Apple LED Cinema Display 24"

A fabulous display. Some reviews here are quite bogus., January 30, 2009

I've owned this display a few months (just got the wife one this week, too!), and it's a FANTASTIC display. I moved from my original Apple 23" Cinema Display to this 24" LED Cinema Display, and don't regret it for a second. The screen is incredibly vivid, and if you don't have any obvious windows behind you, the glare from the glass is a...read full review I've owned this display a few months (just got the wife one this week, too!), and it's a FANTASTIC display. I moved from my original Apple 23" Cinema Display to this 24" LED Cinema Display, and don't regret it for a second. The screen is incredibly vivid, and if you don't have any obvious windows behind you, the glare from the glass is a non-issue. This holds true for Apple's current notebook lineup.

What I'm really tired of is people complaining that it only works with the Mini-displayport-equipped notebooks. While this is TRUE, it's not like Apple is hiding it from anyone. It says so right on the box! Apple is switching all its equipment, as they have said, to mini displayport. End of story. If you don't have a new Apple notebook, you can't use the display! Go get a different display! Nobody is forcing you to buy this one!

Now, getting back to the review, some might complain that the better part of nine-hundred dollars is a lot of money for a 24" display. But there is a reason for the price-tag. Several reasons, in fact. First, it uses an IPS panel, which provides wonderful color, and fantastic viewing angles. Every four-hundred dollar screen of this size at Best Buy will be a TN panel, which while having the fastest refresh rate, provides terrible color accuracy and viewing angles that fall off drastically when viewed from any angle other than DEAD center. IPS panels are considerably more expensive for this reason. Second, this is an LED backlit display, not a traditional CCFL backlit display. This means the screen reaches full brightness almost instantaneously after turning it on, whereas CCFL LCD screens take some minutes to achieve the same goal. And, of course, LED lit screens are wonderfully bright compared to CCFL. There is currently, as of typing, no screen out there this size which is LED lit and IPS for this price.

Next, let's add the fact that it will power your new MacBook/MacBook Pro/MacBook Air because it provided a power plug for your laptop! So now you can leave your laptop charger in your bag! Now, let's add that this screen has two fairly decent speakers and a rear-facing subwoofer built in. Sure the quality of the speakers isn't going to be so much that you replace a high-end desktop speaker system with it, but for me, for quiet music and YouTube etc, it's perfect. And it also has three USB ports in the back for plugging in your other devices. Oh, and it has a webcam/microphone built in!

The ONLY reason I don't give the display 5 stars is because Apple has a bit of work to do in their "dust-free environments." I've used four of these displays, and each one has had between one and five dust flecks or debris of some sort under the glass. Many people won't notice, but they're there, and others have reported such things on the Apple Discussion Boards.

In any case, this should not put you off buying what is perhaps not even arguably the most stunning display on the market (provided you have a new Apple notebook of course!). I, for one, could not be happier. It takes my breath away every time I turn it on.

To sum up, for the cost of this display, you get a stunning LED lit, IPS panel, which serves as a docking station of sorts to your Apple notebook by providing USB ports, microphone, webcam, speakers AND power to it. Great stuff. I think it was worth the money.

4.5/5 minimize

Breathtaking at every angle., December 26, 2008

The new Apple Cinema Display is absolutely a site for sore eyes. There is nothing else in the market today that will even come close to the magnificence of this display, cheaper but not better. If you have a new Macbook consider it naked without this display.

Everything from design, to functionality, to connectivity far exceeds what ...read full review The new Apple Cinema Display is absolutely a site for sore eyes. There is nothing else in the market today that will even come close to the magnificence of this display, cheaper but not better. If you have a new Macbook consider it naked without this display.

Everything from design, to functionality, to connectivity far exceeds what anyone expects from a premium computer display. Using this product makes you question how you ever used anything else. Reading the specs and viewing pictures does no justice to this display. This is a feat that must be experienced at first hand.

Design and functionality go hand and hand. With a built-in webcam, self-powered usb ports, 2.1 speaker system, microphone, and macbook charge cable, nothing else works better and easier than this display. Why buy a cheaper screen that has none of these features. You will still have to power both your Macbook and display with separate power cables. Then you will need to connect external speakers, more wires and another powered source. Then of course an external usb hub, if it needs to power an external HHD you will also need to power that as well, add another cable. Want a camera and recording device? You can either keep your macbook open at all times or buy external ones, more cables to add. Getting cluttered yet?

Once all these things are connected you've got a huge octopus with an endless mass of tentacles. Now you want to take your Macbook portable, like you would any laptop, you would think this would be easy. While disconnecting all these external devices just think when you come home you will have to attach them all back. Sounds like fun right. Do it at lease three times a week and the fun will cease to exist.

