- Product:
- 23” Apple Cinema HD Display (company site)
- What’s Good:
- Loads of screen-real-estate (both size and resolution), wide-screen format, bright and sharp image quality
- What’s Bad:
- Not adjustable, expensive (~$2,000 US), requires ADC-to-DVI adapter for PCs (~$100 US), kinda dorky-looking
My usual display is the humble 14.1” 1400x1050 pixel screen on my ThinkPad T30 laptop. It serves me well and the relatively high resolution makes for lots of room on screen, even on a relatively small laptop display. I was happy. However, when a co-worker went on vacation, he decided to loan me his massive 23” Apple Cinema HD Display in a gesture that was both kind and cruel. His secret motive was that after using the large screen for two weeks, I’d have no choice but to buy one for myself.
Well, I’ve been using the display for a week-and-a-half, and I give it up in a few days. I’m not going to buy one of my own. That isn’t to say I didn’t love it. I did - but not $3,000 worth - which is about what it would cost me in Canadian dollars after I shelled out for the ADC-to-DVI adapter I’d need to use it with my laptop.
It’s Resolution, Baby!
I’ve looked into many LCD panels, mostly in the 18” - 20” size range and have generally been disappointed with the resolutions offered. With a 1400-by-1050 resolution on my little 14” laptop screen, there’s no way I’m going to shell out for a larger screen with a lower resolution. Yet many 18”, 19”, and even 20” displays come with only 1280 by 1024 resolution.
This wasn’t a problem with the Cinema Display. The 1900 x 1200 resolution is fantastic, and works well for the 23” screen size. The image is sharp, but doesn’t leave you squinting to read tiny text.
I never did get Windows XP to run at the native resolution of the Cinema Display, but I suspect this is simply a matter of software drivers, not a hardware limitation. Running Linux, which is what I was using most of the time, I was able to run at the native resolution, but had to manually change some of the configuration text files as it wasn’t an option in the display settings.
Compared to the image quality on my ThinkPad display (which I think is relatively good for a laptop), the Cinema Display image is significantly brighter and has much richer colors.
The $100 Catch
For connectivity, I had to get a IBM ThinkPad Port Replicator to get a DVI port, since the ThinkPad T30 doesn’t have one. I then had to go through the Apple ADC-to-DVI adapter, which is an added expense (about $100 US) if you don’t have an Apple with the proprietary ADC connector. The ADC-to-DVI adapter was surprisingly bulky, but I was able to put it on the back corner of my desk, and it never got in the way.
Size, Design, and the Casing
When I first saw the 23” display, it looked absurdly huge. However, after using it for a while, I can say that it is not too big. If it were more affordable, everyone should have a screen like this. I actually found it to be about the perfect size for a desktop. 20” or 21” would be fine too, but anything larger than the 23” would just be too big to sit in front of.
The small stand is sturdier than it looks, but doesn’t allow for any adjustment of height or angle.
While I often hear people raving about how beautiful the Apple Cinema Displays are, I actually found the display is a bit too trendy in design and style. The round clear plastic and white-striped bezel are eye-catching, but after sitting in front of it for a week, I’d prefer a simple thin black or gray case. It’s the contents of the screen I’m interested in, not the case holding it.
Unlike many LCD displays, the height and angle of the Apple Cinema Display are not adjustable. Fortunately, the default height and angle were quite comfortable for me, so this didn’t present a problem. The display weights 25lbs, so it’s not something you’ll want to be moving around a lot. While the small clear plastic stand against which the display leans looks precarious, the display does sit firmly and solidly on the desk.
Life After the Cinema Display
So, while it will be hard to go back to my 14” laptop display (all according to the evil plan of the “friend” who lent me this giant screen), I will not be dropping $3,000 for one of my own. However, I may have to start looking into more affordable large LCD panels. The most promising so far is Dell’s UltraSharp 2001FP Flat Panel Monitor. It is a 20” display with a 1600-by-1200 resolution, and costs just about half of the Apple Cinema HD Display.
That’s a lot of money for three more inches.
Comments
Konstantinos - June 1, 2004 11:56 pm
There is also the 20'' Cinema Display from Apple, with a 1680 x 1050 resolution, going for $1299.
(Wait, how can it be cheaper than the Dell model? Even if it goes as much as 1050 pixels vertically while the Dell one goes 1200, Apple products are synonym to overpriced, so there's maybe something I'm missing in the specs?)
Mike - June 2, 2004 12:27 am
In regards to you comment about adjustability, I found this on the Apple site:
<blockquote>
All three displays have a unique hinge that allow you to effortlessly adjust your viewing angle back and forth as you please, with your fingertips.
</blockquote>
It seems to indicate that it is indeed possible to adjust viewing angle (doesn't say anything about height). It must be a hard adjustment to find if you havn't found it after a week though.
Steven Garrity - June 2, 2004 12:45 am
Konstantinos, it's the US/Canadian exchange rate you're missing. The 20" Dell is $400 cheaper than the 20" Apple - however, I can't speak to the quality of the Dell (though it has decent reviews).
Mike, I guess you are supposed to be able to lean it forward/back. I'll try it tomorrow.
Tony - June 2, 2004 6:58 am
Steven: To get it to work with Windows, you need a little app called Powerstrip. This lets you select a much greater range of resolutions, so long as your graphics card is up to it that is. It will also let you do things like adjust the display's brightness, which you can't do with the display's buttons unless it's connected to a Mac. I can't say I've had any success with leaning it forward or backward either. I did have the stand on a book for a while, but I'm happy with the standard angle now I'm more used to its size.
Josh - June 2, 2004 11:35 am
I have the 17" model, and you can indeed adjust it very easily by pushing the top of the display backwards horizontally. The plastic foot on the back has a hinge, and it really easily adjusts. If you do it once it's obvious afterwards.
