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Switched from 24" to 20"-very happy

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docprego

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
I just picked up a 20" 2.4GHzto replace the 2.4GHz 24" that I had originally purchased. The 24" was just too big for my desk. I had to sit so far away from it that I was very uncomfortable using the mouse and keyboard. It was a FANTASTIC machine, it just didn't fit my situation.

When I took the new 20" out of the box the screen looked very washed out. I did a quick search on this forum and found a profile to calibrate the monitor that someone had made. It worked miracles. I feel that the 20" screen looks great now, I am just as pleased with it as I was with my 24". One definite improvement I noted on the 20" is that the backlighting is much more even than on the 24". I guess illuminating that big panel is not so easy compared to this 20".

For me making this change to the 20" was a great move, I am so much more comfortable now. I know others will think I am crazy but in the end I am much happier with the 20".

I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have comparing the two.
 
thumper

thumper

macrumors 6502
Oct 25, 2003
292
0
Under the Sea
Thats some really helpful information there.

i wish you had some pics. there are no apple stores where i
live so i cant see them in person. i just have to cross my fingers that
its a good size.

is there really a huge differance between the 20 and the 24?
 
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docprego

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
thumper said:
Thats some really helpful information there.

i wish you had some pics. there are no apple stores where i
live so i cant see them in person. i just have to cross my fingers that
its a good size.

is there really a huge differance between the 20 and the 24?
Click to expand...

There is a significant difference between the 20" and the 24". In the store it is hard to tell. But here at home I had to put the 24" all the way back against the rear of my desktop. Even then I felt it was overwhelming. There was also the issue fo heat because the machine was now sitting back in the desk where there was a covered area above it and the rear wall of the desk directly behind it. With the 20" I can keep it just a few inches off the front edge of my desktop and it is a nice size to work with. Also it is now not in the enclosed area towards the rear of my desk. Obviously not everyone has my desk so this was a problem unique to my situation. Still I feel that the 20" would give anyone more placement felxibility than the 24".

I really cannot tell any reduction in quality on this dsiplay from the 24". Like I said at first it was clearly washed out and I was sort of horrified. But that profile I got on this forum made it look terrific. Not sure why Apple would want to ship the machine with this inferior profile but it is an easy fix. Maybe if I had the machines side by side a difference would be detectable, but looking at the 20" alone is highly satisfying.
 
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docprego

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
zap2 said:
Glad to here, Apple makes great products
Click to expand...

They really do. It is somewhat surprising to hear all the positive buzz about the Mac and then when you get it, it actually is that good. With most things I get the hype exceeds the actualy quality of the product.

Perfect example, I "downgrade" and I am completely thrilled about it.
 
R

rainydays

macrumors 6502a
Nov 6, 2006
886
0
Glad to hear that you are happy with your iMac :) I don't think you are crazy to want a smaller one. I actually think there's several people who would prefer a 17" over the 20".

I would personally have problem going back to something smaller than 22", but even if I had to, I would adjust pretty well. I was very happy with the 24" in terms of size, just wish it didn't have the yellow tint. I hope my replacement is free from that.
I looked at the 20" at the store the other day and I have to say that for my needs it's not good enough, but it's certainly not as bad as many people on this forum say it is. I think most people will be more than fine with it.
 
A

Alloye

macrumors 6502a
Apr 11, 2007
657
0
Rocklin, CA
I went the other way... From 20" to 24". The issue for me was pixel count. I was used to 1920x1200 at work and found I missed the extra space at home.

Anyway, I agree the 20" has better backlighting that the 24". (More even. Less bleed.) But the 24" has better viewing angles and better color reproduction. It sure would be nice to have all these qualities at the same time, but trade-offs are the norm when it comes to LCD displays.
 
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docprego

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
Alloye said:
I went the other way... From 20" to 24". The issue for me was pixel count. I was used to 1920x1200 at work and found I missed the extra space at home.

Anyway, I agree the 20" has better backlighting that the 24". (More even. Less bleed.) But the 24" has better viewing angles and better color reproduction. It sure would be nice to have all these qualities at the same time, but trade-offs are the norm when it comes to LCD displays.
Click to expand...

I am at a loss to understand the importance of viewing angles as they relate to a computer display. I sit in front of my iMac, not off at any angle. What am I missing here? Also the colors look great on my 20". I couldn't be more pleased.
 
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docprego

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
flopticalcube said:
Sharing, showing, communicating, other people...
Click to expand...

Fair enough I hadn't thought about that.

I just discovered another difference between the 20" and 24". My 20" runs much cooler. The top edge of the 24" was so hot I could not comfortably leave my hand on it. This 20" is warm but not hot.
 
