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The 30" Cinema Display is THE display that designers, especially print designers, need, without any doubt whatsoever. Color fidelity is about the best I've seen. For the first 3 days it seemed HUGE, but on the 4th day it began to feel normal to have this much screen real estate. Those who say that Apple's monitors are too expensive are those who don't understand the value of buying a quality item, and are only interested in price.
Apple is known for its superior quality control and superb design. The screen is VERY bright and I keep it at near its lowest setting. The matte screen is reflection-free and easy on the eyes. Works with Macs as well as Windows computers. At full resolution the monitor is 2560 x 1600 pixels, at 100 pixels per inch. After my original 22" Cinema Display suddenly died after 9 years of excellent use, I decided to upgrade to the 30" and I haven't looked back.
Colors and clarity are unmatched by any other monitor. Highly recommended. I can view 2 web pages side by side, and most importantly, I can work on brochures and packaging at full size and see the whole thing. I work on my Mac every day and the ease of use and productivity I get out of the unit more than makes up for the higher price.
Think about it, for $1800 you can buy a 46-52'' LCD TV nowadays and your only getting a 30'' LCD here with no TV. I would totally wait for prices to drop or for new models to come out. No doubt this is a gorgeous flat panel LCD. With TV prices and technological advances, this LCD should be no more than $600 - $700 if you think about it. Apple is due to come out with new models soon. Wish it was available in a glossy non-matte finish. The problem is that this LCD is WAY overpriced.
Until then, this certainly beats the 23 inch, which was already a great screen. At first I thought this screen was going to be too big, but after a few days it felt just right. This is the perfect screen if you have to stare at one for most of the day. Apple uses high quality LCD panels and the image quality you get in return is very good. It's sharp and contrasty, and you can't really have enough screen real estate to keep multiple editor windows open. It does produce quite a bit of heat - hopefully Apple will come out with an LED lit version soon.
After much agonizing, and A LOT of research on other brands/models, I recommend this monitor. Also, if there is going to be a hub for ports, add a couple of firewire 800 ports alongside the USB and FW 400 ones already on it. Just got the 30" Apple Cinema Display, after agonizing for months on which brand/model to buy for a large desktop monitor. A couple of items, this model could use a slight refresh in specs, no iSight camera, can't buy standalone anymore, there should be one integrated into the bezel, like the iMacs and notebook computers from Apple. Other than that, I say go ahead a buy, you will not regret it. I've had this for 3 days now, hooked up to my 17" Mac Book Pro notebook, and my initial impression is that the picture is stunning, much better at home that when I've seen these on display at several other stores, including the Apple Store. The colors and brightness are amazing out of the box, and I still haven't had a chance to use a color calibration tool, waiting for a Huey Pro to arrive in the mail early next week.
Both computer and TV images are sharp and beautifully rendered. I believe there is an option to upgrade your AppleCare and get in-home repairs. It's the best monitor I've ever had and I've had several.
My display is currently in for service and I'm VERY glad I made the investment on the AppleCare service. If you are buying a monitor today, look carefully at your warranty plan options and make sure you get one that will get your monitor back to you ASAP. My service plan called for the monitor to be sent away for repairs.
I love my Apple Cinematic Display. Note: You do need to get the extended warranty. Once you have one of these wonderful displays, it's VERY hard doing without them.
The color's crisp, the text is easy to read. The tilt is a useful feature that prevents strain looking straight on.
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