Hate wishy-washy reviews? You won’t find one here. Apple’s 30-inch
Cinema HD Display is the best computer monitor I’ve ever used (or have
ever seen anyone else use). Period. Why is it the best? That takes a
bit of explaining. Many video professionals have avoided LCD displays
because the range of colors is limited when compared with CRT displays.
In addition, the slow pixel response rate with LCD screens often
creates a slight lag with fast-moving video or graphics. This latest
generation of Apple LCD monitors effectively eliminates both issues.
Because it’s also brighter and sharper than a CRT, this screen will
likely become an essential buy for high-end video editing, fashion
photography, magazine publishing and similar applications where
previously only a CRT would do.

The increased sharpness can be partly attributed to the fact that the
Cinema HD Display is connected digitally. To achieve the full 2560 x
1600 resolution, you’ll need a special graphics card, such as the
nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL, with a dual-link DVI connector. This
particular card has two dual-link DVI ports, which let you run two
30-inch Cinema HD Displays simultaneously. While Apple couldn’t
officially confirm that the monitor will work with a PC, the product
manager indicated it should work with any Mac or PC graphics card that
adheres to the dual-link specifications.

Apple claims the Cinema HD Display’s color gamut is essentially the
same as a professional-quality CRT. The increased brightness of this
display compared with a CRT creates the perception it has an even wider
color range, especially in a room with a significant amount of ambient
light. As a testament to its color fidelity, the Cinema HD Display is
the first display-based proofing system to receive SWOP (Specifications
for Web Offset Publications) certification. As a result, it can be used
instead of test prints to approve color accuracy in offset press
productions.

The screen’s 16 ms pixel response rate should be fast enough for all
but the most movement-critical work. It is not quite state-of-the-art,
as several manufacturers are now shipping LCD displays with
single-digit response times.

Aside from the spectacular screen, the rest of the monitor is a model
of simplicity. There are only three controls, and they’re hidden on the
side. Two buttons control the brightness, and a third controls the
power. Because the monitor is connected digitally, there’s no need for
quality or geometric adjustments. The screen rests on a slender base
and tilts from 5 degrees down to 25 degrees up. Despite the size, you
can adjust the angle with very little pressure. It almost feels too
loose, and only time will tell if the hinge can hold the screen in any
position indefinitely. The specs list a 170-degree viewing angle both
vertically and horizontally. I saw very little drop-off in brightness
or color accuracy when moving my head to the side of the display.

In evaluating the monitor, I supplemented the standard test patterns
with photos captured with my Canon Digital Rebel. I favored shots of
familiar subjects so I could more closely judge the color accuracy.
Because the resolution of the Digital Rebel exceeds the resolution of
the monitor, I was able to fill the screen with the image. I didn’t
scale the images in any way, in order to keep a pixel-to-pixel
relationship between the photos and screen. I also used the photos in
their Raw format, so compression artifacts wouldn’t
be an issue. As a result, the colors were remarkably true to life, and
objects were tact sharp. I’ve seen a lot of computer monitors over the
years, and nothing can compare with this monitor’s overall color
rendition, edge-to-edge sharpness, tonal evenness, and
content-appropriate brightness. Spend a few minutes with this screen,
and you’ll never want to settle for anything else.

LCDs have always been trimmer, but traditionally, the range of colors
on LCD displays has been limited when compared with CRT displays. In
addition, the slow pixel response rate with LCD screens often creates a
slight lag with fast-moving video or graphics. The new Apple LCD
monitors eliminate both of these issues and can easily be used in
high-end environments where previously only CRTs would do.

Is this monitor good enough to replace a broadcast monitor in a
professional video-editing setup? Apple seems to think so. I’m not so
sure. While you may no longer need a broadcast monitor to judge color
accuracy, there’s something to be said for viewing your video in the
format it’s destined for. Just as music producers often use a cheap set
of speakers to judge how the audio mix will sound in real-life
situations, you’ll want to hold onto your broadcast monitor to get a
feel for how your video will play on a living-room CRT.

The Cinema HD Display is clearly a benchmark in the movement away from
CRTs, which can’t reach the higher resolutions that LCD, OLED and
similar display technologies are capable of presenting. It’s a brave
new world for resolution and sharpness in video, and CRTs won’t be able
to take us there.

The Screen:
Who says an LCD screen can’t compete with a CRT? Apple’s 30-inch Cinema
HD Display has essentially the same color gamut as a
professional-quality CRT. It’s also brighter than a CRT, which gives
the impression of an even wider color range.

Bezel: This latest generation of Apple displays has a thinner bezel than
previous generations. The recommended nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL
graphics card can feed two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays, so you
might place the two monitors beside each other or place one on top of
the other.

Monitor Stand: You can tilt the screen from 5 degrees down to 25
degrees up. There’s no provision for lateral movement, though you can
always slide the entire monitor left or right. You probably won’t need
to move it at all, as the display has a 170-degree viewing angle both
vertically and horizontally.

Controls: Hidden from view are the monitor’s three control buttons.
Those are the only controls that are needed. Because the monitor is
connected digitally, you don’t need the quality and geometric settings
that are typically found on a CRT monitor.