New laptops weren’t the only thing Jobs unveiled today—Apple’s also finally provided a new external display. And it’s a strange one.
More information’s available at Apple’s website, but the gist of it is this: the 24″ display is super-thin, uses advanced LED technology, has integrated power with easy connectivity, and includes an iSight, microphone and speakers. All this for the same price as the existing, aging 23″ Cinema Display.
That sounds great until you dig and think a little more. $899 is hardly great value for a 24″ display these days. The display is gloss-only, which will make pros flee. And those that won’t had better have laptops, since unless I’m very much mistaken, this display requires one of Apple’s new laptops to work—it needs a machine with a Mini DisplayPort. So you guys who just dropped $2799 on a new Mac Pro had better look elsewhere.
Apple’s a great company, an innovator that goes where few others dare to tread. But flashes of the old sneak through now and again, and only Apple would dare release a nine-hundred dollar MacBook accessory in the middle of global economic turmoil.
40 responses to “Apple’s strange display—new LED screen has head in clouds”
It would be helpful to know:
1) Which Macs have Mini Display ports? For example, does my c. 2007 black MacBook qualify? (I’m not clear on the difference, if any, between Mini Display and MiniDVI.)
2) If not, will there be / is there already an adapter?
3) Are there really no other ports on the back?
1. Only the new laptops—the ones announced today—have the port required for this display.
2. There’s not currently an adapter. As for ‘will there be?’, I’ve no idea.
3. Judging by the 3D model, this really is a 900-dollar MacBook accessory. Good job the world’s economy isn’t up the sh*tter! No, wait.
I’m sure the monitor will come with an adapter for the different DVI port. And Jobs made it clear that all Apple computers will use the connector in the future.
As for everything else, good point.
Yes, exactly.
What Apple needs to introduce is a laptop for the masses – a $500 basic portable computer. The only requirement for me would be that it run OSX.
Great design aside, that is Apple’s biggest strength – their Operating System – a platform that simply just works without fuss.
With all that’s going on in the broader economy, Apple cannot continue to expand by only offering slicker, more expensive products to an affluent market that will continue to decline in numbers as along as this recession lasts. And that could be years.
It would be easy for Apple to panic and slash prices. But its much easier to reduce them later if needed than it is to increase them if the economy or demand picks up.
Great, another glossy (useless) screen. And unless I’m not seeing the option for it on the MBP’s, the MBP’s are glossy too. Now, I would never use a built in display for color critical work, but seriously, at least give us the choice.
Stupid Apple….
Cheers,
Thomas
Apple is a respected brand, and a $500 laptop would be compromising their brand. If you want a $500 laptop, you have to buy an older mac. Lowendmac.com is perfect for those who love macs but can’t afford new mac prices.
“…only Apple would dare release a nine-hundred dollar MacBook accessory in the middle of global economic turmoil.”
Oh, please, I guess everything should shut down then. Advertising should halt. GM should give their cars away and not release any new ’09s. Prada should make a cheap leather shoe we can boil and eat.
This stuff does not happen overnight. It’s months and years of planning, millions in R&D, engineering, manufacturing. They are a business and must still continue to innovate and produce or die.
Your statement is grandstanding as it can be countered with why release any new products at all at a time like this?
Finally, DisplayPort will be the new standard. Don’t think this will only be MacBook only but for the short term.
Yikes! This thing really is ONLY for the new MacBooks:
From Apple’s Web Site:
Connections and expansion
• Three self-powered USB 2.0 ports
• One cable with three connectors: Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe, USB 2.0
• AC power cord
• Kensington security slot
Yes, we are reading that correctly. That three plug is its only connection to the outside world. I would buy the idea argument that the new mini DisplayPort is something that will be standard on all future Macs; but, what would a Mac Pro, Mac Mini, or iMac need a MagSafe power plug for?
I would love a magsafe for my external display, so that I can keep my power adaptor in my bag and when I get home and chuck my mbp on the desk I can just plug it into the display and its home and charging. No need to buy an extra power adaptor.
I’m a bit confused. Wasn’t this new display the “LED Cinema Display”? I’m not too familiar with the new product line, but it seems to me that we’re confusing LCD with LED, maybe?
@Bone: I wasn’t suggesting Apple should cease creating new products. I just question the logic behind a $899 MacBook accessory in the current climate. $899 for a 24″ monitor is pricey (compare it to Dell’s excellent 27″ display, for example), but to restrict it to some machines that only went on sale yesterday is crazy.
