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Product Description
The 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display, featuring a stunning 2560-by-1440 resolution, LED backlighting, and amazing 178-degree viewing angle. It connects to any Mac with a Mini DisplayPort connection. The universal MagSafe connector charges your Mac notebook, and three USB 2.0 ports give you room to expand. There's also a built-in iSight camera, microphone, and 49-watt speaker system.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
220 of 224 people found the following review helpful
By Ryan Kramer
No one is fooling themselves here. We're all aware this isn't a value priced monitor or a best bang for the buck item. But as of Nov-Dec of 2010, this is one of the best out there for pure picture quality.
It's regrettable that Apple currently elects to have only one choice for monitor size, but it IS an excellent size for any professional who is looking to shell out a grand. For some reason, IPS panels (the panel technology behind this display) have maintained their higher prices in this resolution/size range. Usually Apple's products command a bit extra for what you get, but compared to the rest of the market, they're actually setting right with everyone else.
If you're a PC user and are looking for a comparable monitor to this one, consider Dell's UltraSharp U2711. It will have the connections you need without needing an adapter to get the mini display port working.
If you're looking for the budget version of this monitor, look up HP's ZR22w 21.5-inch S-IPS LCD Monitor. Not quite the size or resolution, but you could afford two of them side by side for less than one of these.
If you're a gamer on a budget, don't even consider this monitor. The 12ms rating on the Apple monitor won't cut it for the First Person Shooter aficionado. Try Samsung's P2450H.
But if you're a graphics professional and/or love the minimal design of this monitor (and I DO think looks count for something, as shallow as that sounds) and have a mini display port on your computer, this is an incredibly attractive option.
Depending on what you work on everyday, you may or may not like the aspect ratio of this display. It's 16:9 rather than the previous 16:10 other monitors had. This is better for some applications (It works well for my 3D work with stuffing all the palette boxes to the right of my modeling windows, and having doubled up web windows while browsing) but not as good for others (Microsoft Office seems to be more crowded due to less height). 16:9 is definitely a better ratio for watching movies, no question.
Setting up the monitor on a Mac Pro Nehalem 8 Core was easy. There was one small firmware update required to fix an audio glitch that took all of 2 minutes. (Went to software updates control panel, ran the update, restarted, done.) Here's the link on that one...
[...]
I ran a calibration with my gretagmacbeth monitor calibrator and it actually had to change very little. Gray was an almost perfect 6400k out of the box and spot on 6500k after calibration. It was slightly greenish/yellow initially but looks perfect now.
The built in iSight camera works as advertised, and the built in speakers aren't too bad. (You'll want a stand alone audio system if you're looking for any real bass output, but the speakers on this display are every bit as good or better than what you'll find in a typical flat panel television in this size.)
I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't bring up the finish of the monitor. Yes, it's glossy. This monitor replaced my previous 20 inch matte display from Apple I had for years and like all debates, there are pros and cons to this. Here's my quick and dirty take on the debate...
MATTE VS GLOSSY
Matte Pros:
- When staring at dark images, you won't see any reflections
- Doing photo touch up work for long periods of time aren't as tiring (think 4 or 5 hour stretches)
Matt Cons:
- They're harder to keep clean. WAY. HARDER. ^_^
- Smaller text is actually harder to read due to the diffusion effect needed to make a matte screen.
- Recycling your monitor is probably not going to happen
Glossy Pros:
- Smaller details like tiny text is easier to see
- Easier to keep clean
- Colors pop more
Glossy Cons:
- If you don't have a light controlled room, or have a strong light source directly behind you... you'll be staring at your handsome (or gorgeous) mug all day long.
- Eye strain might set in just a little sooner
Which one is more color accurate? Honestly, every professional test I've seen leans towards glossy (Despite the parroting that continues in some circles that matte is king.) The thing is, the difference between the two is small enough that you should let your preference of screen type make the decision.
