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Help: I am finding the 27" too big !!

I

iread

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 30, 2010
75
0
I am feeling a little like bambi in the head lights :

I have the brightness turned down but am finding the extra size and light area while reading on-line distracting and hard on my eyes and the height is craning my neck some .. I do miss filling the monitor with my web-page without feeling like I am sitting in front of a large light box and when I make my web-page smaller and centered I find sides of the monitor distracting .. I am also getting slight motion sickness but do not know why :mad:
In theory the 27" was great and I was advise to get the i5 quad core as we want to do some pro-photo editing but am thinking of trading it down for the smaller i5 .. I am concerned about issues with the 21" and have read they are worse than the 27" in terms of noise and yellowing and do not know if the i5 will be powerful enough :
Please let me know what you think .. Thank you.

Update :
I use the computer pushed back on my 30" deep table but in front of my power strip .. I have the keyboard pushed back close to the computer leaving a space for some notes .. I rest my arms or elbows on the table to type and read and sit back to rest .. I might be sitting too close for the 27" but am not sure how to change and still be able to focus or function :mad:

Satoneko said:
When I first got a 27 inch, yes, it was too big. In fact, it gave me neck strain, back ache, and a horrible headache that made me throw up. This was no good because I have to work on it. Well, I figured out this was more an issue of the height of the screen than its size. I had to look up at it all the time and that put a strain on my neck. So, my solution was to get a monitor arm and a VESA adapter. That allows me to lower the monitor so the bottom edge is almost touching the desk, and I will be looking down at the screen work area rather than look up at it. Now I can work on my Mac comfortably with no physical problem at all.
Click to expand...

Update :
I am 5'4" and agree that this is one of the biggest issues but not perhaps the only one and I do not want to have to use a monitor arm.
I am also within the 14 days so might be able to exchange it for the 21" which will still be slightly bigger than my old one.
I do need to be able to use the computer for work but do not necessarily need the 27" for the function .. I may however need the i5 quad for the power :mad:
I am glad to hear I am not alone with this issue .. Thank you.

Update :
I love the idea of 27" and the i5 quad is perfect for me .. I do not however love the idea of suffering motion sickness and other symptoms while trying to work and I cannot manage to sit 3' away and still be able to function :mad:
I have under the circumstances been given a two week extension on my return policy from the Apple Store so I can decide and they have also agreed to wave the restocking fee .. I do wish the Apple Store carried the 21" i5 as I really hate the idea of having one shipped :mad:
Thank you to all who have taken the time to comment .. I hope to hear from many more of you while I am trying to decide .. Thank you again :)
 
At least you'll be able to work on your tan while using the computer.

Are you able to increase the distance between you and the monitor? That's my general advice. I've sat at workstations with 2 24" monitors and it was overwhelming needing to rotate my head to see everything and getting a lot of heat from them. Scooting back is all that helped.
 
angelwatt said:
At least you'll be able to work on your tan while using the computer.

Are you able to increase the distance between you and the monitor? That's my general advice. I've sat at workstations with 2 24" monitors and it was overwhelming needing to rotate my head to see everything and getting a lot of heat from them. Scooting back is all that helped.
Click to expand...

I am not sure about moving back as I rest on my desk and type .. I would also need to increase the font size and even then I seem to lean forward for my focus.
Please let me know what you think about down sizing !!
 
Similar thoughts have crossed my mind…

I've only had it slightly longer than 24 hours though, and the power is amazing (i7). Maybe it'll take some time to 'acclimatise' to the screen size (having come from a 20" iMac G5, and also using 15-17" displays at work).

Aside from this more intangible issue, I'm also just wondering if the USB sparking is a serious problem (see other thread).
 
Do you know if the Apple Store allow let me trade down within the 14 days :confused:
 
I own the 21.5" and I think this screen is to big. No way in the world would I ever buy anything larger.
 
Just wait. You will adjust, assuming the display is about 3 feet from your eyes.

In 1998 I went from usual 13" and 15" CRTs to a 21" Sony Trinitron Multiscan GS. It took 2 weeks to get used of going from 800x600/1024x768 to 1600x1200 on that beast.

In 2005 I upgraded to a 23" HD Apple Cinema Display. It took a week to get used to it.

Early next year I'll be getting a 27" i7 iMac. And then possibly adding a second 27" Cinema Display to go alongside it. I expect it'll take a week or two to adjust to both situations, considering I only have dual 19"s at the office (which are too small, honestly).
 
How long have you had the machine? Might want to give it a week to see how you like it. It took me a while to adjust to the screen size going from twin 24" displays.

Also, try the utility SizeUp ( http://www.irradiatedsoftware.com/sizeup/ ) to position windows in the large display. I use it to split my display down the middle into two large 1280 x 1440 sections. Then I focus on only one half of the screen at a time so I'm not overwhelmed by the screen, but can still have two documents / webpages / windows open at the same time. BTW, I have no affiliation with SizeUp.
 
I like your problems!:p


Do you know how many apple lovers would love to have a 27" iMac with 5 cpus on their desk?

