cinema display hijinks

by Simon Strantzas (procurement@loop.ca), Product Specialist

I don't usually traffic in rumours, but sometimes some things need to be addressed. As of now, Apple's most popular display, the Apple Cinema Display 23", has been discontinued. You can still buy the 20" model, or the 30" if you really need the space, but the 23" is gone, both from Apple and from the stock of the local distributors.

"But," I hear you saying, "didn't Apple announce a new 24" display?" Yes, they did. The 24" LED Cinema display certainly looks like it's meant to replace the old 23". Not only is it larger, but it also uses LED technology, making the display not only brighter, but also giving the viewer the full colour spectrum right from startup (whereas the older displays needed about ten minutes before they were operating with consistent colours). The issue with this new display is that it is designed to work with the new Macbook line only. It connects using the new DisplayPort technology discussed last month, and as of this writing there does not exist an adapter that will allow you to connect your DisplayPort monitor to your Mac Pro DVI port (though you can go the other direction, plugging your DVI display into your new Macbook's DisplayPort port). As it stands now, unless you own a model from the new Macbook line (which includes the Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, and Macbook), you cannot take advantage of the new 24" LED Display. This includes its built-in iSight camera, mic, speakers and power supply. Really, if you do own one of the new portables, the display acts as a docking station for your laptop, giving you everything you need to make your portable into a desktop, and still making it easy to disconnect when you need to travel. But if you already have a desktop like the Mac Pro, or even the Mac Mini, you are out of luck unless you are willing to try a third-party monitor.

Now, there's nothing wrong with that scenario -- there are plenty of great monitors that can compete with the discontinued Apple Cinema Display 23", and often at a cheaper cost -- but I suspect there's an answer coming soon for those of you who require something. And here's where the rumor portion of this article kicks in.

You see, next month is the Macworld Expo in San Francisco. Traditionally, this is one of the events Apple uses to announce new hardware, and this year's event will mark the one-year anniversary of the last revision to the Mac Pro line. No promises, of course, but it seems likely Apple will announce new Mac Pro builds at this event, and more likely than not these new systems will ship with ports for the new DisplayPort connection. If that's the case, then I fully expect Apple to finally release the long-awaited Cinema display revision that has been rumored to be coming now for almost two years. It was only a matter of time after all.

So if you require a 23" or 24" display now, you'll be looking at a third-party option. In the new year though, who knows?

For more info talk to your Loop corporate account manager or email sales@loop.ca.