Apple displays
Encyclopedia
Apple Inc. currently sells LCD
computer display
s; a wide variety of CRT
computer display
s have been sold in the past.
sets or (then) expensive third party monochrome monitors. However, in order to offer complete systems through its dealers, Apple began to offer various third party manufactured 9" monochrome monitors, re-badged as the Monitor II.
business computer. It was a 12" monochrome (green) screen that could display 80x24 text characters and any type of graphics, however it suffered from a very slow phosphor refresh that resulted in a "ghosting" video effect. So it could be shared with Apple II
computers, a plastic stand was made available to accommodate the larger footprint of the monitor.
Roughly 4 years later came the introduction of the Apple manufactured Monitor //, which as the name implies, was more suited in look and style for the Apple II line and at the same time added improvements in features and visual quality. In 1984 a miniature 9" screen, called the Monitor IIc, was introduced for the Apple IIc
computer to help complement its compact size. This monitor was also the first to use the brand new design style for Apple's products called Snow White
, as well as being the first monitor not released in a beige color, but rather a bright, creamy off-white. By early 1985 came the first color CRT's, starting with the Monitor 100, a digital RGB display for the Apple III and Apple IIe
(with appropriate card), followed shortly by the 14" ColorMonitor IIe (later renamed to AppleColor Composite Monitor IIe
) and ColorMonitor IIc (later renamed to AppleColor Composite Monitor IIc), composite video displays for those respective models. All of the Apple monitors are capable of supporting the maximum Apple II Double Hi-Res standard of 560x192.
In 1986 came the introduction of the AppleColor RGB Monitor, a 12" analog RGB display designed specifically for the Apple IIGS
computer. It supported a resolution of 640x400 interlaced (640x200 non-interlaced) and could be used by the Macintosh II
, in a limited fashion, with the Apple High Resolution Display Video Card. Also introduced that year was the Apple Monochrome Monitor, which cosmetically was identical to the former model but was a black and white composite display suitable in external appearance for the Apple IIGS, Apple IIc or Apple IIc Plus
.
and Macintosh line of computers. At that time, the Macintosh had a high resolution 9-inch monochrome monitor that could display 512x342 pixels. All future models of the Classic
style Macintosh later featured this exact display.
A new external AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor
was introduced in 1987 with the Macintosh II
. It had a 13" fixed pixel resolution of 640x480 and the first Trinitron
aperture grille
CRT. The Macintosh II had a PC-style expandable case which required an external monitor, it was also able to run up to six external displays simultaneously using multiple video cards. The desktop
spanned multiple monitors and windows could be dragged from monitor to monitor, or even straddle two or more. The Macintosh Color Display
(14", 16" and 21") were introduced with resolutions of 512x384 (560x384 for compatibility with Apple IIe Card
), 832x624 and 1152x870. Also monochrome displays were introduced mainly for the publishing industry, like the Macintosh Two Page Monochrome Monitor which was able to display pages next to each other with identical resolution to the 21" color one. Also the Macintosh Portrait Display was introduced which had a vertical alignment of the screen and was able to display one page. A 12" monochrome version was also introduced at the low end.
. Monitors were divided into two groups. There were the cheaper Multiple Scan
monitors with standard shadow mask CRTs with a lower resolution. There was also the AppleVision series of displays which were positioned to the professional market and included more expensive Trinitron CRTs. Many models didn't include built-in speakers because they were considered toys by some in the publishing industry. The AppleVision line of displays were later renamed as ColorSync
displays when Steve Jobs
returned to Apple and consolidated the product lines. Only 17" and 20" models were left in the product line.
The Macintosh Color Classic also introduced a 10" color Trinitron display to the Classic compact Macintosh, with a slightly enhanced resolution of 512x384 (560x384 to accommodate the Apple IIe Card). Apple continued the all-in-one series with the larger 14" Macintosh LC 520 family, featuring an 800x640 pixel resolution. However, in 1995, Apple switched to the cheaper shadow-mask CRT which continued through the 15" Power Macintosh 5200 LC series and boosting resolution to 832x624. In 1998, the G3 All-In-One boosted the resolution to 1024x768, which continued through the introduction of the iMac
until it switched to LCD flat panels in 2002. The last Macintosh to include an integrated CRT was the eMac
, which boosted the display area to 17" with support up to 1280x960 resolution. It used a 4th generation flat-screen CRT and was discontinued in 2006.
in 1999, which included the translucent plastics of the iMac
(initially white and blue, then white and grey upon the introduction of the Power Mac G4). The displays were also designed with same translucent look. The Apple Studio Display series of CRT displays were available in a 17" Diamondtron
and a 21"Trinitron
CRT, both driven by an LG
-Manufactured chassis. These displays were notorious for faulty flyback
s. The last Apple external CRT display was introduced in 2000 along with the Power Mac G4 Cube
. Both it and the new LCD Studio Displays featured clear plastics to match the Cube, and the new Apple Display Connector
, which provided power, USB, and video signals to the monitor through a single cable. It was available only in a 17" flat screened Diamondtron
CRT. It was discontinued the following year.
displays started in 1984 when the Apple Flat Panel Display was introduced for the Apple IIc
computer, principally to enhance the IIc's portability (see Apple IIc Portability enhancements). This monochrome display was capable of 80 columns by 24 lines, as well as double hi-res graphics, but had an odd aspect ratio (making images look vertically squished) and required a very strong external light source, such as a desk lamp or direct sunlight to be used. Even then it had a very poor contrast overall and was quite expensive (US$600.00), contributing to its poor sales and consequently it dropping from the market not long after its introduction. An estimated 10,000 IIc LCD monitors were produced.