OVERALL MONITOR CONSIDERATIONS
Pros:
- No longer has a bulky power supply brick on the outside of the monitor. I've read one review that says the heat off the display is quite noticeable as a result. I have to respectfully disagree. I'm typing this in a room that's 67F with 21F outside and I can't feel ANY heat off it unless I put my hand an inch or two away from the monitor.
- Great color uniformity right out of the box.
- Built in iSight camera
- Great resolution
Cons:
- Pricey, duh
- Cord length could be an issue. If Apple would've make it even 18" longer, that would've accommodated a lot more situations. For my use, (tower below monitor under a desk and slightly to the right) it worked just fine.
- Limited connection options
Overall I have zero buyer's remorse in putting this monitor on my desktop. It looks great on or off, leaves my desk clutter free, and lets me do my work more efficiently than before. If only it was just a little cheaper... :-)
It's regrettable that Apple currently elects to have only one choice for monitor size, but it IS an excellent size for any professional who is looking to shell out a grand. For some reason, IPS panels (the panel technology behind this display) have maintained their higher prices in this resolution/size range. Usually Apple's products command a bit extra for what you get, but compared to the rest of the market, they're actually setting right with everyone else.
If you're a PC user and are looking for a comparable monitor to this one, consider Dell's UltraSharp U2711. It will have the connections you need without needing an adapter to get the mini display port working.
If you're looking for the budget version of this monitor, look up HP's ZR22w 21.5-inch S-IPS LCD Monitor. Not quite the size or resolution, but you could afford two of them side by side for less than one of these.
If you're a gamer on a budget, don't even consider this monitor. The 12ms rating on the Apple monitor won't cut it for the First Person Shooter aficionado. Try Samsung's P2450H.
But if you're a graphics professional and/or love the minimal design of this monitor (and I DO think looks count for something, as shallow as that sounds) and have a mini display port on your computer, this is an incredibly attractive option.
Depending on what you work on everyday, you may or may not like the aspect ratio of this display. It's 16:9 rather than the previous 16:10 other monitors had. This is better for some applications (It works well for my 3D work with stuffing all the palette boxes to the right of my modeling windows, and having doubled up web windows while browsing) but not as good for others (Microsoft Office seems to be more crowded due to less height). 16:9 is definitely a better ratio for watching movies, no question.
Setting up the monitor on a Mac Pro Nehalem 8 Core was easy. There was one small firmware update required to fix an audio glitch that took all of 2 minutes. (Went to software updates control panel, ran the update, restarted, done.) Here's the link on that one...
[...]
I ran a calibration with my gretagmacbeth monitor calibrator and it actually had to change very little. Gray was an almost perfect 6400k out of the box and spot on 6500k after calibration. It was slightly greenish/yellow initially but looks perfect now.
The built in iSight camera works as advertised, and the built in speakers aren't too bad. (You'll want a stand alone audio system if you're looking for any real bass output, but the speakers on this display are every bit as good or better than what you'll find in a typical flat panel television in this size.)
I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't bring up the finish of the monitor. Yes, it's glossy. This monitor replaced my previous 20 inch matte display from Apple I had for years and like all debates, there are pros and cons to this. Here's my quick and dirty take on the debate...
MATTE VS GLOSSY
Matte Pros:
- When staring at dark images, you won't see any reflections
- Doing photo touch up work for long periods of time aren't as tiring (think 4 or 5 hour stretches)
Matt Cons:
- They're harder to keep clean. WAY. HARDER. ^_^
- Smaller text is actually harder to read due to the diffusion effect needed to make a matte screen.
- Recycling your monitor is probably not going to happen
Glossy Pros:
- Smaller details like tiny text is easier to see
- Easier to keep clean
- Colors pop more
Glossy Cons:
- If you don't have a light controlled room, or have a strong light source directly behind you... you'll be staring at your handsome (or gorgeous) mug all day long.
- Eye strain might set in just a little sooner
Which one is more color accurate? Honestly, every professional test I've seen leans towards glossy (Despite the parroting that continues in some circles that matte is king.) The thing is, the difference between the two is small enough that you should let your preference of screen type make the decision.
