Our only other criticism is one that's common for LCDs: there's a fair amount of ghosting in high-contrast test screens the display seems to have trouble switching from black to gray and back to black again without leaving reverse video trails. Otherwise, we see very little hue shift in the Cinema HD Display's nicely linear progression from black to white. CNET Labs' DisplayMate intensity and grayscale test screens revealed some obvious color-tracking errors very light grays have a distinctly pinkish hue.
When we hooked it up to our Power Mac G4, we were able to tweak the image using Apple's Display Calibrator Assistant. Luckily, the image quality is so good that the average Wintel user won't miss the ability to tweak contrast or individual color values. The touch-sensitive brightness-control buttons are nestled out of sight along the right-side edge of the panel (below the power button) and blend perfectly with the white plastic end pieces. If you're using the Cinema Display with a Wintel machine, the only adjustment you can make to the display's image is to its brightness. We're willing to forgive these omissions because this LCD looks so pretty, but you should know that you can get these video extras in a 23-inch LCD (such as the Planar PX212M or the HP L2035) that costs several hundred dollars less than the Apple Cinema HD Display.
But unlike many jumbo LCDs that incorporate home entertainment features such as picture-in-picture, a TV tuner, or composite and S-Video ports, the Cinema Display provides only two USB and two FireWire ports. Also, for the first time, the new Cinema Displays are compatible with VESA mounts, allowing you to attach the monitors to walls.
This generation of Cinema Displays marks Apple's return to a DVI connection (after years of using a proprietary ADC connection), making the Cinema HD Display PC compatible. The panel also tilts back and forth about 20 degrees and 5 degrees, respectively it's by far the smoothest, easiest tilt function we've ever seen in an LCD. But while the display doesn't have a hinge or a lazy Susan for swiveling left and right, the slippery aluminum base lets you accomplish the same thing by sliding the monitor around. Also, unlike many large LCDs, such as the Eizo FlexScan L885, the Cinema HD lacks the ability to pivot between Portrait and Landscape modes-a feature that would have made it even easier to view legal documents and Web pages. The neck height is fixed, so very tall users may have to set the Cinema Display on a riser (though it's almost painful to contemplate sullying the display's minimalist appearance with such a device). The simple design, however, limits the adjustments you can make to the display panel.
How much was that Apple Power Mac G5 again? In fact, hooking it up to a comparatively hideous Intel-based PC feels like such a crime that we're beginning to suspect an ulterior motive on Apple's part. It's so lovely that we're willing to forgive its high price, limited adjustability, and lack of video inputs. The 23-inch Cinema HD Display LCD, in particular, is a looker.
Thanks to a DVI connector on each and every Apple Cinema Display, PC users can now enjoy the fabulous design and stunning image quality that Apple aficionados have been luxuriating in since the iMac. Apple's latest line of Cinema Displays (available in 20-inch, 23-inch, and 30-inch models) ushers in a renewed spirit of cross-platform cooperation.