20" iMac LCD color problems?

Sorry for my English. I'm a PC user. I've got a dell notebook for my work; I’m a software architect (java/.net/oracle/etc… and all this stuff). I’ve got a 2 years old desktop PC with a 20” Dell LCD. I use this PC for mailing, browsing, chatting and so on. My wife uses this PC for editing video (home and just a bit professional). I was thinking in make a change and buy the new gorgeous 20” iMac in replace of my PC, but this review discourages me. What kind of certainty that 24” iMac display is truly 24bit and IPS. And the displays for MacBook Pro lacks the same thing?

I have returned my 20" iMac to the Apple Store twice. First time, I thought it was faulty (no-one would ship a panel *that* bad) and the second time was after the new one performed no better and I found this article.

Interestingly, the Apple Genius I returned it to didn't bat an eyelid, didn't check the receipt, he just happily swapped it out for a 24". I commented on the lack of surprise. He said the situation was 'unfortunate' but wouldn't be drawn further. I guess Apple are well aware.

24" screen is a thing of beauty but I'm still down about 200 miles on fuel carting 20" macs about.

Confirmed with apple. They agreed that the panel in 20 inch imac is 18 bit.

Never buy an imac

I can't speak for the 20", but my 24" is gorgeous. I don't see any problems, don't notice any glare or reflections (unless it's asleep, anyway) and the colors are wonderful-- everything pops off the screen.

Steve was right. SOME of us do prefer glossy.

Seriously-- If you're doing hardcore video or photoshop work, then you should be on a Mac Pro, not a prosumer product like the iMac. I'm getting a little sick of seeing people complain that the iMac can't be used for professional work! Well DUUUUHHH! Of course it can't! It's not meant for it.

Get a selection of your own displays, a Mac Pro, and go to town! The iMac is still perfect for what most people do.

So my wife and I are getting ready to buy a 20" iMac...we are not photography experts, nor do we need completely accurate color...is this a problem we need to worry about?

The screenshots of the difference between the top of the screen and the bottom of the screen were pretty scary...

The specs on the LG Philiips page for the LM201WE3 list it as 16.7m 8 bit(FRC). This is a little misleading as you'd not use FRC if it was truly 8 bit.

It is in fact 6 bit with FRC to achieve 8 bits per colour. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD for an explanation.

It's also anti glare coated underneath that glass panel so you get the worst of all possible combinations - reflective glass followed by colour reducing anti-glare coat, followed by a crappy 6bit panel. Welcome to the new Apple iMac. You can never be too crappy.

The 24" quite possibly uses a 6bit panel too as LG Phillips make a 24" model with the exact same specs as the 20", the LM240WU3(TN).

@ TestYourColor/reply#15:

I don't have to test my monitors' bit depth.

I use CRT's. GOOD ones, calibrated weekly.

:p

My aunt got a 20 inch iMac in July of 06 and the screen annoys the hell out of me. Whenever I move anything on the screen or move my eye just right I see dithering all over the screen and I can't stand it. I would have taken my PowerBook back if I could see, in my opinion, horrible artefacting like that on it.

Read the article and test the bit depth of your display here:

http://www.leppik.net/david/blog/?p=58

Yeah, my new iMac is up stairs with a shitty monitor and my network card is messed up. I have an apple genius to check out the problem on friday night and hope to have this resolved. I did hear if using a calibration on the monitor seems to work really well. I wish I still had my macbook.