Why would I buy an Apple Cinema Display? (And other questions).

I've been considering purchasing an Apple Cinema display, but barely know why. My home has two televisions and, although I spend most of my spare time in my room, I can't conceive why adding 8 inches to my current Macbook Pro screen makes spending $1000 worthwhile...

Quite simply, I'm having difficulty understanding why anybody would buy a laptop and then plug it into a display! A 15.4" screen has plenty of real estate; and not only that, doesn't using a display require you essentially forfeit the basic integratedness of a laptop? i.e. having the screen, mouse, keyboard, and internals all in one small place?

Just a bit confused here. Maybe someone could clear things up a bit - i.e. the types of people who buy cinema displays and their ordinary uses. Surely nobody buys these things to actually USE their laptops!

Because I have a previous gen Macbook Pro, I'd also like to know if the last generation of Cinema Displays are comparable in terms of quality to the new ones. Were they also LED backlit, or did they use an entirely different technology? I see a few used ones on the market at what seems like a fair price.

Thanks!

 

i dont think the 15.4" screen is very big. if you sit leaning back in an office chair or use an external keyboard+mouse, then you'll be moving the computer farther and father back. the advantage of having an external monitor is being able to use your laptop as a desktop... just plug in your peripherals, close the lid on the laptop and off you go.

last gen cinema displays used CCFL backlighting.

 

I guess I never thought that you could "forget about" the laptop, in the sense that you could close the lid and use a wireless keyboard etc. to interact with the external monitor.

But still...it seems a bit much, doesn't it? I mean, a commodity for "leaning back in your office chair"? It's called a LAPtop isn't it!

Hah!

 

I have 2x17" screens and it is not enough. I would love a 24" in the middle.

However, i cannot see spending the ripoff price of the apple display. The dell ones work great - even with a mac.

 

Many people like to use a full size keyboard (with a numpad) and a mouse. With a mouse you can still use with laptop, but keyboard, youre kinda forced into using another display.

Personally using a bigger screen is nicer then the laptop screen. I also prefer using a mouse over the trackpad, but i live with the trackpad most of the time.

Again, most people like having a bigger screen, with extra resolution. Also some people like to have dual displays, so thats another reason.

Another option, is many people use their laptop when theyre on the move, and outside of the house/moving around in the house. If they have an office setup at home, plugging in a bigger screen and using keyboard, mouse, and better speakers is useful.

I used to use my external display and keyboard a lot, once this year started, i havnt used it as much, ive jsut been taking my laptop around the house with me, rather then being stuck in the one room. But a bigger screen and better speakers is always nice when watching movies or tv shows. especially if its hd.

 

15 inch is tiny if you do anything more then web browsing. If you got a external monitor and closed the lid on your notebook you are a fool for wasting the screen on your notebook. Just because you have a external monitor doesn't mean you lose the use of a notebook, you can just unplug the monitor and go anywhere you need to with out needing a second computer.

I got a 24 inch and a 15 inch and sometimes I wish I had another 24.

But I would never get a Apple display unless you are doing something like photoshop for a profession.

 

lets not get this one started again.

there have been multiple threads explaining the differences between cinema displays and others, as well as discussions on why the price range is actually quite normal.

 

really? someone's a fool if they dont utilize the 15" monitor when they're at their desk? strong words...

Yes, but that doesn't mean I want to use it on my lap 24/7. Also, not all people can afford both a laptop and a desktop.

 

24" is so much bigger than 15.4" it's not even funny. I get SO frustrated with the lousy 1440x900 resolution and having 1920x1200 @ 24" is a night and day difference.

 

I'm still jealous of your MKII.