< Blog HomeDetailed review of new LED Cinema Display
AppleInsider has a
5-page review of Apple's new 24-inch Cinema Display. What I particularly like about this review is that it shows the professional viewpoint as well as the consumer one.
No review of this monitor is complete without a discussion of glossy screens (and I know that's the bit everyone wants to hear), so here it is:
With the use of a glass cover, though, Apple may have taken one of its biggest risks yet. The glass introduces a significant amount of gloss and, with it, reflections.
The impact of reflections is somewhat overstated by those most determined to avoid it; while you might notice at first, in everyday use with typical lighting conditions they're not often noticeable. Even at the bezel, where the always-black surface can act as a dull mirror, reflections are seldom distracting. We've even heard of artists or video editors consciously opting for the glossy displays, as the switch away from matte can actually produce a truer representation of the final color output and prevent someone using Adobe Photoshop, Aperture, or a similar suite from instinctively oversaturating the image before it's sent to the web or the printer.
Assuming conditions are ideal, that is. While in our testing the background was never really an issue, there are certain circumstances in which the gloss is unavoidable. Viewing a predominantly black website or other document in daylight will also let you view yourself, for example. And if you're unfortunate enough to sit in front of bright spot lighting (chandeliers, fluorescent ceiling lights, and certain floor-standing lamps come to mind), it may be hard to escape the reflection short of moving the display itself.
These conditions are usually only minor inconveniences to everyday users, but they're potential deal breakers for certain creative professionals. For those who aren't clinging to limited palette throughout the entire workflow, visible reflections make it harder to gauge the exact color value a subject should use or whether a portion of the image too bright or too dark. It can also be a nuisance when trying to look for fine detail that might be obscured by the image of a window background.
As such, these experts have to either carefully manage their lighting conditions or else consider another display. It's not a disaster, but it's a hindrance that was never an issue with the previous generation. Most entertainment-minded users don't object to matte screens, but many artists do object to gloss. The environmental tradeoff of glass just wasn't entirely worthwhile here no matter how many in the broader public might like it.
I'm posting this review because, if the MacBook Pro is anything to go by, Apple will probably not offer matte alternatives when it upgrades the 20" and 30" displays. It's good to hear that the new displays are at least as color-accurate as the previous generation but the glossy screen will be a deal-breaker for many people. It all depends on the environment though. The best thing to do is buy one (when a compatible Mac Pro comes out of course), try it and return it within 14 days for a refund if you cannot stand it. Because, to my mind, this sounds like a great monitor for a well-lit environment - and if you are doing color-critical work, you should be in a well-lit environment, glossy screen or otherwise.
Posted by Jon Chappell on Dec 7 2008 to
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