YYV_146
Well-known
Too high expectations. If you wanna do all this with an iMac (or a laptop...!) then what's the point of a power mac.
edit: or mac pro or whatever it's called nowadays
A stand-alone monitor and desktop will still be cheaper - if you can live with Windows, that is.
I go mobile because I need to take my work with me. And multiple smaller monitors because sometimes I need to move and take monitors with me. Still, a 1080p monitor with 10bit and more than 100% Argb is to me infinitly more preferable than a 4k monitor with only 8bit or 6bit
Jack Sparrow
Well-known
Well, two caveats there; one's a biggie... "If you can live with Windows." Total non-starter, that one. The second is that current high-end monitors are a bit on the smaller side and/or with limited resolution. But that, one could deal with.
In the end, it really comes down to your specific needs as far as color accuracy and output... I suspect the majority would be more than happy with an 8-bit sRGB display - and you could do a lot worse than an Apple display. Though it's a shame they don't offer the matte option anymore.
Mephiloco
Well-known
There's more to a panel than resolution. Not being 10 or 12 bit kills it
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Well, two caveats there; one's a biggie... "If you can live with Windows." Total non-starter, that one. The second is that current high-end monitors are a bit on the smaller side and/or with limited resolution. But that, one could deal with.
In the end, it really comes down to your specific needs as far as color accuracy and output... I suspect the majority would be more than happy with an 8-bit sRGB display - and you could do a lot worse than an Apple display. Though it's a shame they don't offer the matte option anymore.
And don't believe that you cannot calibrate an Apple display. The new 5K display in the iMac is an unknown quantity, but I have been calibrating and profiling my Apple displays since 2002. The Thunderbolt Display 27" is very capable of being calibrated to whatever target specs you prefer. I use an ancient Xrite i1 Display (really time to update to the newest) and set calibration targets of 120 CDm^2, gamma 1.8, and 5600°K white point as it gives me the best match for how my prints will look when viewed in interior lighting.
I have no idea whether the Apple TBD27 is 8 bit, 10 bit, or whatever. It's been perfectly serviceable for producing high quality exhibition prints since I bought it a couple years ago.
G
YYV_146
Well-known
Well, two caveats there; one's a biggie... "If you can live with Windows." Total non-starter, that one. The second is that current high-end monitors are a bit on the smaller side and/or with limited resolution. But that, one could deal with.
In the end, it really comes down to your specific needs as far as color accuracy and output... I suspect the majority would be more than happy with an 8-bit sRGB display - and you could do a lot worse than an Apple display. Though it's a shame they don't offer the matte option anymore.
Unfortunately everything with Apple comes with a premium. I don't like Windows any more than another guy, but my work requires software that cannot be found on any other system, and some of the plugins I use with PS aren't very Mac-compatible as well...
I also agree that Apple's desktop panels are of very high quality. Perhaps best for consumer-level solutions, since they are reasonably well-calibrated out of box. But at the end of the day resolution really serves little purpose other than a good feel when editing (unless you go to 5k and always edit in 1:1). For anything less you'll still need to zoom in to determine effects at the pixel level.
10bit may not be needed by most people, but IMO when one shells out $2k for a monitor 10bit should be the standard. I mean, why not when you're paying *that much for a screen?
NJH
Member
Win 7 Pro is fine in my book. TBH I feel that Apple reached their zenith several years ago and since then have just been shovelling more and more pointless junk features into their OS whilst wringing every cent out of what they can in the cheap hardware dressed up stakes. I have a Win 7 desktop machine bought a few months back, photoshop flies on it and its graphics card will drive a 4K display at 60 Hz happily. The Dell 24" 4k display is in my sights and can be bought here for about £500.
uhoh7
Veteran
willie_901
Veteran
I love my Apple 27" Cinema display.
It may just be pure coincidence, but when I calibrate it with the OS X tools prints my local lab are amazing close to what I see on the screen. I accused them of modifying my files, but they swear they don't touch them. But they use Apple products as well during pre-production.
I use an ASUS PA-248 as a second monitor. It won't calibrate right and I suspect I need to buy a third-party calibration kit to optimize it.
It may just be pure coincidence, but when I calibrate it with the OS X tools prints my local lab are amazing close to what I see on the screen. I accused them of modifying my files, but they swear they don't touch them. But they use Apple products as well during pre-production.
I use an ASUS PA-248 as a second monitor. It won't calibrate right and I suspect I need to buy a third-party calibration kit to optimize it.
ruben_c
Newbie
Well calibrating with the OS X calibration tool is better then nothing. But to have reliable colors and a linearization of the color curve of your monitor, it's only possible with a sensor like f.e. Spyder4. Given that our eyes will always misinterpret relying on the ambient light brightness, color temperature and color tones around your screen.
I have a new 27" Retina iMac build-to-order 4GHz i7 in the Shopping Cart at the Apple online store. I am just waiting a week or so to consider the configuration carefully. What else should I add to the Cart? Applecare?
It will replace my late-2009 iMac 27" BTO 2.8GHz i7, which has served very well for this 5 years. Lately it has been feeling a little sluggish, and also suffers the screen smudge problem.
It will replace my late-2009 iMac 27" BTO 2.8GHz i7, which has served very well for this 5 years. Lately it has been feeling a little sluggish, and also suffers the screen smudge problem.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Certainly do AppleCare. The enhanced support and extended warranty haven't been necessary all the time, but it pays for itself if even once you need extraordinary service.