Foxglove9

Foxglove9

macrumors 68000
Jan 14, 2006
1,651
274
New York City
Glad it all worked out. I just got to see the new iMacs at Best Buy for the first time today. And wow, they are amazing looking. Much much better than online photos I've seen. They actually had the old white 17" next to it and the new models were just much nicer looking. The keyboard, eh, not so much.

I was blown away at the size of the 24". I thought to myself "where the heck would that fit on my desk?". So I can understand where you are coming from. The 20" seems like a nice step down in size. Very impressed and wanting one right now!
 
B

-brian-

macrumors newbie
Aug 11, 2007
4
0
Foxglove9 said:
Glad it all worked out. I just got to see the new iMacs at Best Buy for the first time today. And wow, they are amazing looking. Much much better than online photos I've seen. They actually had the old white 17" next to it and the new models were just much nicer looking. The keyboard, eh, not so much.

I was blown away at the size of the 24". I thought to myself "where the heck would that fit on my desk?". So I can understand where you are coming from. The 20" seems like a nice step down in size. Very impressed and wanting one right now!
Click to expand...

Both are gorgeous thats for sure. Enjoy your new mac.
 
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docprego

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 12, 2007
1,243
106
Henderson, NV
Foxglove9 said:
Glad it all worked out. I just got to see the new iMacs at Best Buy for the first time today. And wow, they are amazing looking. Much much better than online photos I've seen. They actually had the old white 17" next to it and the new models were just much nicer looking. The keyboard, eh, not so much.

I was blown away at the size of the 24". I thought to myself "where the heck would that fit on my desk?". So I can understand where you are coming from. The 20" seems like a nice step down in size. Very impressed and wanting one right now!
Click to expand...

After using my 20" all night I have no regrets at all. I thought I might miss the extra space but in reality I feel like I am actually using the computer now rather than having an excess of unused space. I know that is just me, some people like all the real estate. I had a hard time adjusting to it, the 20" feels more natural to me.

Don't dismiss the keyboard. It's style is a matter of personal preference but I have never typed on anything that I enjoyed more. It is a great keyboard. Now the mouse, that is another story......
 
AlexisV

AlexisV

macrumors 68000
Mar 12, 2007
1,720
274
Manchester, UK
I am at a loss to understand the importance of viewing angles as they relate to a computer display. I sit in front of my iMac, not off at any angle. What am I missing here? Also the colors look great on my 20". I couldn't be more pleased.
Click to expand...

Can you not see how the top of the screen is dark and the bottom of the screen is pale? You have the new 20" right?
 
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DemNoir

macrumors regular
Aug 9, 2007
105
85
The profile posted by Alloye worked for me also. The 20" can look great and DVD's are stunning.

There is a slight shift in color intensity form top to bottom, you can see it if you slide a sticky up and down. But, in normal use, it's not an issue.
 
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bimmer10

macrumors newbie
Jul 31, 2007
10
0
I use to have a 19" LCD on my PC and decided to go for the 24", why? Hmmm. I just wanted the biggest one they had :)
 
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pimmie

macrumors newbie
Dec 21, 2004
12
0
I switched the other way 'round. Got the 2.4Ghz 20" iMac, but the screen quality wasn't anywhere near what it should be for professional graphics work. Switched it for the 24" 2.8 model and I'm happy now. The 23" Cinema Display I've attached has an overall better image quality though.
After having used "pro" Macs for the last 15 years, I'm incredibly happy with the near-total silence of the iMac.
 
revenuee

revenuee

macrumors 68020
Sep 13, 2003
2,251
3
you made the switch down?

before my promotion the department I ran was mac based --- and we had 20 inch iMacs --- I bought the 24 inch for home a few weeks ago and when i go down to visit my friend who took over the department i sit at the 20 inch iMacs and they seem so small

I love the 24 inch

BUT i can appreciate your want is different
 
Hecklerdanny

Hecklerdanny

macrumors 6502
Aug 27, 2007
303
0
This thread has me a little bit worried. My 24" iMac is on it's way in the mail right now, as I type this. I'm upgrading it from a 20" iMac. In my office I have a 23" Cinema Display that I don't think is "too big" at all! Is this a common problem people are having? That their 24" iMac is "TOO BIG"!? I hope not. Like I said, I love sitting in front of my 23" Cinema Display, so I don't think it will be a huge dramatic step up size-wise, but it does make me a little bit cautious. Anyone else use a 23" Cinema Display as well as a 24" iMac and can give me a little bit about the size difference? I mean, shouldn't it just be...well....One inch bigger?
 
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