Mac cinema display opinions.

[stevo8]

Looking at purchasing one of the older 20" cinema displays since I have always loved them and the price is relatively reasonable now($300used). But I wanted to get some opinions ofrom you guys on what you thought of it for editing photos since Im sure plenty of people here have first hand experience with them. It would me used with my MBP and be replacing a older dell monitor(22" e228wfp)

[johncolby]

With Apple monitors, you're just wasting extra money for the name and fancy aluminum enclosure. It's the actual LCD panel that counts, and Apple buys these from the same list of manufacturers just like everyone else. Just do a search on PotN for IPS or PVA (these are types of panels) and go from there...there are bunches of threads.

[MaxxuM]

Yep, I believe that one is by LG.Philips LCD same as the Dell 2005fpw. Apple has had a real bad time trying to make people swallow the often 100% markup of their monitors lately so they are trying to say their new LED monitors are worth the extra $$$.

[Damian75]

They are beautiful displays from an esthetic standpoint but as much as it pains me being the huge apple fan that I am they are the same panels that are used in other monitors that cost less. That said I am a bit of a minimalist neat freak and I love the single cord that then splits the cables at the end keeps my desk nice and neat I do like the built in firewire hub as I do keep a 1tb drive plugged into mine again this really just comes back to esthetics I like how clean everything looks when connected this way. From an editing standpoint and if cost is an issue I would say by the lesser expensive dell and get yourself a good calibration tool.

[Tony-S]

It's naive to think that a display is simply a panel with electricity running through it. If it were, then the EIZOs would all be rip-offs.

[johncolby]

@Tony: Read through the posts before you contribute something rudely like that...you missed the main point that we're talking about Apple monitors in this thread, and whether the added perks (all-in-one cable, enclosure, LED backlighting, etc.) are worth the markup compared to cheaper displays that use the same panels. To me they aren't, but to Damian75 they are, and that's fine...just more info for the OP to consider. Nobody's making broader claims about displays in general, and certainly not about more all-inclusive color management options like EIZOs.

[Damian75]

Also the OP was talking about spending $300 on a display not $1000+ back in the day I used nothing but Silicon Graphics displays they were $3000 a piece but if some one told me they were looking at monitors around $300 I would have pointed them to a Sony trinitron and not had them look at an SG that was out of there reach.

[Tony-S]

@Tony: Read through the posts before you contribute something rudely like that...you missed the main point that we're talking about Apple monitors in this thread,

Yeah, I can read. In fact, it was your post to which my reply was directed. Simply stating that it's the same panel, therefore it's overpriced is not all that informative.

[stevo8]

ok so according to this.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=586868&highlight=L2335


the Apple 23"acd panel is the same as all these.? Right?

Apple M9178 (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
BenQ FP231W (widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
HP L2335 (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
LG L2300B (widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
LG L2300C (widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
Philips 230W5BS (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
Sony SDM-P234 (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
Sony SDM-P234B (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
ViewSonic VP231wb (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.
X3D Technologies 3D AD (Widescreen) has a 23 inch 16 ms S-IPS (LG.Philips LM230W02) panel.

If thats the case, then I can just pick up a monitor like any of these and get the same visual appearance of the apple cinema display for under $200?

http://shop.ebay.com/items/?_nkw=L2335&_sacat=0&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1313&_odkw=FP231W&_osacat=0

All I really care about is having a screen that has great colors/contrasts etc for editing. Going to a 23" would be real nice as well.

Thanks for all the help guys, you have potentially saved me a lot of money.

[Tony-S]

All I really care about is having a screen that has great colors/contrasts etc for editing.

What you really need is a properly calibrated display. Too much color or contrast on the display can result in flat prints. Do you have a calibrator, such as the Spyder or Huey? If not, you should plan on getting one as a top priority.

[stevo8]

What you really need is a properly calibrated display. Too much color or contrast on the display can result in flat prints. Do you have a calibrator, such as the Spyder or Huey? If not, you should plan on getting one as a top priority.

Yeah calibrating is not an issue. I do on the other hand need to actually buy a monitor though since my dell is out for the count.

[johncolby]

If thats the case, then I can just pick up a monitor like any of these and get the same visual appearance of the apple cinema display for under $200?

Hi Steve! In general, yes. But it's still worth quickly reading up on some reviews before you buy because there will be some subtle differences (maybe even something as simple as height adjustment) that might be worth knowing before you decide on one over the other. Also, if you're going to the trouble to dig into this level of detail, be aware that some manufacturers switch panels out but still keep the same model name...sometimes even shipping different panels seemingly at random within the same time period. Just something to know so you can make extra sure to know exactly what you're getting! :)

[stevo8]

:( this is far more complicated then expected.

[PM01]

I have the 23 inch Cinema Display. Aluminum case. It's a ok monitor, not great. Bang for the buck, it's a poor buy. But since I work for a school, there is a slight discount.

The electronics on the apple displays are only covered for a year. If you're looking into a high end monitor, I would go for the NEC. NEC MAKES the monitors for Lacie...and NEC is cheaper with a longer warranty and better electronics.

Apple = 1 year warranty.
Lacie = 3 year warranty.
NEC (who MAKES Lacie monitors) = 4 year warranty...and are cheaper for the equivalent model. This includes covering the backlighting.
Eizo=5 years. A little too expensive for me though.