imac (or cinema display) buying advice

[jonnyredsox]

HI,

I have an easy question for all the mac experts out there. Would you say that the quality of the 20" Cinema Displays and the 23" Cinema Displays are better than the equivalent iMac displays?

I'm asking because I was interested in an iMac but was deeply unimpressed with the displays in the few we got in uni. My alternative is to get a Cinema Display then either a MacPro (overkill, but I can afford it) or a mac mini (underkill, but I'd wait to see if there was a revision).

For the time being I'd use my macbook pro (2.16). Incidentally the need for a new mac is driven by two things - we do need a new mac (my wife has just begun uni) and I want to go back to using a proper desktop. Oh and I've just got a big tax back cheque

Oh, sorry for asking this in a few places, but I wasn't sure where was the best forum to post it.

Thanks for any advice,

J

 

[gr8tfly]

I just bought the 20" ACD to use with my 2.33GHz MBP, along with the new Apple Wireless Keyboard and BT MightyMouse. I was using a widescreen 19" Envision, and there is no comparison (aside from the resolution difference).

I haven't spent a whole lot of time on the iMac, but one thing for me is the glossy vs. matte issue. Although the iMac's display seems good, if not excellent, it still is glossy. For a few reasons, I prefer matte over glossy.

I know this isn't a whole lot of info, but hope it helps.

 

[Yuppi]

hmm, I have hooked up a 23" ACD to my 24" iMac and they work beautiful together. There is a difference in the picture that is for sure. But once the iMac is calibrated it is not so bad. You definitely need to calibrate it though. The default settings are really awkward from a photographer point of view.
I like the iMac for its popping colors. They look just georgeus. But the ACD looks more realistic. The Mac Pro / ACD is a nice combo, but the iMac is just an incredible device in it's "loudness" or to be more exact it's lack of that.
When I'm watching movies I tend to prefer to watch them on the iMac while I prefer to edit pictures on the ACD. The iMac in your university will not look the same as on you desk as the ambient light is most likely different.

 

[Kuska]

hmm, I have hooked up a 23" ACD to my 24" iMac and they work beautiful together. There is a difference in the picture that is for sure. But once the iMac is calibrated it is not so bad. You definitely need to calibrate it though. The default settings are really awkward from a photographer point of view.
I like the iMac for its popping colors. They look just georgeus. But the ACD looks more realistic. The Mac Pro / ACD is a nice combo, but the iMac is just an incredible device in it's "loudness" or to be more exact it's lack of that.
When I'm watching movies I tend to prefer to watch them on the iMac while I prefer to edit pictures on the ACD. The iMac in your university will not look the same as on you desk as the ambient light is most likely different.

Having sent back two 24" iMacs recently due to poor screens, I got to wondering if the 23"ACD would be a better bet. Couldn't afford a mac pro, the mac mini doesn't have the punch (or connectivity). So I have been thinking about a set up just as you have, but to use the ACD in the most part for photo work. How do the two displays look sat together and how well does this set up work for you ?

Kuska

 

[Yuppi]

I'm having those strange flickering on the ACD 23" that depends on the contents of the image. That kind of sucks, but I will not exchange it until I know that they made a new charge without those troubles.
From a look point of view those both screens work well together. They are both aluminum. But unfortunately the ACD has lower stand so that you have to put something below it in order to have them on the same height. Or you could a double vesa mount.
On my Dell I had 2 Syncmaster screens with very thin brezels. Unfortunately neither the iMac nor the ACD have that. Anyway I wouldn't like to miss any of those. It is just more than useful to have 2 screens.
When I'm working on my pictures I have either the Lightroom on the iMac and PS on the ACD or just Lightroom on the ACD. But from time to time I just don't bother which is on which because after calibrating they are kind of close. But I'm certainly far away from greating fine-art prints though. When you're publishing to the web you don't have to care about the colors because everyones setup is just different.

The colors on the iMac are different, but some pictures simply just look more pleasing on it because they profit from the popping colors. I like that. Other pictures, especially those that go deeper into the Adobe RGB Profile with nice greens and so look nicer on the ACD.

It seems very reasonable to me to buy a iMac and an ACD. This way you can later sell the iMac in order to get a Mac Pro once you have the money. But you might just like the iMac, at least I do.

 

[RebelScum]

Having sent back two 24" iMacs recently due to poor screens, I got to wondering if the 23"ACD would be a better bet. Couldn't afford a mac pro, the mac mini doesn't have the punch (or connectivity). So I have been thinking about a set up just as you have, but to use the ACD in the most part for photo work. How do the two displays look sat together and how well does this set up work for you ?

Kuska

Best. Setup. Ever. I love it. Once calibrated, the 2 screens actually match up rather well. Plus, you get the benefit of seeing how an image works on both a glossy AND a matte, which gives (me at least) a somewhat better indication of how it might print. Best of both worlds