It has been two and half geezerhood since Apple introduce the 30 - inch Cinema HD Display ( ) . At that time , the toll put this widescreen admonisher far out of reach of mainstream Apple fan ( $ 3,000 plus a required Power Mac G5 equipped with a dual - link Nvidia graphics card be between $ 500 and $ 600 ) , making it the ultimate Mac status symbol . And though they ’re hardly commonplace even now , 30 - inch show from Apple are priced $ 1,000 less than they used to be and now mould with off - the - shelf MacBook Pro and Mac Pro systems .
But now , there ’s contention . Hewlett - Packard ’s 30 - inch LP3065 showing boasts the same , almost intimidating , screen size and resolution , while add height adjustment and shaving off a couple of milliseconds from the pixel reaction meter — and it ’s less expensive than the Apple presentation .
The LP3065 screen ships separately from its stand , but crack it in piazza was a breeze . I connect it to the treble - link DVI port on the Nvidia 2700 GT that make out received on the Mac Pro . I did have an takings with getting the show to figure out at first , but I ’ll concede that it was operator computer error . I learned the voiceless way that three-fold - nexus monitors require dual - connexion overseas telegram . Many companies do n’t let in DVI cables in the box seat ; HP include not just one , but two cables . A very abbreviated call to the company gave me the info I needed .
Once I used the correct cable television service , the LP3065 came up in its aboriginal 2,560 - by-1,600 pixel solving . It did , however , seem to have a bit of a gullible color cast , but that was eliminated after hardware calibration . One thing to notice , the display has no controls for adjusting line or colour temperature , so software calibration is difficult . Text was clear and easy to read , even at small point sizes . Colors were accurate when viewed on the calibrate display , though a little muted . The display loses some direct contrast when viewed from an angle of about 45 degrees or more from the center , but it was n’t regretful , and with the size of this display , three or four people can get a good view when accumulate around the filmdom .
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Macworld’s buying advice
If you consider freehanded is beautiful , then check out the LP3065 wide - screen LCD from Hewlett - Packard . feature many of the same specification as the Apple 30 - column inch Cinema HD Display , while adding more flexibility and a lower price , the LP3065 is a solid all - around performer that will make you the enviousness of all who see you using it .
[ James Galbraith isMacworld ’s research laboratory director . ]