OVERALL MONITOR CONSIDERATIONS
Pros:
- No longer has a bulky power supply brick on the outside of the monitor. I've read one review that says the heat off the display is quite noticeable as a result. I have to respectfully disagree. I'm typing this in a room that's 67F with 21F outside and I can't feel ANY heat off it unless I put my hand an inch or two away from the monitor.
- Great color uniformity right out of the box.
- Built in iSight camera
- Great resolution
Cons:
- Pricey, duh
- Cord length could be an issue. If Apple would've make it even 18" longer, that would've accommodated a lot more situations. For my use, (tower below monitor under a desk and slightly to the right) it worked just fine.
- Limited connection options
Overall I have zero buyer's remorse in putting this monitor on my desktop. It looks great on or off, leaves my desk clutter free, and lets me do my work more efficiently than before. If only it was just a little cheaper... :-)
50 of 55 people found the following review helpful
By A. Lee
Having used PCs and Macs for the better part of two decades, I've seen it all. Let me just say this is by far the best display I've had the pleasure of using.
Pros:
It's an IPS screen (versus TN, PVA or MVA) meaning you'll see incredibly good viewing angels and consistent color. PVA screens are great too (avoid TN and MVA) but IPS still has the edge.
It's a glossy screen, meaning there's no sparkly anti-glare coating blurring small fonts and other details. Colors pop, even the tiniest of details are easily visible. I love it.
It has a glass screen (gorilla glass?), so it's very easy to clean and very hard to scratch.
Speakers are among the best for built in speakers, which isn't saying much, but they're easily better than some larger TVs.
Cons:
While I despise murky antiglare coated displays, there's no denying that glare is a problem under certain conditions.
Displayport is the ONLY input. I'm using the Atlona DP400 to run a GTX 580 through this display via DVI with zero problems at full resolution. But keep in mind this is an extra expense.
The stand's height and orientation cannot be adjusted. It's tilt only.
Bottom line:
You'll notice astounding detail with this display. Everything just pops off the screen. I haven't had this much pleasure with a display since the old Trinitron days of the 80's, guide wires and all.
Pros:
It's an IPS screen (versus TN, PVA or MVA) meaning you'll see incredibly good viewing angels and consistent color. PVA screens are great too (avoid TN and MVA) but IPS still has the edge.
It's a glossy screen, meaning there's no sparkly anti-glare coating blurring small fonts and other details. Colors pop, even the tiniest of details are easily visible. I love it.
It has a glass screen (gorilla glass?), so it's very easy to clean and very hard to scratch.
Speakers are among the best for built in speakers, which isn't saying much, but they're easily better than some larger TVs.
Cons:
While I despise murky antiglare coated displays, there's no denying that glare is a problem under certain conditions.
Displayport is the ONLY input. I'm using the Atlona DP400 to run a GTX 580 through this display via DVI with zero problems at full resolution. But keep in mind this is an extra expense.
The stand's height and orientation cannot be adjusted. It's tilt only.
Bottom line:
You'll notice astounding detail with this display. Everything just pops off the screen. I haven't had this much pleasure with a display since the old Trinitron days of the 80's, guide wires and all.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By David Chan
Amazon Verified Purchase
I got this monitor specifically to use with my Apple Mac Pro. I got this after returning the popular Dell U2711 IPS display which uses almost the same panel due to the grainy anti-glare coating. I was really bent on a matte display due to my need to use my Mac for photo and video editing. Once calibrated properly with my iOne Display, the display looks amazing. Colors are saturated yet still accurate with good shadow detail. Text is crisp which was an issue with the Dell. Glare will be a problem if you don't have the option of repositioning this without a window or light behind you. I have no glare issues as I have my monitor infront of the window so light shines on the back of it. I also have my shades drawn when I do serious photo or video work and only leave on a single desk lamp.