Also, while you say “DisplayPort will be the new standard”, that doesn’t change the fact that it isn’t now—people with a $2799 Mac Pro can’t use this new display, for example. Of course, an adapter would deal with this, but that’d probably end up being prohibitively expensive.
@Carlitos: I wasn’t confusing anything. However, my stupid fingers were having fun making a major typo in the article’s heading. Thanks for the correction.
@Craig: I forgot to add one thing to my comment.
As a graphics professional this is hardly an accessory. It is a necessity. Given this configuration and with the power delta between MacBook and iMac getting razor thin. I would not feel the need for a 24″ iMac and a MacBook Pro.
Thus making my entire set up CHEAPER and smaller than it currently is. Granted this could be achieved before today. But, I would not want to use my current MBP as a primary machine. Now, I actually want to with the new models.
Also, there are numerous new products that don’t address retroactive features on what are or soon to be legacy products. In that the cinema displays are still available and that the trident connector cable is not permanently attached to the display – making the possibility of other connection possible – I would not jump to dire conclusions at this point.
Good post and point. Why release such a substandard display at a time like this? The major market for these things are media savvy to media professionals who want more input/output options, compatibility and competitive pricing. I don’t even think this has hdmi or anything? What a let down and I’m sure many mac fans who work with Final Cut pro and the like will agree with me.
Call me underwhelmed with this one. Why Apple would ditch DVI for the DisplayPort biz? Sounds a lot like the old ADC (Apple Display Connector) that they dabbled with before. They scrapped that and went to the industry standard DVI.
Proprietary, proprietary, proprietary. I understand the need to go to a smaller port style, and that’s all fine and good. But no direct connection from standard DVI to this smaller port style? What about those of us with MacBooks, MacBook Pros and even PowerBook G4s with DVI ports? I guess we’re all left in the cold. Sorry, I’ll stick to my $250 22″ Widescreen Viewsonic display with it’s dual DVI and VGA inputs for my current MacBook Pro. I am extremely surprised and disappointed that Apple would release such a display that is completely INCOMPATIBLE with the previous generation of MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Fail. Big time.
I was just given a brand new MacBook Pro by my new company. I’m switching over to Mac for the first time, and I could use some input on the monitor issue.
Problem is, my company purchased my MacBook a couple months ago, so I can’t buy the new 24″.
I can’t work with one display, and I was wondering if the old 23″ is a good alternative, or if I should be looking to someone other than Apple to fulfill my needs.
Is their older 23″ really head and shoulders above newer monitors from other brands?
As a new Mac user, I have to say, this is very disappointing and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
@Sam: The 23″ Apple monitor is a reasonable if unspectacular display. I have one myself and used it with my MacBook for a month or so. However, there’s literally no reason to stick with Apple unless you can get a very good deal on its monitor—you’d be better off looking at cheaper alternatives that offer a similar screen quality and more features, such as those from Dell.
I like this set-up, but what if I want to use the display for other purposes, like playing blu-ray dvds and the like, ps3, etc. The ps3 can output hdmi and I can get an hdmi to dvi adapter. then can I get a dvi to mini display port adapter that connects to this monitor? It seems like that 3 way cable thing at the back is permanent and therefore the minidisplay port is male and can’t be taken out, so I would have to buy yet another male-female mini displayport adapter, which I’m not even sure is available? Then there’s the issue of whether it is compatible with hdcp or w/e. I think I’m way better off with a samsung, most have hdmi, vga, and dvi ports on them so they are far more versatile, and probably half the price.
I have the the older 24″ apple cinema display and I’m not trading it in for the new one. I don’t like the new feminine look. The old ones look solid like it’s been made from 1 block of metal. I don’t like the black frame and I don’t like glossy screen too.
Not to mention too many lines that distract from the actual lcd screen.
Absolute, unmitigated gall for Apple to think that only a handful of only the most RETARDED MacBook owners would think this $900 accessory is actually worth it.
Apple needs to get it’s collective head out of it;s ass and start marketing their products to the people who do not have Apple products. Apple appeared to have figured this out using $400 iPods to get people to switch to a Mac.
This product will whither faster than the macmini if Apple does not come out with an adaptor or a DVI model.
One wonders how much the DisplayPort decision was driven by Apple’s “new” entertainment partners like Disney, the RIAA and MMPA?
I will not take anywhere near as long for Apple’s profits to plunge as they did after Job’s left the company, especially in the current economy conditions and they’re apparent willingness to market $900 laptop accessories!?