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Author Topic: 30" Display for New MacBook Pro?  (Read 6894 times)

jreederphoto

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« on: May 27, 2009, 11:55:00 am »

Hi All,

I did a bit of searching and found all sorts of different info.  I have a 15" New model, macbook pro with 9600M GT...anyway want to get a new 30" external display to replace my Dell 2405 LCD.  

Can't decide between 30" Apple Cinema Display or the 30" NEC MultiSync LCD3090WQXi aka LCD3090W

I own an xrite i1Display 2, and am a working commercial pro.  I hear the 30" ACD will be phased out or replaced with who knows what? maybe a glossy LED?  I'm guessing the NEC is a "better" display in terms of color performance...but i'm a little turned off by some of the "possible" compatibility issues with os x and spectraview software. Seems like there are workarounds...but i'm tired of workarounds...want it to just work.

I know some people are buying the monitor and using their existing i1display setups...but if you don't go with the spectraview setup...maybe might as well just go with the ACD?

Hoping someone can chime in and say they've been using the NEC with no problems and my setup:)

thanks in advance!

Jordan
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Gellman

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2009, 02:50:56 pm »

According to other posts on this forum, the problems only occur with some ATI brand video cards and with older non-Intel based Macs. A new MacBook Pro is Intel based and uses an nVida Ge-Force video card. You should have nothing to worry about. I recently switched from a Sony Artisan to a new NEC 2690 with Spectraview II and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.
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richardhagen

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2009, 09:31:26 pm »

Quote from: jreederphoto
Hi All,

I did a bit of searching and found all sorts of different info.  I have a 15" New model, macbook pro with 9600M GT...anyway want to get a new 30" external display to replace my Dell 2405 LCD.  

Can't decide between 30" Apple Cinema Display or the 30" NEC MultiSync LCD3090WQXi aka LCD3090W

I own an xrite i1Display 2, and am a working commercial pro.  I hear the 30" ACD will be phased out or replaced with who knows what? maybe a glossy LED?  I'm guessing the NEC is a "better" display in terms of color performance...but i'm a little turned off by some of the "possible" compatibility issues with os x and spectraview software. Seems like there are workarounds...but i'm tired of workarounds...want it to just work.

I know some people are buying the monitor and using their existing i1display setups...but if you don't go with the spectraview setup...maybe might as well just go with the ACD?

Hoping someone can chime in and say they've been using the NEC with no problems and my setup:)

thanks in advance!

Jordan


The 30" Nec is a wonderful monitor. To be compatible with the MBPs you must keep this in mind (scroll down to the text in red which refers to the monitor compatibility with MBPs):
http://tinyurl.com/clpj7z

rh


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Phil Indeblanc

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #3 on: June 18, 2009, 03:47:42 am »

I have worked on the NEC(26"version) and had a AppleCD(30"), I would get the NEC without a second thought(thinking it is like the 26").
You also might consider the Samsung XL30-LED display, I think prices have come down, and it is nothing but a pleasure to work on, and dead accurate compared to anything available.  no flicker( you will know it whenyou see 2 displays side(LCD) by side(LED)). Other plus's... minimal heat, the color accuracy will not degrade over time, less calibrations.  I think HP recently released an LED version, which might even be a redo of the XL30?  
Just something to consider, and knowing your options.
« Last Edit: June 18, 2009, 03:48:06 am by Phil Indeblanc »
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digitaldog

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #4 on: June 18, 2009, 09:00:00 am »

I'm quite pleased with my NEC 3090 (it is huge). With the SpectraView II software, wonderful. There's nothing at all special about the Apple line of displays. In fact, there are some rather poor things about them.
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jreederphoto

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #5 on: June 18, 2009, 02:13:42 pm »

Quote from: digitaldog
I'm quite pleased with my NEC 3090 (it is huge). With the SpectraView II software, wonderful. There's nothing at all special about the Apple line of displays. In fact, there are some rather poor things about them.


Ok great, thanks guys!

