'm not kidding either, her first reaction : "OMG that's just over the top", the fact that the thing has a larger display area than our tv didn't help matters)
Bottom line you only need the 20, but don't you just really want the 24 though ?

 

[giganten]

I would go for the 24" I think.

 

[CBAviator]

Think carefully about it. I got the 24" and part of me wishes I went for the 20. The 24" is just so ***** big. I went from a 19" non-widescreen tft to this monster and it intimidates me Also I had to go out to a restaurant with the girlfriend because she felt neglected the minuted I unpacked it (I'm not kidding either, her first reaction : "OMG that's just over the top", the fact that the thing has a larger display area than our tv didn't help matters)
Bottom line you only need the 20, but don't you just really want the 24 though ?

As much as people have tried to convince me to get the 24 incher, I think from your comments I'll stick with the 20 inch that I just placed an order for. Ilike the way you put it...all I need is a 20 but the 24 would be so nice. But yes, I'm just afraid it will be too big and I'll feel like I'm going blind sitting right in front of it.

However, I don't have the girlfriend to worry about. I live in Beaver Creek/Avon, Colorado. The women disappear until ski season rolls around :-(

Plus...the 20 inch is $300ish cheaper. I guess my IRA is going to get $300 more this month if I keep away from the huge iMac!

EDIT: Thanks again for everyone's input. I really appreciate it.

 

[giganten]

good luck whit your purchase. Hope you will be happy.

 

[CBAviator]

good luck whit your purchase. Hope you will be happy.

Thanks. I'm not sure I can really go wrong with either one of them from what I gather.

 

[aliquis-]

Think carefully about it. I got the 24" and part of me wishes I went for the 20. The 24" is just so ***** big. I went from a 19" non-widescreen tft to this monster and it intimidates me Also I had to go out to a restaurant with the girlfriend because she felt neglected the minuted I unpacked it (I'm not kidding either, her first reaction : "OMG that's just over the top", the fact that the thing has a larger display area than our tv didn't help matters)
Bottom line you only need the 20, but don't you just really want the 24 though ?

Give it 2 weeks and you won't think it's that large longer, give it 2 months and look at a 20" and you will think it's very small, look at a 17" crt and you will wonder what is wrong with people.