iMac 20" or 24"

develove

I was waiting for iMac refresh for the past two months. Now that the new iMacs are released, I can finally make the decision to buy refurb. But which one?

iMac 20-inch 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
20-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory

or

iMac 24-inch 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
24-inch glossy widescreen display
2GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory

The most noticable difference is 2-inch of display. I am sure I won't notice the 0.2GHz CPU difference. My question is, is it worth the extra $200?

I heard some bad things about the 20-inch display so I am slightly inclinded to buy the 24-incher, although at this point, the wife is convinced that it would be too big for our desk.

Thanks for your attention and intelligent input.

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MacBook Pro Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz/2GB RAM/80GB HD

fyrefly

I do my panel rant again...

The 20" iMac has a 6-bit TN Panel LCD screen. Otherwise it's great, and probably more computer than anyone who uses it ever needs.

The 24" iMac has an 8-bit PVA Panel LCD. It's a way better quality, can actually display more colours (without dithering), displays more accurate colours, and has way better viewing angles.

Here's a picture of a TN beside a PVA for viewing angles... the colours and brightness all drop off significantly when you're at all off-axis.

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eMacMan

If you can afford it financially and spatially go with the 24 incher. You will notice the display difference especially if you like to tweak your own photos before having a colour lab print them. Also easier to get an inkjet printer to match the display. Using a dithered display (20") is more of a mid nineties thing. It was a temporary solution to weak video cards and slow processors. Both issues are relics of the last millennium and it is disgraceful that Apple is still using a monitor that requires dithering on a computer that is otherwise absolutely superb.

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Do NOT Touch this computer!!! Touching this computer WILL cause irreversible brain damage.

IAmCanadian

I bought the 20" after months of indecision and I made the wrong decision. Thankfully, Apple is saving my butt and letting me exchange it for a 24" (refreshed model no less) well beyond their exchange period.

Why the 24"? Screen Screen Screen. Size really does matter on this one. Additionally, if you love iPhoto and work with any mass of images the extra square inches and resolution will matter.

develove

Thanks, guys. Your comments did help me make a sound decision.

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MacBook Pro Intel Core Duo 1.83GHz/2GB RAM/80GB HD

Murph

Ohhh the $1399 price tag on that makes it so appealing. I would definitely go for the 24" for the difference in the screen alone, let alone the faster processor. Too bad I don't need a new desktop right now! I will seriously consider a refurbished product next time.

chas_m

Fyrefly:

Thanks for bringing a level of realism and accuracy to the "here we go again" issue of 6-bit v 8-bit screens.

As most computer users do not spend much time looking at their computers at odd angles, this is not as big an issue as some people make out for typical users. But for people who need something better than yer basic LCD, the 8-bit screens are visibly a better choice.

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Cheers
chas_m

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mac_geek

In a related question, I've read that 6 bit panels have faster refresh rates than 8 bit panels. How does this manifest itself in real world computing? Is there ghosting when watching videos on the 24" iMac? Depending on the OP's needs, this may be a factor...

eMacMan

I have seen a 20" iMac side by side with a 24" iMac. Both had the same desktop image but the 20" showed a halo effect in areas that were clean gradients on the 24". Problem becomes more obvious when you use PC rather than Mac gamma setting. If you are working with photos you should of course use PC gamma settings as prints from your printer or your favourite photo lab will come much closer to matching your display. Also a good idea if you email photos to Windozed friends.

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Do NOT Touch this computer!!! Touching this computer WILL cause irreversible brain damage.

G4Ever

Hello!

I was in the imac frame of mind a few years ago. I was tired at looking
at my smaller Apple LCD screen from my Power Mac G4 (466Mhz)
I decided to buy the Imac 24" Dual Core 2.8Ghz model instead
of the smaller 20"imac. There is no problem with screen glare, or
Ilife programs. I have been using idvd, itunes, iphoto
this machine really is amazing.

I don't know you budget, but I quite enjoy the larger
24" screen to preview DVDs & photos! Hope this helps!

May the imac be with you

G4Ever