Apple LED Cinema Display 24 ": when the display turns into an accessory

No ordinary monitor

Traditionally, such a product is considered as a display of computer peripherals. That is, it is external to the system unit device, which does not change its internal architecture and is connected to one of the PC interface. But in the case of the Apple LED Cinema Display The situation is somewhat different character, one might even say - unique.

Certainly - a peripheral device, but rather specialized. First, it focuses mainly on Mac computers, though with the appropriate adapters it is possible to connect to other PCs. Second, by using such a display in conjunction with the Apple laptop, it can be called not just a peripheral, and a real accessory that extends the functionality of a laptop, so it is perfectly adapted for this kind of application. But, let's start all the same with unpacking LED Cinema Display - Apple knows how to teach their beautiful products at the stage when they are hidden in the board, and then Let us debriefing.

Unboxing

As I mentioned in an article about the experience of operating the last model

MacBook Pro 13 ", Apple equipment is available in two packages: one of them - but the quality of nondescript brown cardboard - designed to protect the beautiful commercial package with full color printing. Normally buyers do not see the technical package, but I managed to get to the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display before he went to the shop window.

Traditionally decorated box. On the one hand shows the display itself practically in full size on the other - it is paired with MacBook Pro. On the upper side there is a brief technical description in several languages ​​is located inside the device. After opening the box, I felt a sharp sense of deja vu. The display is packed with identical monoblock iMac. The same high-quality rigid foam, neatly laid cable, soft white material to cover up the enclosure.

Appearance and characteristics

Taking the unit out of the box (it is convenient to do, holding an aluminum stand) and setting it to table, I actually saw the same the iMac, but without the aluminum elements on the front panel, and more thin. The rest of the twins. By the way - this is my first so familiarity with the Apple display.

24-inch panel, made of S-IPS and having a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels technology protected glass housing and is surrounded in a corporate style Unibody (machined from a solid piece of aluminum). The main difference between this display is the presence of competitors LED backlight that provides uniform distribution of light throughout the matrix. viewing angles LED Cinema Display maximum - 178 ° / 178 ° vertically and horizontally. Response time is not the least - only 14 ms, but this is not a gaming solution. Although this figure is quite enough for any entertainment. At least, I had not noticed when watching the video is no blurring. Display brightness - 330 nits, contrast - 1000: 1, which is not bad. In bright ambient light black color on the screen it looks really black. And on a black background can be clearly seen a loved one. Glass - it's impressive, but not effective for the job. Designers prefer larger hit to a matte display. On the other hand, I myself being too stiff to work with the LED Cinema Display is not experienced. Probably affects long-standing work with laptops MacBook Pro, the display of which is also covered by glass.

In addition, in fact, the screen on the front panel also has a proprietary Apple logo and a web camera iSight. The side faces are empty, although there would not be an extra pair of USB ports. Not as aesthetically pleasing, but it is convenient. USB-hub on three ports in the device is, but all the connectors located at the rear. If the monitor is not in the office desk and enough space for them, then the hub can be used. In the case when the unit entered the home computer desk, then get to of USB-ports would be extremely problematic. The top of the microphone is also located.

Do not disconnect the signal cable on the end of branches into three separate wires, each with its own connector. Among them konnektry Mini DisplayPort, USB (for connecting a hub) and the proprietary MagSafe connector to power the laptop.

Plug and play

The personal MacBook Pro was used as the source signal. All three connectors are easily connected and almost immediately after that the display is easy to determine in Mac OS X. Of course, had previously connected to a laptop keyboard, and mouse (used wireless set from the iMac), since typing on laptop and looking at the monitor, to put it mildly, is not convenient.

Organized I ligament can operate in several modes. If the laptop is open, then used just two displays: an external and in notebooks. In such a case it is possible to work with them in clone mode or extended desktop on both displays. The first option is not always convenient, since the resolution in this case is limited in that it can give a laptop. In my gadget - it is 1280x800 pixels. Although using a top-17 ki - quite convenient option. In the second case, each of the displays can be operated with its own maximum resolution. Windows easily dragged between displays, and for transferring the dock on any of the screens, it is sufficient to drag mouse Preview status bar at the top monior required in the system settings (optional - "Monitors"). By the way, if you run a video in full screen mode, then it will be displayed only on one of the displays, the second at this time goes out.

Another mode of operation, when the notebook is closed. In this case, the screen displays the familiar desktop, personal and do not have to drag. Convenient scheme came home, put the laptop to connect to it any cables klatsnul button mouse or press any key on the external keyboard, moving so the laptop from sleep and began to work with him as with a desktop PC. But in this case, it seems to me, is not worth too much CPU intensive. Still, the cooling of the laptop turns out not as effective as when open the top cover: ventilation hole already.

Impressions

I am a long-time admirer of the display, made by technology IPS. In the case of the Apple LED Cinema Display 24 "I got what I expected: a bright and juicy, so to speak, a warm picture. When standing next to a laptop with her, of course, high-quality matrix, but performed on TN + Film technology and a large monitor, without tears in the 13-inch laptop screen was hard to watch. Hey Apple - when we see IPS-matrix in laptops? Indeed, in the iPad and even there in the iPhone 4, so why MacBook Pro still confuse us faded colors and the widest viewing angles?

But, it's all a dream, in reality, we have made a stylish and very high quality display with excellent color reproduction and enhanced functionality. Web camera work, I have not tested it, but I'm sure that nothing of analogues in the iMac is not different, but listen to what are the internal speakers. Apple LED Cinema Display - it is one of the few moniorov with really high-quality integrated acoustics. It sounds loud, the bass is present, are easily distinguished mids. Some she did not win the format of a set of 2.1, but a good pair of computer speakers replaced with ease.

Of the features I drew attention to the relatively strong heating of the display at the top. Also surprised by the complete absence of any kind was the hardware buttons. If the supplied video signal, the display is turned on, if not fed - then turns off. Doing this by hand is not necessary, that, in principle, not really annoying, but somehow strange.

As for the price, in the US, it is quite adequate, but in their native lands not. On average, this beauty is offered for $ 1,300. Now you can buy a lot cheaper, and 26- or 27-inch device from another manufacturer, which will also be equipped with a matrix S-IPS. On the other hand, Apple has removed from the production of 24-inch model and I replaced it with a 27-inchWhich offers at the same price. Veteran cost was reduced by $ 100, it is possible to expect that the cheaper the unit and in the native land.

Eventually

I can not think of Apple LED Cinema Display peripheral. It is an accessory, and, by the way, it is among the accessories and is available in the online Apple Store. This gadget, complete keyboard and mouse turns the laptop into a desktop and in some cases, it is extremely convenient. For example, when a person is working with images, lots of tables, 3D-models, but at the same time it is necessary that his computer was always with him. No problem - LED Cinema Display to work the same - at home and a laptop easily runs between them. For this you can and just overpay. In other cases it is easier to add a little money and take the iMac - almost the same display (21.5 or 27 inches), but also with built-in computer. I recommend it as a monitor I will not uniquely for home Windows-based PCs. There is a much more attractive alternative proposals on the basis of IPS from other manufacturers at a lower price, but it will not have any trouble finding adapters and compatibility. Suppose they do not have an aluminum body, but functionally they are not too inferior to rival apple (can be worse color reproduction is not as uniform illumination, but it is not too critical for the average user).

In any case, LED Cinema Display - it's, like other Apple products, outstanding device that attracts the attention of users and their owners happy.

Apple LED Cinema Display 24 "for review given store "America"