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27" display no longer huge

A

Amasashi

macrumors member
Original poster
May 17, 2010
85
0
I remember when the late 2009 iMacs debuted and I went to the Apple Store to check them out. At the time, I thought the 21.5" was just the right size, while the 27" was monstrously large. I had a couple friends try to talk me out of the 27, saying that it was simply too big for home use.

Fortunately, I let the nerd in me out and got the 27. And after only a week of using it, the size no longer impressed me the way that it used to. Suddenly 27 was only normal, while the 21.5 became miniscule. Which made me think, just how big can desktop displays go before they're really "too big"? 30? 34? 40?

Is there even such a thing as "too big"? Or will we just adapt to the larger size like we've been doing all these years?
 
Amasashi said:
.....
Is there even such a thing as "too big?" Or will we just adapt to the larger size like we've been doing all these years?
Click to expand...

If we want it to be more useful at a bigger size it should probably be bend inwards, to surround the viewer.
I can see two different models:

1. Cylindrical, ~14" x ~45" and 1500px x 5000px;
2. Spherical, ~25" x ~45" and 3000px x 5000px;

Who would like to have one?

Tom B.
 
It is all about the resolution I think. As long as the resolution is high enough, we wouldn't care about the size. However, if that 27" had a resoultion like 1680-1050 so to say, HD, it would appear as big to our eyes..
 
I remember when I saw the 27" for the first time, I thought it was giant too, then I got one, and a few days later, it didn't look so big to me. But that's just me. When I have people come over they always ask me how I even use a screen that big. They're just blown away by the screen size. So to answer your question, no, there is no such thing as too big of a screen Your eyes will get used to anything after just a few days, maybe a week of use. I think that most manufacturers will stop at around 30-37" for now.

But for some reason, I have a feeling that things will change pretty soon. OS X will become touchscreen pretty soon, hopefully, and Apple will make touchscreen iMacs, meaning that you can just l lay it down on your desk and work with your hands. So, basically, the only limit would be your desk size.
 
I started with just my laptops 15" and when I got my first 24", I thought they were gigantic!

Then I got two. . .

Now I want three.

The world is never enough.
 
mtnDewFTW said:
I remember when I saw the 27" for the first time, I thought it was giant too, then I got one, and a few days later, it didn't look so big to me. But that's just me. When I have people come over they always ask me how I even use a screen that big. They're just blown away by the screen size. So to answer your question, no, there is no such thing as too big of a screen Your eyes will get used to anything after just a few days, maybe a week of use. I think that most manufacturers will stop at around 30-37" for now.

But for some reason, I have a feeling that things will change pretty soon. OS X will become touchscreen pretty soon, hopefully, and Apple will make touchscreen iMacs, meaning that you can just l lay it down on your desk and work with your hands. So, basically, the only limit would be your desk size.
Click to expand...

+1.
I almost cancelled my order for one to get a 21.5....whew!!...now i feel its (just:-]) big. Now its time to ramp up the ram!
This i found very useful b/c my studio/study is a dusk magnet:
http://www.radtech.us/Products/iMacDesktop/
 
mtnDewFTW said:
But for some reason, I have a feeling that things will change pretty soon. OS X will become touchscreen pretty soon, hopefully, and Apple will make touchscreen iMacs, meaning that you can just l lay it down on your desk and work with your hands. So, basically, the only limit would be your desk size.
Click to expand...

It sounds like a good idea in theory. I can see orthopedic surgeons having a surge in business when these huge touch screen users all need rotator cuff surgery. Not to mention pinched nerves at the base of the neck. At least with a mouse and keyboard one can rest elbows and thus take stress off of the shoulders.
 
Minority Report-esque touch screen computers for home use aren't really going to happen, mostly due to ergonomics. iPhones and iPads are totally cool, no question about that, but when using a desktop computer, most of us like to sit down and sit back. A touch screen would mean having to hold our arms up and out, which gets really sore after a few minutes. Why do you think touch screen all in one PCs aren't selling like hotcakes? They're uncomfortable to use.
 
people, who think 27 is big, or even "huge" have no idea about the world they live in.

I use 40" sony LCD.


Yeah, and don't forget that the "size" gets smaller as you move away from the object.

If you reduce the distance to the screen by half, the perception of the size of the monitor will be 4 times bigger.

You can really make a 13 inch laptop seem bigger than a big plasma TV (assuming both have the same resolution),
just move your head in closer!
 
I have to admit... the 27 seems huge to me, i'm leaning towards getting a 21"

A lot of it does seem to do with how it's positioned however, most 27" imacs are positioned high up on counters. not exactly your usualy working enviroment.

If i shop had a desk laid out with a 27 it might seem more natural?
 
I wouldn't mind having touchscreen for certain tasks, but I would say for gaming I would rather prefer the precision of a mouse/trackball and a keyboard...

Yes, I said it... trackball. I got addicted to these playing FPS's in college because with "high sensitivity" I was reacting so much faster compared to a mouse.

The other reason I'm kind of against touchscreen is that I have larger fingers, and when I've used things like iPhones or iPod Touches, I always seem to "fat finger" surrounding buttons.

Could you imagine playing Warcraft? You go to hit the button to attack a creature and you end up hitting one of your long cooldowns!
 
Aegelward said:
I have to admit... the 27 seems huge to me, i'm leaning towards getting a 21"

A lot of it does seem to do with how it's positioned however, most 27" imacs are positioned high up on counters. not exactly your usualy working enviroment.

If i shop had a desk laid out with a 27 it might seem more natural?
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you'll get used to the 27 after a few days. It's perfect for home use.

A lot of people say the 27 is too big and that you can't see the entire screen unless you sit way back or have to physically move your head. That may be true, but if you think about it, why do you need to see the entire screen all the time? With all that screen real estate, you can have multiple full-sized windows opened, and you can just focus your eyes on the task at hand.

Trust me, go for the 27 ;-)
 
I am (sadly) used to the size of my 27" after about 6 months of daily use, and was just thinking this morning that, despite having all the space afforded me by the 27" (2560x1440) display and a second, 23" (1680x1050) display, I could always use more. I don't think "big" will be "too big" until it's too big to look at all at once. I don't think I would want to have to turn my whole head (rather than just shift my eyes) to see any part of my screen.
 
hundert said:
people, who think 27 is big, or even "huge" have no idea about the world they live in.

I use 40" sony LCD.
Click to expand...

So you're using a 40" display with a 1920x1080 resolution. Big deal. The 27" iMac has a 2560x1440 resolution. Your 40" television is technically smaller.

Get over yourself.
 
I think most people would find that 27 is fairly easy to get used to. Passed a 21.5 the other day in BB and it was like looking at an iPad on a stand. Couldn't believe how small it seemed! I would never go back :D
 
And to the OP yes the 27 now sure does not seem to big after a few months.... i am now getting a second one to act as a display i am not sure it will ever end, to iMJustAGuy, when I was in california last month my sister had one of the aluminum 20 inch imacs and I was blown away how tiny it looked! :)
 
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