A point of frustration for many Apple customers is their display offering. Basically, you can have any size Apple LED Cinema Display, as long as it’s 27″. Or more to the point, you can buy an Apple display on any budget, as long as you have $1000. Hat tip to Henry Ford.
But when you leave a gapping hole in your market offering, it doesn’t take long before someone tries to spackle in that bad boy.
Enter, the CinemaView 24″ Apple “Clone”.
I wanted to dress this post up with product shots, but the impression I get is the company doesn’t actually want you to see the whole thing. I found some images on a forum and the back of the display is a dark gray plastic, so some material costs were saved there for sure.
Speaking of cost, the display clocks in at $399. Less than half the cost of the purebred. But the question is, do you also get half the features and value?
Probably.
The main benefit, near as I can gather, is that you get an aesthetically similar product with USB ports on the back and a mini-display port.
What You Gain
- ~$500.
- Space on your physical desk’s top.
- Response time (improves gaming).
What You Lose
- A true LED and associated green benefits.
- Screen real estate (Apple is 2560 x 1440).
- Viewing angle quality.
- Brightness.
- iSight camera.
- Speakers.
- AppleCare (optional).
Is it worth it for your church or organization? I don’t know. I recently wrestled with this myself, since I was in the market for a personal use display, and I decided to pass. But, it could be a good compromise for your staff, and a way to make a new display fit an old budget.
sam (@duregger) says
I’ve had a 24″ Cinema Display for about 11 months… and as an Apple Fanboy, I can give you first hand knowledge that this screen is legitimate. I absolutely love it.
For 6 months it was the dual display for my macbook, now it is along side my iMac and integrates beautifully… everyone who has seen it thinks its an apple product, and it has run just clean. I do design, web dev, and video production on it and have had no issues.
here is more about it from my blog –> http://duregger.net/tech-corner/
Chris Ames says
Thanks Sam! Great perspective from an actual owner.
Chris Ames says
Sam:
Took a look at your post and thought more about this. Are you sure you’re comparing the same thing I am? It seems hard to believe that the CinemaView LCD compares to the newer Apple LED. Maybe at one time when the Apple version was also an LCD they were comparable, but it looks to me like Apple has upgraded the technology and CinemaView is still sitting on the older model.
sam (@duregger) says
could be… i guess the LED only truly matters for the video producer/hard core graphic designer. but for those of us on a start-up budget, this has all that we need.
so. yes, your right, it compares beautifully with the older apple cinema view model, but not with the new LED model… which is killer but also expensive.
Aaron Skinner says
I’ve never been able to convince an IT staff at either the megachurch I worked at previously or the $300mil company I work at now that Apple displays are one of a kind. I own 2 at home of the older all 23″ CinemaDisplay variety. Saved about $250 on each by buying certified refurbs direct from Apple. That’s a great way to save a few bucks on a warrantied product if they have them available. But you have to check back often…Also a store called PeachMac…a certified Apple retailed in Georgia sells a lot of refurbed products.
Chris Ames says
Aaron:
I’m a fan of buying refurb and “open box”.