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nannce

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 19, 2007
6
0
so i am in the market for a new imac. replacing my aged g4 mini. i was looking at a 24" with an 8800 upgrade. but its out of my budget. so now im looking at refurbished 24" or new 2.6ghz 20" but i keep seeing people say that the 20" are no where near as good as the 24" but i cant find any evidence or reasons why this is? what are your guyses opinions of those who have actually used the two.
 
so i am in the market for a new imac. replacing my aged g4 mini. i was looking at a 24" with an 8800 upgrade. but its out of my budget. so now im looking at refurbished 24" or new 2.6ghz 20" but i keep seeing people say that the 20" are no where near as good as the 24" but i cant find any evidence or reasons why this is? what are your guyses opinions of those who have actually used the two.

Very briefly: You can get a refurb 24" 2.8 w/ 500GB HD for approximately the same price as the 20" 2.66 w/ 320GB HD.

The 24" is better, besides the obvious reason (30% more screen, 30% more resolution), because it uses a S-IPS display, whereas the 20" uses a TN display.

What this means is that the 24" monitor is sharper, brighter, has better viewing angle and truer color representation than the 20" iMac. The 20" iMacs also suffer, supposedly, from a distinct vertical gradient.

However, that is not to say that there haven't been complaints about the screen on the 24" for similar reasons (gradient and color representation), however, it's still a much better screen than the 20.

TN displays change or invert color when viewed from an angle, like a cell phone's lcd.

However, if you're on a budget, don't need a top of the line computer, or rely heavily on a quality display, the refurbished white iMacs currently offered by apple are excellent. Both the 20" and 24" white iMacs had professional quality H-IPS displays.
 
Is there a link somewhere that can show the difference between a 20 and 24 inch screen? I'd get the refurbished 24inch but I'm considering getting the ipod touch deal and a 20inch is sort of more in my budget.
 
I recommend playing with them at a local Apple Store or a Best Buy that sells Macs (if you have to).

I definitely remember my first impression of the iMac 24" -- I was stunned by just how big it was. (That's what she said). Seriously though, the 24" screen is as massive as it is gorgeous. The 20" is nice, too, and it didn't appear to me to be of any lesser quality. Just the obvious difference in size.
 
I personally have a 20", and I have absolutely no problems with the screen or with any part of the machine. I think that the screen is absolutely stunning. I don't know about the screen quality of the new 20" imacs, because I have the first Aluminum, revision.

Don
 
Both of the screens are gorgeous but I'd have to say go with the 24''. I use a 24'' Gateway with my MBP and I love the screen space.
 
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