PROs:
1) Bright display with vivid and saturated colors if you do a good hardware calibration of the screen
2) Nice aesthetics when combined with other Apple hardware (MacBook Pro, Mac Pro or Mac Mini)
3) Decent sounding built in speakers
4) No dead pixels or dreaded "yellow tinting" that plagued iMac still to date
5) Automatically turns on/off with your Mac (No power switch on back)
6) LED backlighting saves power vs CCFL lit LCD displays
7) LG made H-IPS panel has great viewing angles
8) 16:9 screen ratio excellent for movies
CONs:
1) Glare issues unless you can control your work environment lighting
2) Limited connectivity (although you can buy a dongle to adapt for use with a PC)
3) Limited color gamut vs. Dell U2711 (82% vs 96% of Adobe RGB) although fine if you work in sRGB colorspace
4) Only 1 year warrantee (Must buy Applecare at $99 more to get up to 3 years which is included with the Dell)
5) No height adjustment which is pretty ridiculous in my book.
6) Connectivity cables cannot be changed out by end user which means a trip to Apple if you somehow damage your miniDisplayport connector
7) 16:9 screen ration stinks for photo editing
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. Apple did a great job with this newer model. I believe that the $999 MSRP is fair in relation to what you get and what the competitors offer.
PROs:
1) Bright display with vivid and saturated colors if you do a good hardware calibration of the screen
2) Nice aesthetics when combined with other Apple hardware (MacBook Pro, Mac Pro or Mac Mini)
3) Decent sounding built in speakers
4) No dead pixels or dreaded "yellow tinting" that plagued iMac still to date
5) Automatically turns on/off with your Mac (No power switch on back)
6) LED backlighting saves power vs CCFL lit LCD displays
7) LG made H-IPS panel has great viewing angles
8) 16:9 screen ratio excellent for movies
CONs:
1) Glare issues unless you can control your work environment lighting
2) Limited connectivity (although you can buy a dongle to adapt for use with a PC)
3) Limited color gamut vs. Dell U2711 (82% vs 96% of Adobe RGB) although fine if you work in sRGB colorspace
4) Only 1 year warrantee (Must buy Applecare at $99 more to get up to 3 years which is included with the Dell)
5) No height adjustment which is pretty ridiculous in my book.
6) Connectivity cables cannot be changed out by end user which means a trip to Apple if you somehow damage your miniDisplayport connector
7) 16:9 screen ration stinks for photo editing
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. Apple did a great job with this newer model. I believe that the $999 MSRP is fair in relation to what you get and what the competitors offer.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Apple Cinema Display
The best Display in the market......I love it love it..........!!!!... the color are super sharp ...you get your money worth...
Published 11 days ago by Engel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Display I've Ever Owned!
The reason for purchasing the cinema display, and not the thunderbolt display, was due to one simple fact: this model has display port. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pat
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dope
I really like it. It's a bummer there is no power button on it other than that I love it
Published 2 months ago by brothaSAID
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like all Apple products... beautiful
Absolutely beautiful. I upgraded from the 24" Cinema Display (which Apple doesn't make any longer) to this one and it's an incredible product. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tech guy Adam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great price, works perfectly!
Price was lowest out of any other stores. Product works perfectly, and shipped quickly. Would definitely do business with this vendor again.
Published 4 months ago by Chris Whitsett
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent display
Excellent display with one major problem, dust inside the display. Not the dust behind the protective glass panel, but inside the display panel itself. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mirza Hasanefendic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous & Functional
I have an IMac, so I pretty much knew what to expect when I bought this display. It's every bit as good as the IMac display. I attached it to a Mac Pro... Read more
Published 4 months ago by T. Cooper
5.0 out of 5 stars
You can't beat Apple for quality.
I have NEVER been disappointed in an Apple product. Not only do they make a great product (like this Display), but they stand behind it from DAY 1 (and longer if you get Apple... Read more
Published 5 months ago by John Orban
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it, major productivity increase
i work from home on my laptop, so buying this really changed everything. it works so perfectly with a mac that is is hard to imagine going with any other brand for a display... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Jacki
5.0 out of 5 stars
Display works great next to my iMac
I am using this monitor with my latest generation iMac. Both 27 inch. I like having essentially the same display resolution sitting side by side. Read more
Published 6 months ago by okiedan