I have a 21 inch twin cpu 4gig ram and have never stopped being in love with it. Yes it is brighter but you can scale that down. Yes it is more vivid. Thats the beauty of apple!

I spent the last week on a PC because this iMac had bad ram and it's night and day. I will never go back!

Move the monitor back increase the fonts slightly maybe use a darker background and thank heaven you have a Mac!:apple:
 
OP, FWIW...

Years ago, when Apple introduced their first Apple Cinema Display (ACD) which was 22 inches and cost an arm, another arm and a leg or two, I went ahead and purchased it.

When I got home, it was so big -- almost too big at first. But over time I got used to it and it still works great.

I am contemplating a new iMac. The 21.5 inch seems just right, yet at times I think that the 27 would be better. As someone already suggested, sitting farther away from the monitor might help. What I do know, is that as humans we tend to grow into our surroundings and more than likely after a few months you will wonder why you even considered not keeping the 27 inch. Then again, you may still wish for the 21.5 inch iMac. Hard to say. Maybe visit an Apple store and see them side by side to see if you want to change.
 
iMac screen

I am so glad my salesman at the Apple store discouraged me from buying the 27". He said, "you think it looks big in the store just wait until it is sitting on your desk". 21" is just great.
 

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iread said:
I miss filling the monitor with my web-page without feeling like I am sitting in front of a large light box and when I make my web-page smaller and centered I find sides of the monitor distracting ..
Click to expand...
In OS X there is little to no need for fullscreen, on large displays like the 27" display in the iMac there is little to no need for fullscreen. In other words: stop using fullscreen and get used to that :) Apart from that you need to learn to use your large display more efficiently. You don't need to put one app on the far right and the other on the far left. Doing something like this continually will indeed lead to keep turning your head which you'll eventually notice (your neck will start aching, you might get sick, etc.). Simply use parts of your display to work in and start from there.

As someone already stated, 27" and 30" screens need some getting used to. They're quite big (or really big :p) and not something most people are used to. At first I thought my 30" screen was huge, way too big. I felt I should had bought the 24" version. After a week I felt completely different. The 24" would have been too small, the 30" is the right size so I'm happy I bought it :)
 
Might be a matter of (photographic) perspective. My 27" iMac has a 20" monitor to the left because I just can't get enough pixels. Looks pretty small in this photo. I don't sit up next to it, and I have a pair of computer glasses to see it well (highly recommended for anyone over 40).
 

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I have the 27" Quad Core i5 iMac, and the screens appears smaller the longer I own it.

Would I consider buying another iMac with a smaller screen? Hell, no! I'd rather get a second 27" display or an even bigger iMac.
 
You've got to give it time

I would think Acclimation is the key term.

Wait long enough, and if you switch back to a smaller size it will seem too small
 
I agree stick with it! OS Xs window philosophy is different to windows & full screen windows is not part of it!

Try using Divvy to spread your windows out! :)
 
Great on the Wall

Get a VESA mount, hang it on the wall, and sit back.

Mine is in my den, on a wall 90 degrees from my 52" HDTV. Makes it look tiny by comparison.

I bought it mainly for my two granddaughters, one a tween. I set up two nice chairs for them with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse on a large cafeteria tray for laptop duty. Gotta watch surfing kids, even if it's obliquely, which the 27" handles nicely.

So for example last night they're surfing/typing some homework stuff while I'm watching my Reds get hammered by the Brewers. We trade off on sound (I have them three nights a week due to parental work, and I am a widower).

I know...too much info. But as a first-time newbie, y'all need to know me just a little bit...sorry.

Cheers!

PS: I have a 20" in my office...plenty big enough for a desktop.
 
Had my 27 inch for 3 days, am also struggling with the screen, I have it quite far back on my desk and find myself zooming in or leaning forward an awful lot.

Tried changing the resolution but the point ofnbuying 27 inch is kind of missed.

Hopefully get used to it.
 
mattpreston11 said:
Had my 27 inch for 3 days, am also struggling with the screen, I have it quite far back on my desk and find myself zooming in or leaning forward an awful lot.

Tried changing the resolution but the point ofnbuying 27 inch is kind of missed.

Hopefully get used to it.
Click to expand...

you will get used to it :)
 
I recently bought a 50" LCD for my desk as I wanted a bigger display and it already feels kinda small. The only bad thing about is that I can't get a webcam attached to it.

(Oh, I forgot... :rolleyes:)
 
DannyBres said:
I agree stick with it! OS Xs window philosophy is different to windows & full screen windows is not part of it!

Try using Divvy to spread your windows out! :)
Click to expand...

I have been using Apple Computers for 17 years :apple:
 
Help: I am finding the 27" too big !!

I use the computer pushed back on my 30" deep table but in front of my power strip .. I have the keyboard pushed back close to the computer leaving a space for some notes .. I rest my arms or elbows on the table to type and read and sit back to rest .. I might be sitting too close for the 27" but am not sure how to change and still be able to focus or function :mad:
 
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