. More of a desktop than laptop, it had a built-in high-resolution, active-matrix, 1-bit black & white, 9.8" LCD display with 640x400 resolution. Like the IIc Flat Panel, it was not backlit and required a bright light source to be used. A second generation model rectified that situation. Commencing with the PowerBook series, built-in LCD flat-panels became standard across the portable line, following an industry-wide evolution from grayscale to color and ranging from 9" to 17". Two primary technologies were used, active matrix (higher quality and more expensive) and passive matrix displays (lower quality and cheaper). By 1998 all laptops would use the standard active-matrix color LCD with a standard average dimension of 13", except for the Newton products and eMate
portables. Apple's current MacBook
portable displays include LED backlighting and support between 1280×800 to 1920×1200 pixel resolution. The iPhone 4
and iPod Touch 4's "Retina Display" has the lowest dot pitch
of any Apple display, being 960×640 and only 3.5 inches.
(TAM), the first all-in-one portable like the CRT models before it, with an LCD screen. Drawing heavily from the PowerBook technology, the TAM featured a 12.1" active matrix LCD capable of displaying up to 16bit color at 800x600. While Apple chose to return to traditional and cheaper CRTs for its integrated display desktop line for the next 4 years, the TAM is undoubtedly the predecessor for the successful LCD-based iMac
line of all-in-one desktops starting with the iMac G4
released in 2002. A substantial upgrade over the TAM, it contained a 15" LCD supporting up to 1024x768 resolution. It was followed by a 17" and 20" models boasting resolution of up to 1680 × 1050. In 2005, the iMac G5
dropped the 15" configuration and in 2007, the new iMac
dropped the 17" and added a 24" to the line-up, further boosting resolution to 1920 x 1200. In October 2009, new iMac models moved to 16:9 aspect ratio
screens at 21.5 and 27 inches.
(15-inch flat panel) which had a resolution of 1024x768. After the eMate, it was one of the first Apple products to feature translucent plastics, two months before the unveiling of the iMac
. Apple called its dark blue color "azul". It had a DA-15
input as well as S-video
, composite video
, ADB and audio connectors, though no onboard speakers. In January 1999 the coloring was changed to match the blue and white of the new Power Macintosh G3s, and the connector changed to VGA
.
The 22" widescreen Apple Cinema Display
was introduced in August 1999, simultaneously with the Power Mac G4
and in the beginning was sold only as an option to the Power Mac G4, selling for US$3,999. It had a native resolution of 1600x1024 and used a DVI
connector. The display had a striped look on the bezel, similar to previous Studio Displays and iMacs. In December, the colors of the 15" display were changed to "graphite" to match the new Power Mac G4s, and the input was changed from VGA to DVI, the audio and video features dropped, and the ADB functionality replaced by a two-port USB hub.
In 2000 the 22" Cinema Displays switched to the ADC
interface, and the 15" Studio Display was remodeled to match the Cinema Display's easel-like form factor and also featured the Apple Display Connector. In 2001 an LCD-based 17" Studio Display was introduced, with a resolution of 1280x1024. In 2002 Apple introduced the Cinema Display HD
which had a 23" widescreen display with a resolution of 1920x1200. In 2003 Apple introduced the 20" Cinema Display to replace the now discontinued 22" display and it had a resolution of 1680x1050.
In 2004 a new line was introduced, utilizing the same 20" and 23" panels alongside a new 30" model, for $3,299. The displays had a sleek aluminum enclosure with a much narrower bezel than their predecessors. The 20" model has a 1680x1050 resolution, the 23" has 1920x1200, and the 30" has 2560x1600. The 30" version requires a dual-link interface, because a single-link DVI connection (the most common type) doesn't have enough bandwidth to provide a picture to a display of this resolution. Initially, the only graphics cards that could power the new 30" display were the NVIDIA
Geforce 6800 DDL series, available in both GT and Ultra forms. The DDL suffix signified the dual-link DVI capability. The less expensive of the two cards retailed for US $499, raising the net cost of owning and using the display to nearly $3,800. Later graphics options included the NVIDIA
Quadro FX 4500; the card included two dual-link DVI connectors which allowed a Power Mac G5
to run two 30" Cinema Displays simultaneously with the total number of pixels working out at 8.2 million.