I know for my use I'd go for the 1T SSD. Expensive, but I've learned the value of that. The rest of the details ... 16 or 32G RAM, exactly which graphics card, which cpu ... I'd have to balance research and budget.
G
Thanks... How about getting Applecare later, before 1yr warranty expires, so that coverage extends further out? My current 27" iMac's screen smudge problem became evident in under 4 years...
I have the new one configured with the 4.0 GHz quad-core i7 processor upgrade, 16Gb RAM which I can expand myself later using the two empty slots. And the upgraded graphics processor as it seems to be the trend for software to hand off some processing to the graphics card. I'm thinking some future-proofing here. Wired numeric-pad keyboard, and the 3Tb fusion drive that combines flash storage with the mechanical hard drive.
How does that sound?
Doug
I have the new one configured with the 4.0 GHz quad-core i7 processor upgrade, 16Gb RAM which I can expand myself later using the two empty slots. And the upgraded graphics processor as it seems to be the trend for software to hand off some processing to the graphics card. I'm thinking some future-proofing here. Wired numeric-pad keyboard, and the 3Tb fusion drive that combines flash storage with the mechanical hard drive.
How does that sound?
Doug
Godfrey
somewhat colored
No matter when you purchase AppleCare, the extended warranty period ends 3 years (for iMac) from the original purchase date of the iMac. And it extends the free telephone support from 90 days to the full three years too. The only reason to not purchase it at the beginning is to defer the additional $170 at purchase time to a later date. That's up to you, but from experience I'll tell you that it's easy to forget to buy it later and then, 2.5 years later when you might need it, it's no longer available...
I have the new one configured with the 4.0 GHz quad-core i7 processor upgrade, 16Gb RAM which I can expand myself later using the two empty slots. And the upgraded graphics processor as it seems to be the trend for software to hand off some processing to the graphics card. I'm thinking some future-proofing here. Wired numeric-pad keyboard, and the 3Tb fusion drive that combines flash storage with the mechanical hard drive.
How does that sound?
That works well, but I'd go for the 1T internal all SSD for maximum performance with Lightroom. All my photo data is on external drives; with a 1T SSD, I have only the OS, my account files, my apps, and the LR catalog folder on the boot drive with over 400G free.
The 3T Fusion drive is probably pretty close in speed once it learns what you need on SSD vs rotating media, but it's not going to be as snappy as an all SSD solution.
G
Appreciate the clarification on Applecare and the suggestions. The 1Tb Fusion is furnished standard, with the 3Tb Fusion $150 extra, while the 1Tb SSD is $800 extra, quite a difference to consider. Figuring external drives for redundant backups, putting data on external(s) too adds to the desk clutter and tangle. The 3Tb internal keeps this simpler... and I believe it's on a fast PCI Express bus.
The 3Tb internal keeps this simpler... and I believe it's on a fast PCI Express bus.YYV_146
Well-known
Appreciate the clarification on Applecare and the suggestions. The 1Tb Fusion is furnished standard, with the 3Tb Fusion $150 extra, while the 1Tb SSD is $800 extra, quite a difference to consider. Figuring external drives for redundant backups, putting data on external(s) too adds to the desk clutter and tangle.
Practically speaking fusion is no slower than an SSD for the majority of user scenarios. I wouldn't go for the full 1Tb unless I know I need fast access to large amounts of data.
Samouraï
Well-known
Has anyone received their 5K iMac yet?
Also, I'd love to hear some recommendations for 10 and 12-bit monitors.
Also, I'd love to hear some recommendations for 10 and 12-bit monitors.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Appreciate the clarification on Applecare and the suggestions. The 1Tb Fusion is furnished standard, with the 3Tb Fusion $150 extra, while the 1Tb SSD is $800 extra, quite a difference to consider. Figuring external drives for redundant backups, putting data on external(s) too adds to the desk clutter and tangle.
As I said, the fusion is probably very close.
I keep my data on externals because I swap machines around often due to my work. So my desktop has an array of six multi-terabyte drives and my computer has a relatively modest 1T... ;-)
G
Paddy C
Unused film collector
I've never bought Apple Care and, knock on wood, never needed it. So over the past 16 years that's been three computers and a savings of something like $700.
If I were to buy an iMac, however, I would seriously consider it.
I've become so used to having a high-quality, wide-gamut, matte, hardware calibrated display that I don't think I could ever buy an iMac even though they are very nice and increasingly good value in relation to the expensive new Mac Pros. Still, I'm not looking forward to replacing my current Mac Pro as it is looking like it will be rather expensive.
If I were to buy an iMac, however, I would seriously consider it.
I've become so used to having a high-quality, wide-gamut, matte, hardware calibrated display that I don't think I could ever buy an iMac even though they are very nice and increasingly good value in relation to the expensive new Mac Pros. Still, I'm not looking forward to replacing my current Mac Pro as it is looking like it will be rather expensive.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
You saved $44 a year on that basis, and accepted the risk that at any time after the standard warranty ran out on any of your machines you have needed a $500+ logic board, etc.
It's a choice we have to make, for sure. Just like spending the extra for an OEM battery instead of a third party battery in order to save $40 on a battery for a $3000 camera, etc. The third party batteries work fine 95% of the time, but there are those who happen to be in that missing 5%.
(Of course, you can also plug your high gamut, hardware calibrated display into the iMac as well. It supports a second display.)
G