I love my 17", but I definitely wish I'd saved up and sprung for the 20". My understanding is that it's cheaper because it has a lower-quality LCD panel, the same one used in the 12" PowerBooik. Can anyone confirm this? I would *love* to get one; I keep hoping that LCDs will get cheaper at one of these MacWorlds.....
Isaac - June 5, 2004 4:42 pm
As the proud owner of said Cinema Display, I'm a bit miffed that Steve took my bragging glory (granted I've avoided writing a review here for a while, and the whole "in theory I'll write one" could be considered hogwash) - this is a post to claim that glory back.
A few notes - the screen is adjustable, in that you can tilt it back, and up to the full height. By tilting it back, but even at full height, there is a slight backward tilt. I haven't had any issue with this fact, but I could see it annoying some who want it to sit straight up. You can get wall bracket mounts for it, but they are expensive.
And as someone who did splurge on the luxury model of lcds (well, I suppose luxury is relative - there are larger, far more expensive setups) - I have felt no buyers remorse since opening the package on day 1, and using it every day for months. I upgraded from a great Dell 21" CRT, that I ran at 1600x1200 - and i was surprised how much better the Cinema Display was.
I haven't seen a 20" display, but I defiantly considered it. In the end, I figured the extra chunk of change was worth it - but if the full price is a bit scary, I would say consider the 20". And if you look for monitors with comparable resolutions (sorry folks - but 1920x1200 is way better than 1600x1200 - i was doubtful at first, but am sure now), both are fairly competitively priced (strange isn't it).
Another annoyance is that there are no DVI or ADC monitor switchers that can support its native resolution under US$500 - so I'm stuck manually unplugging and moving the cable when I need to use it on my PC (which I run headless most of the time).
Oh, and finally, you need the DVI-ADC adaptor if you're using a powerbook as well - apple thankfully decided to go nonproprietary on their laptops display out - but means I had to add the converter to the price as well. Also, the native resolution is 1920x1200 - just being picky.
Konstantinos - June 5, 2004 5:56 pm
Isaac, in case you (or anybody else) know: when you connect the Apple display (or any external monitor for that matter) to, say, a 12'' Powerbook (which mentions 1028x768 as its resolution) can you get a resolution larger than 1024x768?
Isaac - June 5, 2004 7:06 pm
Yep - I believe all the powerbooks can run it at full resolution, as well as most newer mac desktops.
I personally run it off of a 15" powerbook, and an windows ati 7500
Greg - June 13, 2004 2:36 pm
I recently purchased a Dell 1703FP and it has to be the best PC monitor I have ever seen. I'm using it with the digital output so I'm not sure how good it looks in analog the digital image is amazing, closet thing to a Cinema Display I've seen so far. Brilliant, vibrant and ultra sharp.
Mike - June 15, 2004 3:56 pm
Just thought I should point out that the new versions of the Apple LCDs, which are rumored to be unveiled at the WWDC later this month, will feature a new casing, new screen sizes, a new adjustment mechanism, firewire & usb, and will NOT use ADC!
If the rumors are to be believed, there will be a new 30" model, which, due to the power requirements, cannot use ADC, so Apple is going back to standard DVI, which means no more $100 converter. I personally cannot wait, if the new models are anywhere near as nice as this ThinkSecret article says they are, I'll be purchasing a 23" model immediately.
yann - June 18, 2004 2:49 am
Since the apple displays draw power thru the computer they are connected to, how do they get power when hooked up to a pc? I have a 17" apple display I want to hook up to the docking station of my Dell M60 laptop, but am weary that it will not work. Can anyone post a picture of the ADC-DVI adapter plug (the dvi end), the dvi connector on the back of my docking station does not have a little hole above and below. Looks like "sketch" below.
......
--- ......
......
the dvi connectors I have seen look like this
. ......
--- ......
. ......
thanks
yann
Isaac - June 18, 2004 10:23 am
I can get a picture later (although I'm pretty sure most DVI ports are the same) - but the dvi-adc adaptor has a plug, and it draws power for the monitor. So PC's and laptops of both sorts don't actually supply any power to the monitor.
Chilam - July 9, 2004 8:26 pm
Now with the new 23" cinema display that supports DVI, I ran out of reasons not to get one. Both for my power book and PC.
Isaac - August 7, 2004 10:47 am
Trevor,
You can use the adc-dvi adaptor with any of that generation of apple displays on any pc with a video card that has dvi out (i run it off my pc from time to time with a radeon 9200).
The newer ones, with the metal cases, don't need an adaptor.
Red - August 12, 2004 1:05 pm
I would gladly kill my best friend for that monitor. It is cutting edge
Veenus - September 1, 2004 5:13 pm
Is this monitor better than the one thats on the new G5?
Isaac - September 1, 2004 6:34 pm
Veenus,
As far as I know - the newer ones just have updated styling (which includes a much thinner border around the edge). That, and the new 30" model.
If someone knows otherwise, feel free to correct me.
ZERO - September 25, 2005 2:46 pm
you can run it on a pc granted you have DVI. i inherited this monitor, and gladly shelled out the $100 for the adapter. it is a beatiful monitor.
Doug - April 2, 2008 12:43 am
I'm looking for a little help. I have a MacBook Pro and an Apple 23" display. I'm running Leopard 10.5.2. For some reason, I can't seem to start the external display anymore by shutting the lid on the laptop after boot and then pressing any key to activate the external monitor. It goes on for about 4 to 5 seconds before going dark again. The only way I can get the external monitor to stay lit up is to leave the lid of my laptop open. Does anyone know how to fix this? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.