In 2006 along with the introduction of the Mac Pro
, Apple lowered the price of the 30" Cinema Display to US$1999. The Mac Pro features an NVIDIA
GeForce 7300GT as the graphics card in its base model which is capable of running a 30" Cinema Display and another 23" Display simultaneously. The Mac Pro is also available with both the ATI
Radeon X1900XT card and the NVIDIA
Quadro FX 4500 as Build-To-Order options. Each of these cards is capable of driving two 30" Cinema Displays.
family, Apple introduced their first desktop display to use both the brand new Mini DisplayPort
connector, but also an LED backlit screen. Intended exclusively for use with the MacBook family, the 24" LED Cinema Display has built-in speakers, an integrated self-powered USB hub and iSight
camera with microphone, and a special cable supplying MagSafe
power to the laptop, with a USB and Mini DisplayPort connector. It supports 1920x1200 resolution and retailed for US$899.00.
Additionally, various Apple computers have been able to output:
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....
computer display
Computer display
A monitor or display is an electronic visual display for computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure...
s; a wide variety of CRT
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
computer display
Computer display
A monitor or display is an electronic visual display for computers. The monitor comprises the display device, circuitry, and an enclosure...
s have been sold in the past.
CRT displays
In the very beginning (throughout the 1970s), Apple did not manufacture or sell displays of any kind, instead recommending users plug-into their televisionTelevision
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
sets or (then) expensive third party monochrome monitors. However, in order to offer complete systems through its dealers, Apple began to offer various third party manufactured 9" monochrome monitors, re-badged as the Monitor II.
First generation
Apple's manufacture history of CRT displays began in 1980, starting with the Monitor /// that was introduced alongside and matched the Apple IIIApple III
The Apple III is a business-oriented personal computer produced and released by Apple Computer that was intended as the successor to the Apple II series, but largely considered a failure in the market. Development work on the Apple III started in late 1978 under the guidance of Dr. Wendell Sander...
business computer. It was a 12" monochrome (green) screen that could display 80x24 text characters and any type of graphics, however it suffered from a very slow phosphor refresh that resulted in a "ghosting" video effect. So it could be shared with Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
computers, a plastic stand was made available to accommodate the larger footprint of the monitor.
Apple IIc
The Apple IIc, the fourth model in the Apple II series of personal computers, was Apple Computer’s first endeavor to produce a portable computer. The end result was a notebook-sized version of the Apple II that could be transported from place to place...
computer to help complement its compact size. This monitor was also the first to use the brand new design style for Apple's products called Snow White
Snow White design language
The Snow White design language was an industrial design language developed by Hartmut Esslinger's Frog Design. Used by Apple Computer from 1984 to 1990, the scheme has vertical and horizontal stripes for decoration, ventilation, and the illusion that the computer enclosure is smaller than it...
, as well as being the first monitor not released in a beige color, but rather a bright, creamy off-white. By early 1985 came the first color CRT's, starting with the Monitor 100, a digital RGB display for the Apple III and Apple IIe
Apple IIe
The Apple IIe is the third model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The e in the name stands for enhanced, referring to the fact that several popular features were now built-in that were only available as upgrades and add-ons in earlier models...
(with appropriate card), followed shortly by the 14" ColorMonitor IIe (later renamed to AppleColor Composite Monitor IIe
ColorMonitor IIe/AppleColor Composite Monitor IIe
The ColorMonitor IIe, later renamed AppleColor Composite Monitor IIe is a CRT-based color or gray monochrome 13-inch monitor manufactured by Apple Computer for the Apple II personal computer family. This monitor is designed to fit into the grooves on the top of the Apple II, II+, and IIe...
) and ColorMonitor IIc (later renamed to AppleColor Composite Monitor IIc), composite video displays for those respective models. All of the Apple monitors are capable of supporting the maximum Apple II Double Hi-Res standard of 560x192.
In 1986 came the introduction of the AppleColor RGB Monitor, a 12" analog RGB display designed specifically for the Apple IIGS
Apple IIGS
The Apple , the fifth and most powerful model in the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Computer. The "GS" in the name stands for Graphics and Sound, referring to its enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, both of which greatly surpassed previous models of the line...
computer. It supported a resolution of 640x400 interlaced (640x200 non-interlaced) and could be used by the Macintosh II
Macintosh II
The Apple Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line and the first Macintosh to support a color display.- History :...
, in a limited fashion, with the Apple High Resolution Display Video Card. Also introduced that year was the Apple Monochrome Monitor, which cosmetically was identical to the former model but was a black and white composite display suitable in external appearance for the Apple IIGS, Apple IIc or Apple IIc Plus
Apple IIc Plus
The Apple IIc Plus is the sixth and final model in the Apple II line of personal computers, produced by Apple Computer. The "Plus" in the name was a reference to the additional features it offered over the original portable Apple IIc, such as greater storage capacity , increased processing speed,...
.
Second generation
The second generation of displays were built into the LisaApple Lisa
The Apple Lisa—also known as the Lisa—is a :personal computer designed by Apple Computer, Inc. during the early 1980s....
and Macintosh line of computers. At that time, the Macintosh had a high resolution 9-inch monochrome monitor that could display 512x342 pixels. All future models of the Classic
Compact Macintosh
"Compact Macintosh" or "Classic Macintosh" are informal terms that refer to the direct descendants of the original Macintosh personal computer case design by Apple Computer, Inc. All of them are all-in-one desktop computer designs with the display integrated in the computer case, but not the...
style Macintosh later featured this exact display.
