Reviews for Apple LED Cinema Display (27" flat panel)

Have had this monitor for over a year and been using it with my MacBook Pro. Every part of this monitor just screams "class" and love the design element that matches my MacBook.

The largest surprise was how amazing the audio from this monitor really is. All streamed over the MDP or USB (your choice) and just for general listening to music in iTunes, this is the absolute best sound you can find aside from buying a external set of quality speakers. I myself prefer less cable clutter.

All hasn't been perfect though as I've gotten low voltage warnings just from a standard Apple Keyboard with numerical pad and a corded Apple mouse attached to the keyboard. Simply swapped USB ports on the back of the ACD and never seen the error again.

It amazes me how bright this display is with uniform lighting. Considering that, I haven't had any dark spots or other quality control issues.

Overall, if you own an older Core 2 Duo MacBook or Mac Mini or even a full on Mac Pro. This display is the perfect companion for all of them.

If it's any indication on how well this display is built and still being sold to this day, this is one purchase I've never regretted making.

Bravo Apple on a great monitor for us shutterbugs!

A huge investment for my start-ups, used with a Mac Pro quad for a digital photo lab, was well worth the money over an off brand cheap-o. While there is credence to some other posts about gloss, this only seems to be an issue when backlit (e.g. you have your display in front of a window).

What really makes this worth it is the size? it allows me to work on images in near real scale with room for my tool bars which keeps me from zooming in and out constantly.

What really makes it worth the money? It is a simple, elegant multifunctional interface that renders true colors right out of the box. What I get on the screen is what I get in a print.

The visual quality of the display is stunning. Deep, deep blacks and rich colors. Super accurate color profile. Brilliant super high contrast screen. I have found mine to be reliable and it just works. I have not found the reflection noted by others to be a problem if your workstation is set up properly.

The 3 foot cord is not an issue for me since my MacPro sits sideways next to the monitor, however, I do know lots of office set ups that the CPU sits under the desk/worktable, and this requires an extension to do. For a 1K USD display this a hassle no one needs and makes no logical sense. I do find it strange that there is no height adjustment for ergonomics. Since I am very tall, >2m, this is not good. I find that the old height boosters used for the old CRTs work fine, but again for a one grand machine, it is a hassle no one needs. I take note that the new iMac8s still don't have height adjustment... On the electronics side, I note that this thing still has USB2 ports, again for the price you would think it have USB3 ports,...but on the other hand my nearly new MacPro doesn't either... But for ordinary stuff connected to the monitor, like keyboards, drawing pads, etc it works OK. I hate to say this, but with Steve Jobs gone, Apple does need a real computer geek with attention to detail to make the final call on what goes in the machine, not the mad money men.

My monitor does what I need it to, and does it better than anything else out on the market, and its design limitations I can and do work around with no problem. I suspect most everyone else can as well. I do strongly recommend that everyone that gets this monitor or its Tbolt twin buy Apple Care, since it the reliability seems to be less than normal Apple standards.

This is by far the best monitor out there. I liked it so much I bought a second one. Nothing can compare to how crisp the images are on this thing. Two other people from my office bought them and they fell in love with them also. I truly will never buy a different brand monitor as long as Apple keeps producing these.

love, love, love, love,love,love this display. In case I was not clear.... I love this display!

I have waited a few months after purchasing this display to be sure it wasn't just a matter of being in love with it because it is gorgeous and typically Apple looking. It suits my environment well. I'm using it with a 2009 MBP 17", and have done dual displays, though with the real estate on this display, I find it's easier to just run in clam shell with the MBP sitting in a cradle. I was a little frustrated that the Thunder Bolt display would not work with my MBP, and shelling out the same dollars for what is arguably an older design without the latest features, but I honestly have no need for Thunder Bolt at this time anyway, and when it comes time to need it, I'll likely need a new display anyway. There is some reflectivity from the gloss panel, but I rarely notice it, and I'm in a bright room near a window. Once you are accustomed to the gloss you will hardly notice it, and the picture is gorgeous. You will not be disappointed.

This is easily the best display I've ever owned. I read all the reviews and horror stories about the glare, but decided to buy it anyways and I'm glad I did!! The monitor resides in a well lit room with a window directly behind the monitor. As long as sun isn't directly shining onto my face, the glare isn't noticeable at all. After reading reviews here and elsewhere I thought it would be horrible, but it's really not bad at all, low enough to be a non-issue.

