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rickywck · Mar 20, 2003, 08:56 PM

I'm curious to know whether the iMac 17" LCD has better quality than other 17" LCD. According to the specification, it can display up to 1440 x 900. In contrast,the Apple 17" standalone LCD can only display up to 1280 x 1024.

I've also checked other 17" LCD monitors, most can only support 1280 x 1024. For 2 16:9 models I've checked (one is from Philips and one is from ViewSonic), they can support 1280 X 768.

However, I've read some reviews which said that the Apple 17" standalone LCD has better display quality than the 17" LCD of iMac (according to the specification, it seems true, the standalone 17" LCD is brighter and has higher contrast).

Now, I'm thinking to buy a 17" iMac vs a 12" PB + an external 17" LCD monitor. The iMac seems to be a very attractive buy ...

Commodus · Mar 20, 2003, 09:04 PM

Unless you think you'll be travelling a lot with your computer, it'd probably be best to get the 17" iMac. With a 12" PowerBook you'd have to hook it up to any LCD via a VGA connection, which worsens the image quality slightly (not horribly, mind you).

jpassan64 · Mar 20, 2003, 10:55 PM

At work we have a new 17" Studio Display attached to a Power Mac, and at home I have the 17" iMac. Although the horizontal resolution is higher on the iMac, I'd have to say the 17" stand alone display is superior.

I have been a little disappointed in the limited viewing angle of the iMac. Additionally, the screen is noticeably, but not drastically, darker at the top than on the bottom. After purchasing the iMac, I went in and looked critically at the Studio Display to see if the shortcomings existed there and maybe I hadn't seen them before. That was not the case.

That being said, I am very happy with the iMac. My computer is in my living room, and its level of quietness, the wider screen, and the cost for performance outweigh the lower screen quality.

John

mathew_m · Mar 20, 2003, 11:12 PM

Compared to the new cinema displays the imac display does indeed look like crap. But so does the 17" studio display. I was spoiled very easily by the 20" and 23" so much that I'm drooling over having one on my desk.