A new external AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor
AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor
The AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor is a 13" Trinitron aperture grille CRT that was manufactured by Apple Inc. from March 2, 1987 until October 19, 1992. The video cable uses a standard Macintosh DA-15 video connector and the fixed resolution is 640x480.- References :*...
was introduced in 1987 with the Macintosh II
Macintosh II
The Apple Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line and the first Macintosh to support a color display.- History :...
. It had a 13" fixed pixel resolution of 640x480 and the first Trinitron
Trinitron
Trinitron is Sony's brand name for its line of aperture grille based CRTs used in television sets and computer display monitors. One of the first truly new television systems to enter the market since the 1950s, the Trinitron was announced in 1966 to wide acclaim for its bright images, about 25%...
aperture grille
Aperture grille
An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....
CRT. The Macintosh II had a PC-style expandable case which required an external monitor, it was also able to run up to six external displays simultaneously using multiple video cards. The desktop
Desktop metaphor
The desktop metaphor is an interface metaphor which is a set of unifying concepts used by graphical user interfaces to help users more easily interact with the computer. The desktop metaphor treats the monitor of a computer as if it is the user's desktop, upon which objects such as documents and...
spanned multiple monitors and windows could be dragged from monitor to monitor, or even straddle two or more. The Macintosh Color Display
Macintosh Color Display
The Macintosh Color Display is a 14" Trinitron aperture grille CRT that was manufactured by Apple Inc. from October 19, 1992 until approximately August 1, 1993. The video cable uses a standard Macintosh DA-15 video connector and the fixed resolution is 640x480.- References :*...
(14", 16" and 21") were introduced with resolutions of 512x384 (560x384 for compatibility with Apple IIe Card
Apple IIe Card
The Apple IIe Card is a compatibility card which allows compatible Macs to run software designed for Apple II computers...
), 832x624 and 1152x870. Also monochrome displays were introduced mainly for the publishing industry, like the Macintosh Two Page Monochrome Monitor which was able to display pages next to each other with identical resolution to the 21" color one. Also the Macintosh Portrait Display was introduced which had a vertical alignment of the screen and was able to display one page. A 12" monochrome version was also introduced at the low end.
Third generation
The third generation of displays marked the end of the monochrome display era and the beginning of the multimedia era. The first display to include built-in speakers was introduced in 1993 as the Apple AudioVision 14 DisplayApple AudioVision 14 Display
The Apple AudioVision 14 Display is a 14-inch Trinitron display that was manufactured by Apple Inc. This display is unique because it is the only display ever to use the HDI-45 connector, capable of transferring video to the screen, video capture input from an S-Video source, audio output, audio...
. Monitors were divided into two groups. There were the cheaper Multiple Scan
Apple Multiple Scan 14 Display
The Apple Multiple Scan 14 Display is a 12.4" viewable shadow mask CRT that was manufactured by Apple Inc. from August 7, 1995 until September 14, 1996. This monitor has built-in speakers that can be connected with a cable that has a male miniature TRS connector on each end and there is also a...
monitors with standard shadow mask CRTs with a lower resolution. There was also the AppleVision series of displays which were positioned to the professional market and included more expensive Trinitron CRTs. Many models didn't include built-in speakers because they were considered toys by some in the publishing industry. The AppleVision line of displays were later renamed as ColorSync
Apple ColorSync/AppleVision 750 Display
The Apple ColorSync/AppleVision 750 Display is a 17" Trinitron aperture grille CRT that was manufactured by Apple Inc. from August 5, 1997 until approximately November 10, 1998. The video cable uses a standard Macintosh DA-15 video connector and the maximum resolution is 1280x1024.The display...
displays when Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
returned to Apple and consolidated the product lines. Only 17" and 20" models were left in the product line.
The Macintosh Color Classic also introduced a 10" color Trinitron display to the Classic compact Macintosh, with a slightly enhanced resolution of 512x384 (560x384 to accommodate the Apple IIe Card). Apple continued the all-in-one series with the larger 14" Macintosh LC 520 family, featuring an 800x640 pixel resolution. However, in 1995, Apple switched to the cheaper shadow-mask CRT which continued through the 15" Power Macintosh 5200 LC series and boosting resolution to 832x624. In 1998, the G3 All-In-One boosted the resolution to 1024x768, which continued through the introduction of the iMac
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
until it switched to LCD flat panels in 2002. The last Macintosh to include an integrated CRT was the eMac
EMac
The eMac, short for education Mac, was a Macintosh desktop computer made by Apple Inc. It was originally aimed at the education market, but was later made available as a cheaper mass market alternative to Apple's second-generation LCD display iMac....
, which boosted the display area to 17" with support up to 1280x960 resolution. It used a 4th generation flat-screen CRT and was discontinued in 2006.
Fourth generation
The fourth generation of displays were introduced simultaneously with the Blue & White Power Macintosh G3Power Macintosh G3 (Blue & White)
The Power Macintosh G3 series was a series of personal computers designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer Inc. as part of their Power Macintosh line...
in 1999, which included the translucent plastics of the iMac
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
(initially white and blue, then white and grey upon the introduction of the Power Mac G4). The displays were also designed with same translucent look. The Apple Studio Display series of CRT displays were available in a 17" Diamondtron
Aperture grille
An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....
and a 21"Trinitron
Aperture grille
An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....
