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Welcome
to the Apple Cinema 20" Flat-Panel Display Review page:
There was a time
that I never considered buying an Apple display. I figured a Mac costs enough
money, without spending $1000, or more, on a display. In late January 2005, I
purchased the newest Powerbook G4 12 inch 1.5 GHZ G4, with superdrive. The notebook
had nearly all the performance I was looking for, and the small form factor allows
me to easily haul it around the house, or the world should I ever get to travel
properly. However, I wanted more from my Powerbook, when at my desk.
Yes,
I was already using my Powerbook with an external display. It was an analog Sony
LCD. However, it was only 15 inches, with a resolution of 1024x768, so I actually
had as little screen real estate on my external display, as I had on the 12 inch
built-in display. I wanted more.
After deciding a 17 inch LCD would not
be enough, I ordered the Apple's 20" Cinema Display, and I'm glad I did. Unfortunately,
the box arrived beat-up, and there was even dirt inside. However, everything inside
seemed to work ok, thankfully. Un-wrapping the cinema display was a joy, and I
was eager to put it on my desk. The design of this display is stunning. The aluminium
enclosure will please the eyes of anyone, and the back of the display is as beautiful,
if not more beautiful than the front. There is a single cable that comes from
the back of the display, which neatly goes through an opening on the aluminium
stand. This single cable splits in the end into Firewire, USB, DVI, and a power
connector that you plug into the power brick. I connected the firewire, USB, and
DVI to my Powerbook, and then I connected the power to the display. Wow. It was
perfect out of the box. I could never get the color profile right on my old external
display, but the cinema display was out of the box the most beautiful display
I had ever used. The brightness was exceptional, and it took a few days for me
to get used to the brightness. Yes, you can lower the brightness with grace of
your finger over the sophisticated tough-sensitive buttons on the right side of
the display, but I loved the look at full-brightness.
My computing experience
has been at another level, since the cinema display arrived. Whether I'm browsing
the web, working in Photoshop and iPhoto, or making a movie in iMovie, the 20"
cinema display and its 1680x1050 resolution is a joy to use. The display also
gives me two USB and two Firewire ports directly behind the panel, which is incredibly
convenient. If you're a gamer, which I'm not, you will appreciate the 16ms response
this display offers.
Yes, your computer does all the hard work, but it
is your display you interact with. A great display like the Apple Cinema Display
allows you to get more done, with less work and effort. For example, you do not
have to figure out how to fit all your Photoshop palettes on the screen, for there
is plenty of room.
DVDs are quite the experience on this display as well.
I popped in Shrek 2, and I was amazed by the images, but DVDs are far from the
only reason you should want a widescreen. The widescreen aspect of this display
allows you to work in the way our minds are designed and used to working. We read
from left to right, so a display that is wider than it is long makes a lot of
sense.
Overall, if you would like to save some money, there are other
displays out there. Dell actually offers a 20 inch widescreen display, which compares
nicely with this one, even supporting additional inputs. However, it does lack
something. It lacks the beauty in design that the Apple Cinema Display offers,
and it probably lacks some of the quality control that Apple strives hard to achieve.
For example, Apple might reject some of the panels they use inside of this display,
if they suspect quality concerns, where other manufactures may use any panel they
are supplied with, without spending the time and money to ensure a quality panel.
If you believe you would like to spend some money on a fantastic display to use
with your Powerbook, PowerMac, or DVI-output PC, then you should not pass-up this
beauty. It is truly a piece of art from an aesthetics point of view, and the images
it displays are spectacular. This display will not look like "yesterday's" display
anytime soon. In fact, it is a pleasure to enjoy a display that does not look
like it should be part of a busy, cluttered office. This display oozes beauty
and grace, and the stock Apple pictures do not do it justice. The Apple Cinema
Display gives you the full computing experience.
Buy the Apple
Cinema 20" Flat-Panel Display
