iMac family gallery - 17, 20 and 24" on one table

[zerolight]

My take would be the 24" might just be too much bulky plastic, not too much screen size.

I would rather have a 23" ACD than the bulky 24" iMac "in my face". For me it would not be screen real-estate, but what surrounds it.

Fair enough. I was torn between buying an 20" ACD to go with my dual 2.7 or selling the 2.7 and buying the 24" iMac. The more i looked at the 20" iMac, the more I liked the style, so I went with the 24" as I know I can make use of the screen.

 

[zerolight]

it's not appreciated when you come in here and start implying how half of the people who don't own a 30" ACD or a 24" iMac can't afford one. it all boils down to preference.

My comment was not directed at you particularly, when it came to cost. There have been many many folk posting on here about how their particular model is the "sweet spot" whether that be the 17" or 20". The argument is usually an unfair one, that the monitor is too big and requires you to turn your head a lot more than you would with two separate monitors (not true) and that it would require you to have to focus on the entire screen at once (also not true), and thus <insert model they bought> is better. I can't help but feel that's sour grapes because prior to the 24" announcement, everyone was salivating at the thought of a 30" iMac or a pair of 30" ACDs. It just doesn't add up to me.

Apologies for ranting.

 

[zerolight]

that is because i find the other points to be valid
i don't like looking up at a screen. i prefer moving sideways (like i said better for my neck, especially if you're in front of the monitor a big chunk of the day). besides i still do not like how he semi-bashed others with an assumption.

I'm a bit confused by this looking up at the screen remark. The height of the 24" is a couple of inches taller. than the 20" and about the same size as a 19" 4:3 monitor. Sitting 2 feet away and you won't be looking up and down. You're head need not move. Infact even looking sideways will be little more than moving your eyes. Take a good look at the comparison pictures posted around the forum. There's only a couple inches in height and maybe 3" in width between the 24 and the 20. Looking at my 19" at work I can see that the 24 is about 25% wider and about the same height. My desk is about 3 feet in depth putting the monitor about 2.5 feet from the front of the desk, and when sitting comfortably (yes I have back issues) I am thus about 3 feet from the monitor. No neck issues. No eye strain. There is certainly no difference in terms of up and down looking compairing a regular 19" 4:3 with a 24" 16:9. All the chin does on the Apple is move the screen much closer to the position my occupational health dept would consider the ideal. It's probably why Apple designed it that way rather than making it shorter but deeper with all the gubbins in the back.

If you're concerned about comfort and neck, then really you should be having your monitor a good 12" off the desk so that when you are sitting perfectly straight at your desk your eyes are in the center of the screen, you should neither be looking up, nor down.