In case you missed it, in the storm of coverage following Apple’s MacBook Pro event last week, Nilay Patel has been told that Apple is leaving the standalone display business.
In case you missed it, in the storm of coverage following Apple’s MacBook Pro event last week, Nilay Patel has been told that Apple is leaving the standalone display business.
MacRumor’s Eric Slivka reports that Apple prematurely posted images to their website depicting an unannounced Cinema Display with Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt port on these new Cinema Displays will allow users to daisy chain two displays from a single Thunderbolt port on a compatible Mac.
As soon as these displays were leaked I priced out one of them with a Mac Mini and MacBook Air. I’m not sure if the Cinema Display will make it into the final purchase next week, but now I’m even considering two MacBook Airs and a Mac Mini instead of the Air, Mini, and Cinema Display. Apple sure has a way of making me change my mind at the last minute.
Charlie Sorrel, of Wired, points out that the newly announced 27-inch iMac is only $100 less than Apple’s 30-inch Cinema Display. At prices like that, a few questions come to mind:
We’ve all known that Apple charges too much for their displays but the comparison of pricing between the 27-inch iMac and the 30-inch Cinema Display really showcases that. The 27-inch is $100 cheaper, includes a whole computer, and uses a better display technology. The 30-inch is over priced and aging.
So when is Apple going to add some life to their line of displays? The 24-inch is modern but it’s the smallest display Apple offers and costs a whopping $899. The only other display Apple offers is twice the price — there are two displays — it’s hard to even call it a “line” anymore. Apple should give up on the 30-inch and just offer two models, a 21.5 and a 27-inch. This would simplify their offerings and lower the number of LCD panels they have to purchase.
The 27-inch iMac can even be used as an external display. DisplayPort is a two-way connector and with an adapter (sold separately) you can connect another computer, or nearly anything with video output to it. The 27-inch iMac is a much better buy than the 30-inch Cinema Display.
So, knowing all this, why would anyone purchase the 30-inch display? That’s a question I ask myself every time I see someone using one.
