Apple 30-inch HD monitor

Although it’s an absolute monster of a screen, Apple’s top-of-the-range, high-definition display puts in a good performance in terms of reaction times, image quality and general luminosity. Colour is fairly reproduced across the entire screen, too. No mean feat, given the inherent limitations posed by the technology. 

For graphics pros with deep pockets and a need to measure their desktop space in acres, then this is a real must have. But for the financially challenged, there’s comfort to be had in the old adage that size isn’t everything. 

Removing Apple’s top display from its packaging is an experience every Mac lover will enjoy. The first thing that’s immediately apparent is the build quality – there are no gaps between surfaces and no uncomfortable joints to fret over. Everything looks machined and purposeful. How many other displays look this delicious from the back or the sides? Not many. 

But once you’ve removed it from the box, the Cinema Display is surprisingly light, too (12.5kg, according to Apple). Despite its slightly unwieldy size, the display is also pretty easy to manoeuvre. 

For its latest generation of displays, Apple has eschewed its rather difficult attachment to the ADC connection in favour of the standard DVI adaptor. This means PC users equipped with a dual-link DVI/DDC-capable graphics card now have the option of using an Apple display without worrying about adaptors and the associated performance knock-on. 

This is a sensible move by Apple, although just how far it will get the company in a market where looks don’t count for much is another matter. The high cost of Apple’s monitor may also deter PC users used to much lower price points. 

If you’re more familiar with standard LCD or CRT screens, then the sheer strength of the light coming from Apple’s display is certainly something to behold. It’s bright, images are crisp, and there’s a good sense of depth from the blacks; even fonts are well handled, right down to a reasonably minuscule size (so typographers can rest easy). The discreet, touch-sensitive brightness controls help to tame the screen, but its strong luminosity takes a while to get used to. Still, image performance throughout is exemplary. 

Although the standard colour-correction system is available (on the Mac), we couldn’t fault the accuracy of the monitor straight out of the box – surveying large image files is a real pleasure right from the start. 

The video market is an important one for Apple and this screen will certainly cause a few hearts to flutter among edit studios the world over. Typical response times are 16ms – not the fastest, admittedly, but then Apple has always concentrated on quality over any headlong rush towards the cutting edge. For video, this is a good display, maintaining colour depth and image integrity to a high (although not amazing) standard, even with fast-moving scenes at excessive frame rates. Smaller screens may be slightly more responsive, but this is one area where size counts. 

At 29.7 inches across the diagonal, with an optimal resolution of 2,560x1,600 pixels, there’s so much space available, it makes your desktop feel like a playing field. Of course, this has its downsides (it’s easier to lose icons, for instance). Still, the obvious attraction of having enough screen space to handle a full source/record/edit set-up and an extended timeline will push all the right buttons with editors. Two people can comfortably share the same viewing space, too. 

If you still want more, then the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL graphics card is able to run a pair of 30-inch screens side by side. For high-end HD edit suites, this may well be a tempting option. 

Apple hasn’t exactly piled on the pressure as far as sweeteners are concerned. The mount doesn’t itself allow lateral swivel, although you can move the frictionless base to compensate. Nor are there any pointers for using it as a television. 

Realistically, though, such omissions aren’t going to make any difference to this screen’s target audience. Creative professionals looking for such hardware are going to be more concerned with the lack of extended warranty. In terms of stats, there’s nothing else that can compete with this display. 

The real chink in the 30-inch HD’s armour is more a matter of arithmetic. For £100 above the price of a single 30-inch HD, you could buy yourself a pair of Apple’s 23-inch Cinema Displays. And you wouldn’t have to upgrade your graphics card to the NVIDIA Ultra DDL. 

Sitting in front of a 30-inch high-definition display is certainly an impressive experience. It’s also quite commanding. From the normal viewing position, it’s almost impossible to look past the screen. This may seem like an obscure point, but it highlights an important distinction between professional and non-professional usage. This is such an event of a display that it needs to be fully justified in terms of price. 

If you really need that space and you won’t spend half your time trying to chat around it or live up to it, then the 30-inch Cinema Display is about as desirable a piece of hardware as you could wish for. It’s not the best performer in the world, but it’s certainly a compelling object.