CRT, both driven by an LG
LG
LG may refer to:*LG Corp., a South Korean electronics and petrochemicals conglomerate*LG Electronics, an affiliate of the South Korean LG Group which produces electronic products* Lawrence Graham, a London headquartered firm of business lawyers...
-Manufactured chassis. These displays were notorious for faulty flyback
Flyback transformer
A flyback transformer , also called a line output transformer , is a special transformer, which is used for conversion of energy in electronic circuits. It was initially designed to generate high current sawtooth signals at a relatively high frequency...
s. The last Apple external CRT display was introduced in 2000 along with the Power Mac G4 Cube
Power Mac G4 Cube
The Power Mac G4 Cube was a small form factor Macintosh personal computer from Apple Inc. It was sold from 2000 to 2001. Its cube shape is reminiscent of the NeXTcube from NeXT, acquired by Apple in 1996. The machine was designed by Apple industrial designer Jonathan Ive...
. Both it and the new LCD Studio Displays featured clear plastics to match the Cube, and the new Apple Display Connector
Apple Display Connector
The Apple Display Connector is a proprietary modification of the DVI connector that combines analog and digital video signals, USB, and power all in one cable...
, which provided power, USB, and video signals to the monitor through a single cable. It was available only in a 17" flat screened Diamondtron
Aperture grille
An aperture grille is one of two major technologies used to manufacture color cathode ray tube televisions and computer displays; the other is shadow mask....
CRT. It was discontinued the following year.
Flat panel displays
The history of Apple LCDLiquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....
displays started in 1984 when the Apple Flat Panel Display was introduced for the Apple IIc
Apple IIc
The Apple IIc, the fourth model in the Apple II series of personal computers, was Apple Computer’s first endeavor to produce a portable computer. The end result was a notebook-sized version of the Apple II that could be transported from place to place...
computer, principally to enhance the IIc's portability (see Apple IIc Portability enhancements). This monochrome display was capable of 80 columns by 24 lines, as well as double hi-res graphics, but had an odd aspect ratio (making images look vertically squished) and required a very strong external light source, such as a desk lamp or direct sunlight to be used. Even then it had a very poor contrast overall and was quite expensive (US$600.00), contributing to its poor sales and consequently it dropping from the market not long after its introduction. An estimated 10,000 IIc LCD monitors were produced.
Portable displays
The next attempt at a flat panel was with the Macintosh PortableMacintosh Portable
The Macintosh Portable was Apple Inc.'s first attempt at making a battery-powered portable Macintosh personal computer that held the power of a desktop Macintosh...
. More of a desktop than laptop, it had a built-in high-resolution, active-matrix, 1-bit black & white, 9.8" LCD display with 640x400 resolution. Like the IIc Flat Panel, it was not backlit and required a bright light source to be used. A second generation model rectified that situation. Commencing with the PowerBook series, built-in LCD flat-panels became standard across the portable line, following an industry-wide evolution from grayscale to color and ranging from 9" to 17". Two primary technologies were used, active matrix (higher quality and more expensive) and passive matrix displays (lower quality and cheaper). By 1998 all laptops would use the standard active-matrix color LCD with a standard average dimension of 13", except for the Newton products and eMate
EMate 300
The eMate 300 was a personal digital assistant designed, manufactured and sold by Apple to the education market as a low-cost laptop running the Newton operating system...
portables. Apple's current MacBook
MacBook family
The MacBook family is a range of Macintosh notebook computers by Apple Inc. that merged the PowerBook and iBook lines during Apple's transition to Intel processors. The first model released under this family was the MacBook Pro, which was announced on 10 January 2006 at the Macworld Expo...
portable displays include LED backlighting and support between 1280×800 to 1920×1200 pixel resolution. The iPhone 4
IPhone 4
The iPhone 4 is a touchscreen slate smartphone developed by Apple Inc. It is the fourth generation iPhone, and successor to the iPhone 3GS. It is particularly marketed for video calling , consumption of media such as books and periodicals, movies, music, and games, and for general web and e-mail...
and iPod Touch 4's "Retina Display" has the lowest dot pitch
Dot pitch
Dot pitch is a specification for a computer display, computer printer, image scanner, or other pixel-based device that describes the distance, for example, between dots of the same color on the inside of a display screen...
of any Apple display, being 960×640 and only 3.5 inches.
All-In-Ones
In 1997, Apple released the Twentieth Anniversary MacintoshTwentieth Anniversary Macintosh
Apple's Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh is a limited-edition personal computer that was released in 1997 in celebration of the company's 20th birthday....
