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27" screen looks so perfect on paper...until you try it in store.

K

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
2,362
912
I just came back from the Apple Store since I wanted to try out the 27" in person. It was sitting side by side with the 21.5" model. The resolution on the 21.5" screen is perfect and I know that bigger screens have an increased resolution but they increased the 27" a little too much. It gets to the point when I'm viewing a website, I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. When I view a website on the 21.5" model, it is right there in my face.

I tried viewing a picture on the 21.5" screen and it appears much smaller on the 27" screen. Why didn't they proportion the resolution on the 27" so that it will display it at the same size as the 21.5" screen, but obviously there will be a lot more open space in the surrounding desktop because it is a much larger screen.

The problem with the 27" screen is that you have to sit up close when viewing websites, but then sit back when playing a full screen game. Almost to the point where I feel I have to physically move the iMac back. This wouldn't be a problem if websites weren't so small so I can always have the iMac at a far distance.

Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who is blindly purchasing the 27" model. It is a shame because the 1080p display is beautiful but I wanted the larger real estate so I can view a website while having a movie in the corner and whatnot. On the plus side it means I will save $800 by purchasing the base 21.5" iMac instead of the top 27" model but I really wanted that Radeon HD 6970M.
 
It's a high resolution screen. You either really appreciate the real estate provided by the extra pixels, or you don't. I suppose your eyes will be the final decision maker.

IMO, any lower resolution would look pretty bad on a 27 inch screen.
 
I use to think that the 27" was to big, infact I refused to buy it at the time but then my dad was like its only another £100, you might look back and think you should of just got the bigger screen.

So I did and well my eyes just adjusted to it, now I think the screen is actually pretty small lol.
 
Ya know, it does seem weird at first but after I had my iMac for a few days there is no way I would want any less resolution.

My MBA is awesome, I love it, but it definitely feels like a 'portable' machine, it doesn't have nearly the real estate I'm used to on the iMac.

Also, are your forgetting you can scale website content?

If you have a trackpad you can pinch to zoom ect and if you press and hold control you can scroll to zoom.
 
I like to watch movies I have from iTunes so the 27 is good for me.
 
Except that zooming in and out all the time gets annoying after a while (each time you go back or forward, open a page in a new tab, etc...), that's why I replaced my 13"MBA with a cheaper 13"MBP since I don't need the real estate that much.
Well I loved the space, but it was real estate vs browsing/reading comfort, and I chose the later.
 
Kafka said:
Except that zooming in and out all the time gets annoying after a while (each time you go back or forward, open a page in a new tab, etc...), that's why I replaced my 13"MBA with a cheaper 13"MBP since I don't need the real estate that much.
Well I loved the space, but it was real estate vs browsing/reading comfort, and I chose the later.
Click to expand...
That doesnt make sense. There is no logical reason that you would have to zoom in and out at one resolution but leave it be on another resolution when viewing a website. The web browser doesnt suddenly interpret web pages differently when you are on a different display.
 
The original poster is correct, the 27 resolution does make a lot of text too small to view from a normal distance. This is a very common complaint, and I hope apple a dresses this in the Lion release.
 
Use sizeup or something similar so you have a web browser running on half the screen. It works a lot better that way.
 
Kendo said:
I just came back from the Apple Store since I wanted to try out the 27" in person. It was sitting side by side with the 21.5" model. The resolution on the 21.5" screen is perfect and I know that bigger screens have an increased resolution but they increased the 27" a little too much. It gets to the point when I'm viewing a website, I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. When I view a website on the 21.5" model, it is right there in my face.

I tried viewing a picture on the 21.5" screen and it appears much smaller on the 27" screen. Why didn't they proportion the resolution on the 27" so that it will display it at the same size as the 21.5" screen, but obviously there will be a lot more open space in the surrounding desktop because it is a much larger screen.

The problem with the 27" screen is that you have to sit up close when viewing websites, but then sit back when playing a full screen game. Almost to the point where I feel I have to physically move the iMac back. This wouldn't be a problem if websites weren't so small so I can always have the iMac at a far distance.

Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who is blindly purchasing the 27" model. It is a shame because the 1080p display is beautiful but I wanted the larger real estate so I can view a website while having a movie in the corner and whatnot. On the plus side it means I will save $800 by purchasing the base 21.5" iMac instead of the top 27" model but I really wanted that Radeon HD 6970M.
Click to expand...

Your opinion is your own, and that's fine. But I would urge you not to judge it until you've lived with it for a few days.

When I first bought mine, I had doubts about the screen - but I also knew that I had 14 days to return it, no questions asked. I was even getting frontal headaches for the first two days... and then, as if by magic, it became the only screen that I ever wanted to use, ever again.

When I come home from university, I leave my laptop there and bring my iMac back with me - because I can't cope with a lesser screen.

That's my opinion. I say buy it, and give it a chance. You don't like it? Take it back.
 
Kendo said:
I just came back from the Apple Store since I wanted to try out the 27" in person. It was sitting side by side with the 21.5" model. The resolution on the 21.5" screen is perfect and I know that bigger screens have an increased resolution but they increased the 27" a little too much. It gets to the point when I'm viewing a website, I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. When I view a website on the 21.5" model, it is right there in my face.

