MAC Studio

[Jodie99]

Hi Brian - My 2017 iMac desktop can no longer update photoshop and I have received a notification that the current version is no longer supported. I knew this day was coming so I have been saving like crazy  and researching my options. I have read your article about buying a new Mac in 2024 which was really useful thank-you! and after reading have decided to go with a Mac Studio with the tweaks you suggested. I mainly use camera raw/photoshop and will probably add other programs eventually. Just a quick question about the screen.... Photographer friends have mentioned a BenQ 27 inch Photographer monitor as an alternative....just wondered what your thoughts were on this or would you stick with the Mac screen?  I am not very techy so don't want to cause myself any problems! Thanks-You! 

 

[Brian]

On 8/10/2024 at 7:04 AM, Jodie99 said:

Photographer friends have mentioned a BenQ 27 inch Photographer monitor as an alternative....just wondered what your thoughts were on this or would you stick with the Mac screen?

Do not buy a 3rd party display. You are wasting money. Actually, if you have money to burn and throw away...I take donations. I will put that money to good use.

Apple changed the video signal coming out of the HDMI Port. I found this out from a Technical Bulletin from EIZO, which is a company than makes high-end displays, even Damien edits with one. Eizo says their fancy displays do not look good with Macs. Eizo aren't cheap either.

If you want the "Apple Experience" that you are used to with your 2017 iMac, YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE THE STUPIDLY OVERPRICED APPLE STUDIO DISPLAY!!! Yes, this sucks. Yes, Apple does this on PURPOSE! The only Display that looks good on a Mac is a Mac Display, and I cringe every time I have to type those words out.

Now, are there alternatives? Absolutely. Others have purchased the BenQ Displays, some even bought a LG that Apple helped designed. The LG Display is around $1200. Guess what happened? All of these people ended up caving and purchased a Apple Studio Display. Again, Apple does this on purpose. So feel free to waste money and get a BenQ, because within 6 months, you are buying a Studio Display. Remember, it's not just graphics and images, it's the TEXT that looks like ASS on a Non-Apple Display. Common remarks about using the LG Display, "...it's OK, I guess. It's not as good as the Apple Displays that I'm used to, and I really should have spent the extra $300..." BenQ Display, "...it just doesn't look right. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, is there some setting that I can change?" or "I really regret buying a BenQ for my Mac, I ended up buying the Apple Display and am now trying to sell the BenQ at a loss."

There is a difference. Trust me.

I know it's expensive. I get it. But if you buy the Studio Display, you should get 2-3 Mac Desktops' worth of usage out of it. I'd also budget for a new Calibrator as well, since the Display Panel in the Studio Display is different than in your 2017 iMac.