Apple launches 24" LED Cinema Display with iSight camera

Posted by Al Warmington on Wed 15 Oct 2008

But where does this leave desktop Macs exactly?

Alongside the MacBook updates announced last night, Apple unveiled a new LED Cinema Display. It's a 24" screen packed with goodies and designed specifically for the updated range of notebooks.

To that end, it supports Apple's new Mini DisplayPort and the adaptor even comes with a MagSafe connector so that you can charge your MacBook, MacBook Pro or MacBook Air whilst you use it.

The LED technology stands out for being brighter and more power efficient than previous screens. It offers 1920 x 1200 pixel resolutions and includes an integrated iSight camera, speakers and three USB 2.0 ports. The USB ports are also powered independently, so the idea is that you can leave your accessories to charge while you take your notebook out and about.

It is interesting that Apple has chosen to design a screen specifically for its notebook range in this way. The tech specs reveal that it will only offers the new Mini DisplayPort connection, so it can only work with specific Mac products.

Now, the idea of docking a notebook to a larger screen so that it can provide the same functionality as a desktop when an actual desk is available, is not unusual. Lots of business and home users already do exactly this. Apple's latest screen just makes it even easier to let your MacBook work in this way.

So it begs the question of whether Apple will continue to manufacture proper desktop machines in the long term. We've no doubt that it will keep on a few more powerful desktops for Apple-loving graphics designers and video editors, but if a portable system coupled with a decent sized, feature packed screen can provide all the same functionality as a desktop, perhaps it won't be long before Apple decides to axe the iMac range entirely...

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