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27" screen longevity?

OldCorpse

OldCorpse

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Dec 7, 2005
1,758
347
compost heap
I want to buy the 27", and run a program that is going to be displaying images for many hours a day (Brian Eno's 77 million paintings). I have a concern that running this for almost 24/7 may significantly shorten the life span of the screen... is that a valid concern? I mean, if the screen luminosity goes down 10% in 3 years, I'm not worried, but if it's something like 50%, that would be bad. I'm hoping it would last me some 5 years or so. Is this an issue? How durable are the screens on the 27" iMacs?
 
does it really matter?

im going to say 3+ years right away -- since applecare will cover it for 3 years just fine

so if you think its down in 2 years 11 months, then just call applecare, complain a lot, and have it replaced

who would want to watch enos stuff 24/7? are you setting this up in a 7Elevlen?
 
Badger^2 said:
im going to say 3+ years right away -- since applecare will cover it for 3 years just fine

so if you think its down in 2 years 11 months, then just call applecare, complain a lot, and have it replaced

who would want to watch enos stuff 24/7? are you setting this up in a 7Elevlen?
Click to expand...

Good point on the applecare.

Re: why would I want to display Eno for so long? Well, it's like this. The screen is huge. I will have it on an articulated arm over my desk. When I'm done, and want to just hang out, I can push the monitor up against the wall. But what is the fun in having a black monitor against the wall? Why not have it display something... like a painting hanging on the wall? Fine, but a static painting or image is not very inspiring on a monitor. So why not ever changing images... 77 million of them? That's where Eno's program comes in. I already have it, I've run it, it's aesthetically pleasing. So think of it this way: I have paintings on the wall. Most people don't get bored of the same static image in a painting for years or even decades - same for posters. So why would I get bored of an ever evolving series of images? See?
 
LED backlit displays don't loose their brightness like CCFL backlit's do (50% a year), so don't worry.
 
why not buy a cheaper monitor

i sure as hell wouldn't drop so much money on a screen that will lose most of its longevity due to " displaying moving images"

I would buy a separate monitor ( you can buy a 32" 720p for about 3-400 bucks) and have that set up to display the program

you wouldn't buy a Aston Martin as your commuter car, think of this in the same way
 
lollicup said:
why not buy a cheaper monitor

i sure as hell wouldn't drop so much money on a screen that will lose most of its longevity due to " displaying moving images"

I would buy a separate monitor ( you can buy a 32" 720p for about 3-400 bucks) and have that set up to display the program

you wouldn't buy a Aston Martin as your commuter car, think of this in the same way
Click to expand...

Well, because I need to have the 27" anyway - so that's done. I need a computer. Now, the question is what to do with the computer when I'm no longer computing... should it just sit there, like a black gloomy presence? Nope, push it against the wall, and have some images. Getting another monitor doesn't solve that problem - I still need to have something happen with the iMac when it's no longer in use.
 
I wouldn't worry about the screen at all. As the previous poster mentioned, LED backlit displays don't lose brightness over time. The LED's are rated to last tens of thousands of hours.

The only thing I'D be worried about is the electricity bill. The original white 24" iMac only consumed 220W max, the aluminum 24" bumped it up to 280W max, and the new 27" (despite using a power efficient LED backlit display), consumes a whopping 365W. I'd assume those numbers are when the computer is under heavy load, but it's still something to consider.

Haha, and don't even ask how much power a Mac Pro draws.
 
sfroom said:
I wouldn't worry about the screen at all. As the previous poster mentioned, LED backlit displays don't lose brightness over time. The LED's are rated to last tens of thousands of hours.

The only thing I'D be worried about is the electricity bill. The original white 24" iMac only consumed 220W max, the aluminum 24" bumped it up to 280W max, and the new 27" (despite using a power efficient LED backlit display), consumes a whopping 365W. I'd assume those numbers are when the computer is under heavy load, but it's still something to consider.

Haha, and don't even ask how much power a Mac Pro draws.
Click to expand...

As long as I can get the three years that my white one has given me so far. I am hoping that the kids can enjoy the old iMac for at least two more years...
 
I understand what you're trying to do and I think it's cool. But why not set your computer to sleep at times in which you know you're not going to be there? (i.e. when you sleep and when you're at work...assuming these are on set schedules) This would instantly increase the life of the monitor by 50-60%.

Bryan
 
Bryan Bowler said:
I understand what you're trying to do and I think it's cool. But why not set your computer to sleep at times in which you know you're not going to be there? (i.e. when you sleep and when you're at work...assuming these are on set schedules) This would instantly increase the life of the monitor by 50-60%.

Bryan
Click to expand...

If you go to the "Energy Saver" system preference pane, in the bottom right there's a button that says "Schedule..." You can use it to schedule sleep/wake, or shutdown/startup times.
 
Bryan Bowler said:
I understand what you're trying to do and I think it's cool. But why not set your computer to sleep at times in which you know you're not going to be there? (i.e. when you sleep and when you're at work...assuming these are on set schedules) This would instantly increase the life of the monitor by 50-60%.

Bryan
Click to expand...

I work at home - on the computer. So it would be some 10 hours daily anyhow, then another few hours of just hanging out. Realistically, it would be off for maybe 8 hours or so when I'm sleeping. But yeah, when I'm out and about, I can also switch it off.

I just want 5 years out of this thing... I figure after 5 years, it's gonna be obsolete anyway and it'll be time for another one. I'm going to buy it with Apple Care, using American Express, which would give me 4 years of coverage - I called AmEx and they confirmed that if I buy Apple Care, they'll extend my coverage another year past Apple Care's 3. So that takes me to 4 years, and that means I only need it to last me one year or so without coverage. I guess in the worst case, I'll have to replace it after 4 years... can you imagine what will be available in 4 years!! I might just replace it because I'm so excited by the new gear - I'm sure Apple will come up with something cool... I just hope SJ lasts that long... I am worried more about him than the screen! Because let's face it, Apple will go down the crapper when he's gone - just look what happened last time... a string of CEOs and not one of them could hack it... I expect exactly the same here... Steve, please hang in there buddy!
 
LEDs do degrade gradually at 25-50k hours they may be down to 70% of their brightness.

The fluorescent bulbs tend to either go out or degrade much quicker, and have the added complexity of the power circuit possibly degrading also.

---

The factors that would kill the LED bulbs quicker are likely the same ones that would kill the CPU, and since you aren't driving a big LED light display outside in the Arizona sun ... likely you won't have the same problems those displays will have in several years.
 
OldCorpse said:
...Why not have it display something... like a painting hanging on the wall?....
Click to expand...

$2000 for a digital picture frame? :eek:

I think your use is quite normal for those that keep their desktops on and in idle use a screen saver.
 
Yeah, it won't kill it, but what's the point of working it any harder than it needs to work.

You could always just use the glossy screen as a mirror :D
 
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