(TAM), the first all-in-one portable like the CRT models before it, with an LCD screen. Drawing heavily from the PowerBook technology, the TAM featured a 12.1" active matrix LCD capable of displaying up to 16bit color at 800x600. While Apple chose to return to traditional and cheaper CRTs for its integrated display desktop line for the next 4 years, the TAM is undoubtedly the predecessor for the successful LCD-based iMac
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
line of all-in-one desktops starting with the iMac G4
IMac G4
The iMac G4 was a computer that was produced by Apple from the beginning of 2002 to mid 2004. It replaced the aging iMac G3. The computer had a new design compared to older Macs. It had a 15-inch LCD which was mounted on an adjustable arm above a hemisphere containing a full-size, tray-loading...
released in 2002. A substantial upgrade over the TAM, it contained a 15" LCD supporting up to 1024x768 resolution. It was followed by a 17" and 20" models boasting resolution of up to 1680 × 1050. In 2005, the iMac G5
IMac G5
The iMac G5 was a series of desktop Macintosh computers designed and built by Apple Inc. using the PowerPC chip architecture. It was the last line of iMac computers that used a PowerPC chip, making it the last of the iMacs that could run Mac OS 9 applications. In August 2004, the iMac design was...
dropped the 15" configuration and in 2007, the new iMac
IMac (Intel-based)
The iMac is a series of Macintosh desktop computers offered by Apple Inc. The current Apple iMac features either an Intel Core i5, or Intel Core i7 processor, ATI HD 6750M graphics or an ATI Radeon HD 6770M with options to upgrade to the ATI Radeon HD 6970M , and a choice of glossy 21.5" or 27" LCD...
dropped the 17" and added a 24" to the line-up, further boosting resolution to 1920 x 1200. In October 2009, new iMac models moved to 16:9 aspect ratio
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
screens at 21.5 and 27 inches.
External displays
The first desktop flat-panel was introduced on March 17, 1998 with the 15" Apple Studio DisplayApple Studio Display
The Apple Studio Displays were a series of displays manufactured by Apple Computer Inc. that both used LCD and CRT as their displays. The Apple Studio Displays used DB-15, VGA, DVI, and ADC as their display output...
(15-inch flat panel) which had a resolution of 1024x768. After the eMate, it was one of the first Apple products to feature translucent plastics, two months before the unveiling of the iMac
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
. Apple called its dark blue color "azul". It had a DA-15
D-subminiature
The D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. They are named for their characteristic D-shaped metal shield. When they were introduced, D-subs were among the smaller connectors used on computer systems....
input as well as S-video
S-Video
Separate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...
, composite video
Composite video
Composite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...
, ADB and audio connectors, though no onboard speakers. In January 1999 the coloring was changed to match the blue and white of the new Power Macintosh G3s, and the connector changed to VGA
Video Graphics Array
Video Graphics Array refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, but through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard, the 15-pin D-subminiature VGA connector or the 640×480 resolution...
.
The 22" widescreen Apple Cinema Display
Apple Cinema Display
The Apple Cinema Display was a line of flat panel computer monitors introduced in September 1999 by Apple Inc. It was initially sold alongside the older line of Studio Displays, but eventually replaced them. In July 2011, Apple replaced it with the Apple Thunderbolt Display...
was introduced in August 1999, simultaneously with the Power Mac G4
Power Mac G4
The Power Mac G4 was a series of personal computers that was designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple between 1999 and 2004. They used the PowerPC G4 series of microprocessors. They were heralded by Apple to be the first personal supercomputers, reaching speeds of 4 to 20 Gigaflops...
and in the beginning was sold only as an option to the Power Mac G4, selling for US$3,999. It had a native resolution of 1600x1024 and used a DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
connector. The display had a striped look on the bezel, similar to previous Studio Displays and iMacs. In December, the colors of the 15" display were changed to "graphite" to match the new Power Mac G4s, and the input was changed from VGA to DVI, the audio and video features dropped, and the ADB functionality replaced by a two-port USB hub.
In 2000 the 22" Cinema Displays switched to the ADC
Apple Display Connector
The Apple Display Connector is a proprietary modification of the DVI connector that combines analog and digital video signals, USB, and power all in one cable...
interface, and the 15" Studio Display was remodeled to match the Cinema Display's easel-like form factor and also featured the Apple Display Connector. In 2001 an LCD-based 17" Studio Display was introduced, with a resolution of 1280x1024. In 2002 Apple introduced the Cinema Display HD
Apple Cinema Display
The Apple Cinema Display was a line of flat panel computer monitors introduced in September 1999 by Apple Inc. It was initially sold alongside the older line of Studio Displays, but eventually replaced them. In July 2011, Apple replaced it with the Apple Thunderbolt Display...
which had a 23" widescreen display with a resolution of 1920x1200. In 2003 Apple introduced the 20" Cinema Display to replace the now discontinued 22" display and it had a resolution of 1680x1050.
In 2004 a new line was introduced, utilizing the same 20" and 23" panels alongside a new 30" model, for $3,299. The displays had a sleek aluminum enclosure with a much narrower bezel than their predecessors. The 20" model has a 1680x1050 resolution, the 23" has 1920x1200, and the 30" has 2560x1600. The 30" version requires a dual-link interface, because a single-link DVI connection (the most common type) doesn't have enough bandwidth to provide a picture to a display of this resolution. Initially, the only graphics cards that could power the new 30" display were the NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
Geforce 6800 DDL series, available in both GT and Ultra forms. The DDL suffix signified the dual-link DVI capability. The less expensive of the two cards retailed for US $499, raising the net cost of owning and using the display to nearly $3,800. Later graphics options included the NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
Quadro FX 4500; the card included two dual-link DVI connectors which allowed a Power Mac G5
Power Mac G5
The Power Mac G5 is Apple's marketing name for models of the Power Macintosh that contains the IBM PowerPC G5 CPU. The professional-grade computer was the most powerful in Apple's lineup when it was introduced, widely hailed as the first 64-bit PC, and was touted by Apple as the fastest personal...
to run two 30" Cinema Displays simultaneously with the total number of pixels working out at 8.2 million.
