I'm in the market for a new computer and the iMac is hanging in at the top of the list. The one thing holding it there now is the panel it uses (LG LM240WU2).
My other top option is to build my own system (in that case I would use a Linux or some other *NIX OS). The main benefit to this is, well, everything but the monitor in comparison to the iMac.
I'm also a sucker for value. I will, in reality, never require all that the iMac display offers with its viewing angles and color reproduction. Similarly, I will never need 6GB of RAM and a quad core processor that I would get if I built my own system. But I want those things because there's always great sweet-spot deals for the exhaustive shopper, and I get the warm fuzzies thinking I've gotten the greatest current value for the least input
So here's the deal, there's a lot of great talk about the iMac's display being the same as that found in $1000 monitors like the NEC LCD2490WUXi. However, I want to know what that actual iMac display (not another monitor using the same [or similar] panel) is worth.
I can't really find any conclusive data to help me answer this question. I've dug up stuff at tftcentral comparing all monitors using the LG LM240WU2 panel. There is of course the iMac, then NEC, and then a brand called Hazro. The first indication of discrete value is the response time:
the iMac has higher response times than either, this however isn't really conclusive, as these are inflatable by manufacturers.
Next up is comparing the prices of the NEC and Hazro models. NEC models are $1000 dollars or more, while Hazro is about $675 (I actually only found a site listing its value in pounds, and had to convert). This is a wide value for two monitors using the same panel (and the one with greater response time is the cheaper!) Through googling I found a claim that the price, through apple, to replace the iMac screen is $750 (however, I think apple's prices for components are inflated, seeing as they charge $50 for 1GB of RAM). I also found a replacement panel on ebay (with 2 light scratches!) for $250. Only other price data is through mass sellers oriented towards industrial clients; however they only give prices through direct contact, and even then I would only get the price for buying 500 of them.
Ultimately this data doesn't settle the question about what the real value of the iMac 24" panel is. It does however show the distinct possibility that the panel used by the iMac is not in every way equal to that in a $1000 NEC. That said, I do believe it is still a VERY nice panel, worth more than the average LCD monitor. I would really like at least a mildly accurate estimate of the value of this panel is.
My other top option is to build my own system (in that case I would use a Linux or some other *NIX OS). The main benefit to this is, well, everything but the monitor in comparison to the iMac.
I'm also a sucker for value. I will, in reality, never require all that the iMac display offers with its viewing angles and color reproduction. Similarly, I will never need 6GB of RAM and a quad core processor that I would get if I built my own system. But I want those things because there's always great sweet-spot deals for the exhaustive shopper, and I get the warm fuzzies thinking I've gotten the greatest current value for the least input
So here's the deal, there's a lot of great talk about the iMac's display being the same as that found in $1000 monitors like the NEC LCD2490WUXi. However, I want to know what that actual iMac display (not another monitor using the same [or similar] panel) is worth.
I can't really find any conclusive data to help me answer this question. I've dug up stuff at tftcentral comparing all monitors using the LG LM240WU2 panel. There is of course the iMac, then NEC, and then a brand called Hazro. The first indication of discrete value is the response time:
Code:
NEC LCD2490WUXi 8ms G2G 24"WS LG.Philips H-IPS A-TW Pol (LM240WU2)
NEC LCD2490WUXi-BK 8ms G2G 24"WS LG.Philips H-IPS A-TW Pol (LM240WU2)
Hazro HZ24W 5ms G2G 24"WS LG.Philips H-IPS (LM240WU2)
Apple iMac 24" 12ms G2G 24"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM240WU2-(SL)(B1))
Apple Alu 24" 12ms G2G 24"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM240WU2-(SL)(B1))the iMac has higher response times than either, this however isn't really conclusive, as these are inflatable by manufacturers.
Next up is comparing the prices of the NEC and Hazro models. NEC models are $1000 dollars or more, while Hazro is about $675 (I actually only found a site listing its value in pounds, and had to convert). This is a wide value for two monitors using the same panel (and the one with greater response time is the cheaper!) Through googling I found a claim that the price, through apple, to replace the iMac screen is $750 (however, I think apple's prices for components are inflated, seeing as they charge $50 for 1GB of RAM). I also found a replacement panel on ebay (with 2 light scratches!) for $250. Only other price data is through mass sellers oriented towards industrial clients; however they only give prices through direct contact, and even then I would only get the price for buying 500 of them.
Ultimately this data doesn't settle the question about what the real value of the iMac 24" panel is. It does however show the distinct possibility that the panel used by the iMac is not in every way equal to that in a $1000 NEC. That said, I do believe it is still a VERY nice panel, worth more than the average LCD monitor. I would really like at least a mildly accurate estimate of the value of this panel is.
