[coreai]

After using a rMBP for 6 years, I realized that using a lower resolution and lower quality display makes absolutely no sense at all if both graphical power and budget is available (first 13' rMBP had some serious issue driving the display). Better quality image is better quality image. I think Apple's biggest selling point over any vendor right now, despite numerous issues with its hardware and software in the recent past, is absolutely top class input and output. It is such a simple concept. A great keyboard (seems to be fixed now) and absolutely incredible trackpad experience along with a display that basically is a huge step up from your past experience means that most users will prefer that setup even if they just use it for basic coding or web browsing. After looking at the first retina displays I realized that Apple didn't just change the displays but it changed how fonts behaved completely because the crisp and clear legibility was key to attract customers early on. I'd say even in 2020 most computers are struggling with good displays which can completely ruin the experience for someone using the product even if every other aspect of it was great.

[bredren]

I've been focused on Apple display products for the past few months as I'm looking to make an upgrade from the Dell P2715Q 4k 27" I use primarily for development.

There is a three page thread on using the Apple 32" XDR for software dev on MacRumors. [1]

I believe there is a major product gap at Apple right now in the mid-market display. Specifically a replacement for the LED 27" Cinema Display which was announced 10 years ago next month. [2]

I am speculating that Apple could announce a new 27" 5k in part because of the rumored announcement of a new Mac Pro but also because the build quality of the LG 5k Ultrafine is just not great and there are obvious synergies with XDR production and Mac Pro.

I think this should be announced at WWDC is because developers specifically are being left out of good display products and Apple should be looking out for what they stare at all day.

While there are no supply chain rumors of such a display, I wargamed what this product might be and its pricing anyway.[3]

In short, I speculate Apple will release a 27 inch IPS display, 5120 x 2880 @ 60Hz with standard glass at $1999, Nano-texture Glass at $2799.

I had not paid a lot of attention to the refresh rate, but it does seem like kind of a miss that the XDR does nor offer this.

---

[1] https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/xdr-for-software-dev.22...

[2] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2010/07/27Apple-Unveils-New-2...

[3] https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/wishful-thinking-wwdc-d...

[caymanjim]

I have a Dell P2715Q and I'm happy with it. I haven't tried anything with a higher resolution or DPI, but I can't see any individual pixels on the Dell, so for the moment, it's good enough for me.

I can't go back to sub-4k though. Looking at a 24" 1920x1080 monitor tweaks my brain. Pixels ahoy. It's jarring. I'm not the kind of person who cares about superficial things or style or brand at all, but I just can't get comfortable with sub-4k anymore.

Be very wary of Apple monitors. If you can, try one out in the environment you intend to use it in, before you commit. Apple displays are highly reflective. The glare is obscene. The display quality is great, but I can't deal with the eye strain. It's like there's a mirror glaze on top. They used to offer a matte option, but I don't believe they do anymore. It's painful.

[rootusrootus]

> 27 inch IPS display, 5120 x 2880 @ 60Hz with standard glass at $1999

That's $200 more than it costs with the computer built in. Would rather see it more aggressively priced, or at least bring back target mode.

[ksec]

I kind of thinking such Display's "Design" could overlap with the new iMac. One reason Apple used to having a "Chin" in the iMac was to distinguish it as a Computer and not a Monitor / Cinema Display. Judging from the leaks, New iMac would not have a Chin at all, and since there is no similar sized Cinema Display in the Line up this doesn't really matter.

I just wish they bring back Target Mode, or something similar to iPad's SideCar.

[gonehome]

I really wanted the new Apple display, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay $14k for a pair of them.

I ended up going with Dell U2720Qs, and after some tedious initial work to get them running natively at 60hz, they're fine.

I would have bought the Apple displays in a second though if they had been priced up to maybe even 3k each.

[coob]

I've just switched to a an LG "5K2K" ultrawide [1]. 5120 x 2160 and fairly reasonably priced.

[1] https://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-34WK95U-W-ultrawide-monito...

[delecti]

I honestly find MBP trackpads to be too big, which is admittedly a preference thing, but their keyboards are absolutely horrible, and I have difficulty understanding how anyone could think they were "great". There's not enough distinguishing keys from each other, so I can't ground myself to the home row. I can't think of many keyboards I've used throughout my life that I enjoy less than the MBP. And that's not even mentioning the quality issues (duplicated or broken keys), or the lack of Fn keys.

[stu2b50]

Are you talking about the butterfly (2016-2019) keyboards or the new magic keyboard OP (2020) was talking about?

[diffeomorphism]

For the trackpad I agree, but definitely not for the keyboard. And apple was late(!) to hires screens and to hidpi and now has lower res and density than the competition (e.g. 16:10 better 4k on dell xps or 3:2 screens with MS and others).

Also, apple had TN screens forever when the similarly priced competition had higher res IPS screens.

[EForEndeavour]

Isn't 4k on a laptop a significant power drain? And isn't the point of "stopping" at Retina resolution that the human eye can't tell the difference between Retina and higher resolutions like 4K at typical laptop screen size and viewing distance?

[ksec]

>Also, apple had TN screens forever when the similarly priced competition had higher res IPS screens.

As far as I am aware Apple only used TN screen for their MacBook Air. They were also the first to push Retina / Hi PPI Display on Consumer PC.

[mthoms]

>And apple was late(!) to hires screens and to hidpi

Are you sure about that? It doesn't seem to mesh with my recollection.

[robertoandred]

Who else had hi-res screens in 2012?

[wtetzner]

I've found the keyboard on my Surface Book to be much better than the keyboard on any of the MBPs I've used and owned.

The trackpad was just as good, too. But of course, the OS was worse, mostly in terms of performance. Windows 10 just always feels slow for some reason.