iMac 20 inch vs. 24 inch display

pek2001 · pek2001 #1 (**permalink**)

02-19-2009, 06:00 PM

I am getting ready to make the plung and buy a Mac, probably a refurbished one to save some money. My question is beside the increase in processor speed options on the 24-inch iMac (and the actual size) is there any perks or better reviews on the larger display or is everything exactly the same??

opera57 · opera57 #2 (**permalink**)

02-19-2009, 06:11 PM

Apparantly the 24 inch display is a better quality display than the 20 inch, and has a better viewing angle, and also, you can only get the nvidia 8800 in the 24 inch (if you arn't interested in gaming this probs won't be an issue)

chscag · chscag #3 (**permalink**)

02-19-2009, 06:13 PM

MacWorld review here. From 2007 when the now iMac was released, but still relevant.

Regards.

anlaochfhile · anlaochfhile #4 (**permalink**)

02-19-2009, 11:29 PM

Well, I've only had my iMac 24" up and running for a week now, but I am so glad I got the 24" model. All that real estate to open things up, drag stuff off to the side, etc. I looked at both a the local Best Buy before getting mine through the online Apple Education store. I'm sure they are both great, but why not get the most screen space possible?

Just my .02

Alexis · Alexis #5 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 06:10 AM

On the other hand, 20" is fine. You will never ever think it's too small.

Quote:

but why not get the most screen space possible?

Because you have to run games at a higher resolution to get decent quality, thus making the fram rates suffer. Just an example off the top of my head.

HowGudAmI · HowGudAmI #6 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 06:58 AM

i bought the higher end 20in model and added my old monitor as a second screen (very easy to do and the cable was £15), if you dont need the power increase this is a better option because i now have 2880 x 1200 pixels of space (roughly).

+ it looks cool.

HowGudAmI · HowGudAmI #7 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 07:30 AM

YouTube - Dual Screen iMac Music Video

video of my 20in imac playing music video accross 2 screens.

mac57 · mac57 #8 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 10:23 AM

Unless Apple has changed technology, the screen display of the 24" is superior to that of the 20" - a better kind of display technology. Faster, brighter and better viewing angle. It is almost worth it to go 24" just for that. My 2 cents.

vashpr · vashpr #9 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 12:08 PM

It is good to know stuff like this. Unless apple fix the screens, the apple retailer guy told me that the only difference between the two screens was the size, quality and the brightness was the same on the two models (24 and 20).
Is it true? did apple change it in the last couple of months? BTW the retailer gave me that info 2 weeks ago.

JuanGuapo · JuanGuapo #10 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 01:39 PM

I wanted 24", wife wanted 20"....glad we went w/ the 20", the 24" wouldn't have fit as nicely in our office.

I have a 22" HP LCD display right next to it and both screens look beautiful.

gagnerants · gagnerants #11 (**permalink**)

02-20-2009, 09:47 PM

I'm using a 20" and its awesome, yes the 24" would have been nice, but it would have been over whelming. Before I got my Mac, the biggest screen I ever owned was a 17".

RobFERN · RobFERN #12 (**permalink**)

02-21-2009, 03:20 AM

If I were you, I would go for the 24"

pek2001 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 13, 2009 Location: Boise, Id USA Posts: 13 Mac Specs: iMac 24-inch 2.8GHz, 13-inch MacBook 2.4GHz, iPhone 4	02-19-2009, 06:00 PM I am getting ready to make the plung and buy a Mac, probably a refurbished one to save some money. My question is beside the increase in processor speed options on the 24-inch iMac (and the actual size) is there any perks or better reviews on the larger display or is everything exactly the same?? Last edited by pek2001; 02-20-2009 at 12:22 AM.
	QUOTE Thanks

opera57 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 19, 2009 Posts: 5	02-19-2009, 06:11 PM Apparantly the 24 inch display is a better quality display than the 20 inch, and has a better viewing angle, and also, you can only get the nvidia 8800 in the 24 inch (if you arn't interested in gaming this probs won't be an issue) Macbook Pro 15" 2.2ghz, iPhone!
	QUOTE Thanks

anlaochfhile #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 10, 2009 Location: Midwest Posts: 5 Mac Specs: iMac 24", 3.06GHz, 1TB HD; 160GB iPod; no iPhone...yet!!!!	02-19-2009, 11:29 PM Well, I've only had my iMac 24" up and running for a week now, but I am so glad I got the 24" model. All that real estate to open things up, drag stuff off to the side, etc. I looked at both a the local Best Buy before getting mine through the online Apple Education store. I'm sure they are both great, but why not get the most screen space possible? Just my .02 "We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them." - Livy
	QUOTE Thanks

mac57 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 29, 2006 Location: St. Somewhere Posts: 4,547 Mac Specs: PowerMac G5 Quad, 2.5 GHz, 4 Core, 120 GB SSD, 500 GB HDD	02-20-2009, 10:23 AM Unless Apple has changed technology, the screen display of the 24" is superior to that of the 20" - a better kind of display technology. Faster, brighter and better viewing angle. It is almost worth it to go 24" just for that. My 2 cents. My Macs: PowerMac G5 Quad, 2.5 GHz, 4 Core, Mac Pro, 3.2 GHz 8 Core, Power Macintosh 7500/100 My iStuff: 32 GB iPhone 4, 30 GB iPod Video, 16 GB iPod Touch My OS': Mac OS X Tiger, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Leopard, Mac OS 8.6, openSUSE 10.3, Win XP I was on the Mac-Forums honor roll for September 2007
	QUOTE Thanks

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iMac 20 inch vs. 24 inch display

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HowGudAmI #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 14, 2009 Location: uk Posts: 115	02-20-2009, 06:58 AM i bought the higher end 20in model and added my old monitor as a second screen (very easy to do and the cable was £15), if you dont need the power increase this is a better option because i now have 2880 x 1200 pixels of space (roughly). + it looks cool.
	QUOTE Thanks

HowGudAmI #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 14, 2009 Location: uk Posts: 115	02-20-2009, 07:30 AM YouTube - Dual Screen iMac Music Video video of my 20in imac playing music video accross 2 screens.
	QUOTE Thanks

vashpr #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 31, 2008 Location: NJ-PR Posts: 16 Mac Specs: 20" Imac 2.66 C2D 2gb Ram	02-20-2009, 12:08 PM It is good to know stuff like this. Unless apple fix the screens, the apple retailer guy told me that the only difference between the two screens was the size, quality and the brightness was the same on the two models (24 and 20). Is it true? did apple change it in the last couple of months? BTW the retailer gave me that info 2 weeks ago.
	QUOTE Thanks

JuanGuapo #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 06, 2007 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 220 Mac Specs: uMBP 2.66/4GB/320GB; iMac 2.66Ghz/4GB/320GB; Apple TV; Black iPhone 3G 16GB	02-20-2009, 01:39 PM I wanted 24", wife wanted 20"....glad we went w/ the 20", the 24" wouldn't have fit as nicely in our office. I have a 22" HP LCD display right next to it and both screens look beautiful.
	QUOTE Thanks

gagnerants #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 23, 2007 Location: Claremont, Ca Posts: 847 Mac Specs: iPod Nano 4gb, 20" 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of ram, ATI HD 2600 pro	02-20-2009, 09:47 PM I'm using a 20" and its awesome, yes the 24" would have been nice, but it would have been over whelming. Before I got my Mac, the biggest screen I ever owned was a 17".
	QUOTE Thanks

RobFERN #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 19, 2009 Posts: 38 Mac Specs: 24"	02-21-2009, 03:20 AM If I were you, I would go for the 24"
	QUOTE Thanks

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