This is a fantastic monitor, bright, detailed, crisp with fantastic color. I will definitely be picking up a second one of these for my desk. Best computer purchase I've made in a long time.

I have almost nothing but praise for this incredible display.

The image quality is simply stunning. I previously had a professional grade flatscreen CRT and this monitor matches, if not exceeds the picture quality. Calibration out of the box is practically perfect. I was pleasantly surprised to find that though as listed it only tilts 10 degrees, it is plenty of play to adjust to a comfortable viewing angle. Like most Apple products, setting this up was fast and simple and I was ready to go in a few minutes.

The design and finish are beautiful and perfectly compliment my Mac Pro. The high gloss surface does act somewhat like a mirror - when it's turned off. Like any other high-gloss black surface does. I had no issues whatsoever with reflection on the screen. I have a window to my left, lights above, beside and behind me, and a 50" plasma tv on the opposite side of the room and no difficulty clearly seeing what's on the screen in front of me. I had more of an issue with the display reflecting on my plasma, easily rectified by turning the Cinema Display off. I've been a professional graphic designer for over 20 years and for the life of me cannot fathom what other so-called "professionals" are complaining about. Headaches? That's Darwinism in action. I have sat for hours at this display with no ill effects.

The three additional USB ports means I can get rid of my hub. Printer, scanner, iPhone, iPod, external drive and keyboard all plugged in at a much less cluttered work station. HDMI? Why? This is a monitor, not a television. And I have watched DVDs and streaming broadcasts perfectly on it. The addition of an internal blu-ray player and now available software for playback means I can watch whatever I choose without any need for HDMI. A few comparable monitor reviews have rated one or two slightly higher than the Apple Cinema Display, mostly due to connectivity issues: not enough USBs, no HDMI. Those aren't shortcomings, that's whining over nothing. Except you will find that every single one of those reviews fails to point out the Cinema Display comes with built-in speakers, microphone and camera where the others don't. Tack on another hundred bucks or so to the other guys' monitors and then compare. The only niggle I can think of is the glow at the corners when the image filling the screen is completely black, though this is common in LEDs, minimal, and does not affect the image when there is actual content.

Game play is at a new level. Despite the higher response time than the 2ms display I have at the office, I find no difference in motion. The speakers sound great with a pleasant amount of low end. Colours and visuals are second to none. Photo definition is unreal and detail at low and high-end viewing percentages is remarkable. It's perfect for photo editing.

Professional, gamer or surfer, buy this display.

When I read some of the negative reviews of this monitor I find it hard to believe we're talking about the same product. I have been a professional photographer and videographer for more than 30 years and I have found this monitor to be one of the best I have ever used, including some that cost considerably more.

The main complaint seems to focus on the glossy monitor face. It's interesting that some of the so-called "pros" here admitted that they do their critical editing at their kitchen table or in a brightly lit office. This is nutsI. Everyone I know whose livelihood depends on critically accurate, repeatable color has a work room with subdued lighting. In fact, that's a requirement for most monitor calibrators. The glossy surface presents a saturated, sharp image that is beautiful to behold with no reflection problem whatsoever in a room with subdued lighting.

I employ a total color-managed workflow from camera to printing press, and this was one of the easiest monitors to professionally calibrate. It was not overly saturated or too bright (as many other monitors are) and the difference between before and after calibration was slight

What about more casual users in brighter rooms? Here I think the room configuration and personal taste will be most important. When I'm not doing critical work and open the windows shades that are to the immediate right of the monitor, the reflections don't bother me even though I'm now fairly brightly lit. When I open the shades behind me I can see the window reflection, but, it's no worse that my beloved iPad. Usually tilting the monitor (practical because of the great viewing angle) solves the problem. But, obviously, some can tune out reflections better than others.

My only complaint: the short 4' cords. I understand why Apple made the cords short (to eliminate desktop clutter for MacBook users) but they should have included an extension for the many MacPro users like me who find it about 2 feet too short.

This monitor isn't for everybody, but, for me it's been the perfect balance of quality, usability, and price.

While it may seem expensive at first, I found that monitors with similar specs were either priced around the same or higher, but they all lack a few very important things... The power, mini-displayport and USB connectors, which allow the monitor to act as a docking station for my MacBook Pro. That alone makes it worth the price.

Awesome product.