In 2006 along with the introduction of the Mac Pro
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is a workstation computer manufactured by Apple Inc. The machines are based on Xeon microprocessors, but are similar to the Power Mac G5 they replaced in terms of outward appearance and expansion capabilities...
, Apple lowered the price of the 30" Cinema Display to US$1999. The Mac Pro features an NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
GeForce 7300GT as the graphics card in its base model which is capable of running a 30" Cinema Display and another 23" Display simultaneously. The Mac Pro is also available with both the ATI
Ati
As a word, Ati may refer to:* Ati, a town in Chad* Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in the Philippines* Ati-Atihan Festival, an annual celebration held in the Philippines* Ati, a queen of the fabled Land of Punt in Africa...
Radeon X1900XT card and the NVIDIA
NVIDIA
Nvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
Quadro FX 4500 as Build-To-Order options. Each of these cards is capable of driving two 30" Cinema Displays.
LED backlights
With the introduction of the Macbook Air and later the Unibody MacBookMacBook family
The MacBook family is a range of Macintosh notebook computers by Apple Inc. that merged the PowerBook and iBook lines during Apple's transition to Intel processors. The first model released under this family was the MacBook Pro, which was announced on 10 January 2006 at the Macworld Expo...
family, Apple introduced their first desktop display to use both the brand new Mini DisplayPort
Mini DisplayPort
The Mini DisplayPort is a miniaturized version of the DisplayPort digital audio-visual interface. Apple, Inc. announced the development in the fourth quarter of 2008, and now applies it in the LED Cinema Display and in all new Macintosh computers: MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini,...
connector, but also an LED backlit screen. Intended exclusively for use with the MacBook family, the 24" LED Cinema Display has built-in speakers, an integrated self-powered USB hub and iSight
ISight
iSight is a webcam, both external and internal, developed and marketed by Apple Inc. The external iSight was sold retail for US$149, connected to a computer via a FireWire cable, and came with a set of mounts to place it atop any then-current Apple display, laptop computer, all-in-one desktop...
camera with microphone, and a special cable supplying MagSafe
MagSafe
MagSafe is a proprietary magnetically-attached power connector introduced by Apple Inc. on January 10, 2006 in conjunction with the MacBook Pro at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco...
power to the laptop, with a USB and Mini DisplayPort connector. It supports 1920x1200 resolution and retailed for US$899.00.
Connectors
Apple has employed a large number of display connector designs over the years:- Original DA-15D-subminiatureThe D-subminiature or D-sub is a common type of electrical connector. They are named for their characteristic D-shaped metal shield. When they were introduced, D-subs were among the smaller connectors used on computer systems....
(commonly but incorrectly known as a DB-15) used on all desktop Macs without a built in monitor up until the 1999 Blue and White Power Macintosh G3. - A 13W3 connector (as on Sun MicrosystemsSun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
machines) used on the Macintosh Portrait Display - A non-standard "mini-15" connector used on early PowerBooks which allowed an Apple monitor to be attached via a short adaptor cable.
- Apple MultiMedia Display connector (HDI-45HDI-45 connectorThe HDI-45 was one of Apple Computer's proprietary cable-to-onboard video connectors. These connectors were used only in the first generation Power Macintosh computers specifically for the Apple AudioVision 14 Display. No other display uses this connector...
) used on some "AV" model Centris, Quadra and the first-generation (NuBusNuBusNuBus is a 32-bit parallel computer bus, originally developed at MIT as a part of the NuMachine workstation project. The first complete implementation of the NuBus and the NuMachine was done by Western Digital for their NuMachine, and for the Lisp Machines Inc. LMI-Lambda. The NuBus was later...
) Power Macintosh machines. - Standard 15-pin high-density DE-15 VGA connectorVGA connectorA Video Graphics Array connector is a three-row 15-pin DE-15 connector. The 15-pin VGA connector is found on many video cards, computer monitors, and some high definition television sets...
, first included on some Power Macintosh 9600 models and available on all current Macintoshes via a short adaptor cable. - Apple Display ConnectorApple Display ConnectorThe Apple Display Connector is a proprietary modification of the DVI connector that combines analog and digital video signals, USB, and power all in one cable...
(ADC), which carries DVI, VGA, USBUniversal Serial BusUSB is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and protocols used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply between computers and electronic devices....
and power in one connector was used on the PowerMac G4 and early models of the PowerMac G5. - A DVIDigital Visual InterfaceThe Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
connector was used on the non-unibody Intel based MacBook ProMacBook ProThe MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...
s, PowerBookPowerBookThe PowerBook was a line of Macintosh laptop computers that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1991 to 2006. During its lifetime, the PowerBook went through several major revisions and redesigns, often being the first to incorporate features that would later become...
s, Mac MiniMac MiniThe Mac Mini is a small form factor desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. Like earlier mini-ITX PC designs, it is uncommonly small for a desktop computer: 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches tall. It weighs 2.7 pounds...