One cable powers your display, connects from your power socket to your display. That will be the only cable hanging from your outlet. One more cable comes from your the back of the display and connects your macbook. Thats it, all done. The Apple Cinema Display will detect your macbook and work seamlessly. To take your laptop on-the-go just disconnect one cable and your done. One cable does everything.

Another note about the new display is that it is incased completely in aluminum and glass. No external buttons can be found anywhere. Where is the power button? There is no power button. The display turns on the instant your macbook is connected and turns off the instant it is disconnected. Just like the macbook, if something does not have to be there, it isn't. Simplicity is the key. minimize

Almost perfect, February 20, 2009

+ Absolutely beautiful monitor - high quality appearance and feel
+ Awesome image quality
+ Very bright
+ Zero dust under the glass as reported by other users

- Built-in speakers are sufficient, but unimpressive
- I had hoped for no dead pixels, but there was ONE

Absolutely stunning display..., August 10, 2009

I recently sold my 20" iMac and purchased this Apple LED Cinema display to use with my 13" MacBook. Let me just say right of the bat, this is the most beautiful, well-constructed display I've ever used. Immediately after plugging the mini displayport into my MacBook, the display light to full brightness and auto adjusted the settings. The 3 USB...read full review I recently sold my 20" iMac and purchased this Apple LED Cinema display to use with my 13" MacBook. Let me just say right of the bat, this is the most beautiful, well-constructed display I've ever used. Immediately after plugging the mini displayport into my MacBook, the display light to full brightness and auto adjusted the settings. The 3 USB ports on the rear of the monitor work perfectly and it's great to have the magsafe power charger handy. The monitor's only weakness, in my opinion, is the audio speaker quality. Don't get me wrong, for speakers built into a monitor it sounds great. However, compared with my Logitech Z2300's it's not even close...but I digress. 1080P video runs smooth with exceptional clarity. Also, the depth of color is fantastic - it actually makes my slightly older unibody MacBook look bad (the new MacBook Pros & Air have the updated LED displays that should be on par with this monitor). I can honestly and without any doubt say, if you're at all considering this monitor, you should definitely purchase it - you will NOT be disappointed! Apple LED Cinema Display 24-Inch MB382LL/A minimize

One of the Best...for the MacBook, March 19, 2009

I have chosen not to categorize the $900 price tag below. Whether this baby is worth $900--or less...or more--depends on you. Personally, I believe it's worth every cent.

THE GOOD:

This monitor was very well-built. Apple "sculpted" it with a brushed aluminum exterior--so that it will match almost any other Apple...read full review I have chosen not to categorize the $900 price tag below. Whether this baby is worth $900--or less...or more--depends on you. Personally, I believe it's worth every cent.

THE GOOD:

This monitor was very well-built. Apple "sculpted" it with a brushed aluminum exterior--so that it will match almost any other Apple product. Most other 24" monitors that I've owned--including a Dell and an NEC--were coated with hard plastic and became hot during extended usage. I sometimes use this monitor all day, and it remains cool to the touch.

It's extremely easy to set up: just plug-and-go. The "power box" has actually been built into the monitor--so that you won't have to worry about having a giant brick on or under your desk. Also, there is no "On/Off" switch. To turn it on, simply plug it into your MacBook. To turn it off,...yep, you guessed it. You can easily increase its brightness or calibrate its color in the same way that you would on your MacBook. In summary, the monitor itself has absolutely no buttons of its own.

I'm not a professional photographer; but, based on what I've seen, the brightness and color output on this monitor are nothing less than amazing...and embarrassingly better than that which you will find on any Dell. The higher-end $2000+ NEC monitors are, of course, a different story.

One outstanding feature of this monitor is that it charges your MacBook while connected, so that you don't have to take out and unravel your portable charger every time you bring your MacBook home.

Another feature of this monitor is its built-in speakers--also made by Apple. They are not Bose, but they do sound nice enough so that you will not have to buy external speakers.

You know, I hate to add propaganda to my reviews; but this is probably the most beautiful monitor on the market.

THE BAD:

The screen is coated with glass. The advantage: you can finally safely use Windex to clean your screen! The disadvantage: the screen is tremendously glossy. This doesn't bother me because I don't work in an extremely well-lit environment. Of course, if you do, you can always phase out the gloss by increasing the brightness--being careful not to fry your retinae.

The monitor has three USB outputs. Well, that's good...but that's it. There is no HDMI, DVI, or audio output. It is designed to stream images and audio only from a MacBook.

THE UGLY:

This monitor was made only for the new line of MacBooks. It has a "mini-display port" output, while the new MacBooks are currently the only laptops with a mini-display port input. So, if you don't have a MacBook made since late 2008, don't buy this monitor. Of course, there are third parties that claim to offer a special adaptor that will allow you to use this monitor with other computers; however, even if this is the case, Apple has stated that it will not warrant the monitor under such conditions. minimize