Jordan
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richardhagen

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2009, 03:06:01 pm »

Quote from: digitaldog
I'm quite pleased with my NEC 3090 (it is huge). With the SpectraView II software, wonderful. There's nothing at all special about the Apple line of displays. In fact, there are some rather poor things about them.

I agree with you re: the 3090 but as far as I could tell, you can't calibrate this monitor using the SpectraView II software with the latest MBPs.

rh
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digitaldog

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2009, 03:07:42 pm »

Quote from: richardhagen
I agree with you re: the 3090 but as far as I could tell, you can't calibrate this monitor using the SpectraView II software with the latest MBPs.

Don't know about the latest MBP's but I was able to do this with the 2690 off my Intel Macbook Pro of several generations ago. So what's keeping the latest MBP's from doing so?
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jreederphoto

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2009, 03:52:42 pm »

Quote from: digitaldog
Don't know about the latest MBP's but I was able to do this with the 2690 off my Intel Macbook Pro of several generations ago. So what's keeping the latest MBP's from doing so?

Here is some print in red from NEC's website, this is why i'm a little wary,

"Mac OS 10.5.6 prevents SpectraView from being able to communicate with the display monitor on PPC based Macs and some Intel based Macs. Customers should update to Mac OS 10.5.7 to avoid this issue. If upgrading to Mac OS 10.5.7 does not fix this issue, and you are using an Nvidia video card, please contact NEC Technical Support directly for assistance.
 

The 13-inch MacBook, and 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros with Mini DisplayPort video outputs released by Apple in October 2008 and January 2009 require Mac OS 10.5.7 in order to work with SpectraView using the DisplayPort to SingleLink DVI adapter from Apple. SpectraView will not be able to calibrate NEC monitors when using Mac OS 10.5.6 and earlier on these machines.

The DisplayPort to DualLink DVI adapter required to run the LCD3090WQXi at native resolution (2560x1600) is not yet compatible with SpectraView. It is recommended to use the DisplayPort to SingleLink DVI adapter from Apple to calibrate the display, then switch back to the DisplayPort to DualLink DVI adapter in order to use the native resolution of the display.
 

The following models released by Apple in March 2009 have not yet been tested by NEC for compatibility with SpectraView. Compatibility information for these models will be posted as it becomes available.:
MacMini with Mini DVI and Mini DisplayPort outputs
iMacs with Mini DisplayPort output"
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digitaldog

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30" Display for New MacBook Pro?
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2009, 03:59:00 pm »

Quote from: jreederphoto
Here is some print in red from NEC's website, this is why i'm a little wary,

"Mac OS 10.5.6 prevents SpectraView from being able to communicate with the display monitor on PPC based Macs and some Intel based Macs. Customers should update to Mac OS 10.5.7 to avoid this issue. If upgrading to Mac OS 10.5.7 does not fix this issue, and you are using an Nvidia video card, please contact NEC Technical Support directly for assistance.
 

The 13-inch MacBook, and 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros with Mini DisplayPort video outputs released by Apple in October 2008 and January 2009 require Mac OS 10.5.7 in order to work with SpectraView using the DisplayPort to SingleLink DVI adapter from Apple. SpectraView will not be able to calibrate NEC monitors when using Mac OS 10.5.6 and earlier on these machines.

The DisplayPort to DualLink DVI adapter required to run the LCD3090WQXi at native resolution (2560x1600) is not yet compatible with SpectraView. It is recommended to use the DisplayPort to SingleLink DVI adapter from Apple to calibrate the display, then switch back to the DisplayPort to DualLink DVI adapter in order to use the native resolution of the display.
 

The following models released by Apple in March 2009 have not yet been tested by NEC for compatibility with SpectraView. Compatibility information for these models will be posted as it becomes available.:
MacMini with Mini DVI and Mini DisplayPort outputs
iMacs with Mini DisplayPort output"

I know 10.5.7 fixed the PPC issue. Not sure about the MBP's but anyone with both products and that newer OS should be able to let you know. My MPB is older (no DisplayPort) and as I said, runs fine.
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