add external monitor or whole new Apple?

S

shutterbug

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I need help. I'm a photographer who uses photoshop to process my images, and have been very lucky getting pretty consistent color and good images using my Titanium G4 laptop. However, it is difficult to get the screen and lighting the same each time, thus making for more work and time. Originally
I had thought about buying an external monitor -- the LaCie monitors are the
professional standard, but at $1,000 for the 19" and $1500 for the 21", pretty pricey. I tried to locate the older model CRT Electron Blue monitors,
which are actually considered better, and are cheaper, but they are no longer available. A salesperson at Superwarehouse suggested the very reasonably priced Samsung Synchmaster 1100 DF CRT monitors ($350) as a substitute for the old Electron Blues, saying he'd gotten positive feedback from graphics professionals. Then a photographer friend suggested that I
look at the iMac G5 all-in-one. He said the iMac screen had its own color calibration software and was quite good. That would satisfy my other need for a second computer, and I would have the screen too. In investigating the iMac, it was pointed out that it had only one DVI port, and was much
slower than the SuperMac (around $1700) which supposedly has better resolution as well, and would allow me to connect two additional monitors if needed.

I'm just building my business, and I'm trying to think a little ahead to what my future needs might be. I got a quote of $1500 from Super Warehouse for the
iMac, no shipping. Anybody dealt with them before?

Anyone out there have any thoughts or advice to offer? I'd be very appreciate.

Thanks.

Shutterbug
 
It sounds like you are thinking of using an iMac as an external monitor. That's not possible. The iMac is a Macintosh computer all it's own. This is fine if you're planning on upgrading from your PowerBook, but if all you need is a monitor (and a professional one at that), then you don't need the iMac. Check the Apple Store for some monitors that would be good for what you need, or some of the third party vendors like MacMall or CDW.
 
the iMac is available in two configurations, 17" and 20" the 17" screen is crap, the colours are way off, and the viewing angle is rubbish. the 20" is superb, but if all you need is the screen, the apple 20" cinema display is the same thing, just half the price of an imac.
 
Thank you for your reply. I looked at the iMac 20" and the Apple Cinema
Display tonight, and was blown away by the Cinema. However, I do need another computer, since I've been relying on my laptop, which I now take to shoots to download images as I make them and see whether I need to reshoot anything. My thinking now is that if I buy the iMac, I will be killing two birds with one stone. I compared the iMac's 20" with the Cinema display
20", and the iMac was quite impressive.

Have you ever hooked up one of the cinemas to a Powerbook like the Titanium G4?
 
well, if you are finding that you could use a second display alot, then i would get a powermac with the 20 screen, then you can add a second screen later. not only is it faster then the imac, but upgradeable. the imac is just like a powerbook w/out a battery.
 
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