I tried viewing a picture on the 21.5" screen and it appears much smaller on the 27" screen. Why didn't they proportion the resolution on the 27" so that it will display it at the same size as the 21.5" screen, but obviously there will be a lot more open space in the surrounding desktop because it is a much larger screen.

The problem with the 27" screen is that you have to sit up close when viewing websites, but then sit back when playing a full screen game. Almost to the point where I feel I have to physically move the iMac back. This wouldn't be a problem if websites weren't so small so I can always have the iMac at a far distance.

Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who is blindly purchasing the 27" model. It is a shame because the 1080p display is beautiful but I wanted the larger real estate so I can view a website while having a movie in the corner and whatnot. On the plus side it means I will save $800 by purchasing the base 21.5" iMac instead of the top 27" model but I really wanted that Radeon HD 6970M.
Click to expand...

Won't the full screen option coming in Lion take care of his concerns?
 
You do get used to it. It's a big screen but well worth it to have the extra space when needed. Not to mention, it even looks impressive on the desk when it's off. I think the 21 looks a little corny.
 
I have a spring 08 iMac... one of, if not the last run of '24 screens. LOVE IT. I'm afraid of upgrading it though, i fear the 21.5 will feel too small, and the 27 is just way more than I need (just use itunes, web, mail, etc at this point).

Hope apple goes back to 24in models in the future... maybe EOL'ing the 21.5 in the next redesign??
 
At least in my experience Firefox remembers zoom levels on a site by site basis while with Safari, you have to zoom every time.

It's the default behavior in Firefox, not sure if Safari can be set up that way.
 
i originally was going to go for the 27in but after seeing both sizes I may go with the 21.5in. At least for my needs, I feel like the 27in is overkill for web browsing and itunes. I have a 32in led tv and an apple tv connected to it so I don't need the extra screen space, nor do I do video or graphic editing. So I figured I'd save myself $500 :D although I keep going back to the 27 simply for the "wow" factor.
 
Ravich said:
That doesnt make sense. There is no logical reason that you would have to zoom in and out at one resolution but leave it be on another resolution when viewing a website. The web browser doesnt suddenly interpret web pages differently when you are on a different display.
Click to expand...

A higher ppi means things are displayed smaller, this is what this thread is about. A high ppi may make you zoom in when you wouldn't on a lower ppi screen, which can become annoying.
 
Kendo said:
I just came back from the Apple Store since I wanted to try out the 27" in person. It was sitting side by side with the 21.5" model. The resolution on the 21.5" screen is perfect and I know that bigger screens have an increased resolution but they increased the 27" a little too much. It gets to the point when I'm viewing a website, I feel like I'm on the outside looking in. When I view a website on the 21.5" model, it is right there in my face.

I tried viewing a picture on the 21.5" screen and it appears much smaller on the 27" screen. Why didn't they proportion the resolution on the 27" so that it will display it at the same size as the 21.5" screen, but obviously there will be a lot more open space in the surrounding desktop because it is a much larger screen.

The problem with the 27" screen is that you have to sit up close when viewing websites, but then sit back when playing a full screen game. Almost to the point where I feel I have to physically move the iMac back. This wouldn't be a problem if websites weren't so small so I can always have the iMac at a far distance.

Just wanted to give a heads up to anyone who is blindly purchasing the 27" model. It is a shame because the 1080p display is beautiful but I wanted the larger real estate so I can view a website while having a movie in the corner and whatnot. On the plus side it means I will save $800 by purchasing the base 21.5" iMac instead of the top 27" model but I really wanted that Radeon HD 6970M.
Click to expand...


Lion is going to have resolution independence, like the iPhone. You might regret your decision in a few months... Don't believe me? Look it up.

Edit: Called HiDPI now...
 
Last edited:
just curious. for those of you who own a 27" imac. What is the optimal viewing distance for that screen size?

I was thinking of getting one and due to space limitations on my desk, have the screen be 1 foot away from the edge of the desk. Is that too close?
 
I plan on getting the 27" However, if the 21" had the option of 1GB or 2GB GPU I may consider the 21" but I need the large GPU!

Apple definitely should've done 1GB on all the iMacs and the higher ends on both size screens offer the 2 GB
 
If I want to view a web site after I've purchased my iMac someday in the future, I'll do it with my iPad. My iMac will be a workhorse for content creation and nothing more.
 
i think initially it probably takes some adjustment - like any new screen. at first when i moved from 13" to a 17" (mb -->mbp) i thought the font was too damn small. after a few days i got used to it, and now i cant stand looking at the 13" or 15".

the only thing i am worried about with the 27" and its proximity to my face when i put it on my desk (im currently looking at the 27" imac)

for those who own it, do you find yourself pushing it back? as the op said, yes it makes the fonts look small, and i know you can increase the font size, but it just doesnt look as nice
 
I seriously don't know how anyone has complaints of the 27". You will get used to the size and once you do, there is no going back. TRUST ME!

I've used both sizes for an extended period of time.

Fact - I will never go down to a smaller screen.

For the first time in my life I now know how important screen real estate is. Plus on my online classes I can have 4 chapter PDF's up at the same time, and my online exam. Go big or go home.
 
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