, Power Mac G4, G5 and Mac ProMac ProThe Mac Pro is a workstation computer manufactured by Apple Inc. The machines are based on Xeon microprocessors, but are similar to the Power Mac G5 they replaced in terms of outward appearance and expansion capabilities...
. - A mini-VGAMini-VGAMini-VGA connectors are used on some laptops and other systems in place of the standard VGA connector, although most laptops use a standard VGA connector. Apple and HP have separate implementations using the same name...
connector, which can provide VGA via a short adaptor cable. It appears on the white iBookIBookThe iBook was a line of laptop computers sold by Apple Computer from 1999 to 2006. The line targeted the consumer and education markets, with lower specifications and prices than the PowerBook, Apple's higher-end line of laptop computers....
, eMacEMacThe eMac, short for education Mac, was a Macintosh desktop computer made by Apple Inc. It was originally aimed at the education market, but was later made available as a cheaper mass market alternative to Apple's second-generation LCD display iMac....
, iMac G4 and G5, and first generation 12-inch PowerBook G4. Later models also support a composite and S-video adapter attached to this port. - A micro-DVIMicro-DVIThe Micro-DVI port is a video connection port used by the Asus U2E Windows Vista PC and Early 08 Apple MacBook Air laptop computers. It is smaller than the Mini-DVI port used by its MacBook sister models. To use the port for displaying video on a monitor or television that has a different-style...
connector is used in the first generation Macbook AirMacBook AirThe MacBook Air family is a line of Apple ultraportable Macintosh notebook computers.The first-generation MacBook Air was a 13.3"-only model, previously promoted as the World's Thinnest Notebook, introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. It featured a custom Intel Merom CPU...
to accommodate its small form factor. - A mini-DVIMini-DVIThe Mini-Dvi connector is used on certain Apple computers as a digital alternative to the Mini-VGA connector. Its size is between the full-sized DVI and the tiny Micro-DVI...
connector used on the 12" PowerBook G4 (except first generation,) Intel based iMacIMacThe iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
s, MacBookMacBookThe MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...
s, and Mac Minis. - A mini DisplayPortMini DisplayPortThe Mini DisplayPort is a miniaturized version of the DisplayPort digital audio-visual interface. Apple, Inc. announced the development in the fourth quarter of 2008, and now applies it in the LED Cinema Display and in all new Macintosh computers: MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini,...
connector is used on the second generation MacBook Air, unibody MacBook/MacBook Pro, and all new Mac models after 2008.
Additionally, various Apple computers have been able to output:
- S-videoS-VideoSeparate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...
via standard 4-pin mini-DIN connector - Composite videoComposite videoComposite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...
, via:- S-video port and use of short adaptor cable (PowerBooks)
- Standard phono connector (AV Macs)
- Phono connector video out on the Apple II, II+, IIe, IIc, IIc+, IIGS, III, and III+. While not technically NTSC or PAL compatible, a suitable image would display on NTSC/PAL television monitors
- A non-standard 3.5 mm jack that functions as either a headphone jack, or stereo audio and composite video out via an adaptor cable (FireWire Special Edition Clamshell iBooks and early "Dual USB" iBooks with external reset button)
- S-videoS-VideoSeparate Video, more commonly known as S-Video and Y/C, is often referred to by JVC as both an S-VHS connector and as Super Video. It is an analog video transmission scheme, in which video information is encoded on two channels: luma and chroma...
, Composite videoComposite videoComposite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...
, or VGAVideo Graphics ArrayVideo Graphics Array refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987, but through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analog computer display standard, the 15-pin D-subminiature VGA connector or the 640×480 resolution...
, via:- Mini-VGA when using an Apple Video Output Adapter (S-video & Composite or VGA)
- The Apple Video Adapter was specially designed to allow users to connect to S-video or composite video devices. The video adapter cable plugs into the video output port (Mini-VGA) built into the back of certain Macintosh computers. The video output port supports VGA, S-Video and Composite video out. The Apple Video Adapter is for S-Video or Composite video output only, use a separate Apple VGA Adapter for VGA video output options. With the Apple Video Adapter you can connect to your TV, VCR, or overhead projector via S-Video or Composite cables.
- Compatible with: iBook without an external reset button, 12-inch PowerBook G4, Mac Mini, eMac, iMac G5, or 17-inch iMac (1 GHz) with Mini-VGA port.
- The Apple VGA Display Adapter was specially designed to allow users to connect certain Macintosh computers to an extra VGA monitor or external projector (equipped with VGA) for 24-bit video-mirroring. The VGA cable from your external monitor or projector cable plugs into the Mini-VGA video port built into your Macintosh via the Apple VGA Display Adapter.
- Compatible with: eMac, iMac G5, iMac G4 flat-panel, 12-inch PowerBook G4, or iBooks having a Mini-VGA port. Most Macintosh computers with the Mini-VGA port can also use the Apple Video Adapter for S-video & Composite output options.
- 12-inch PowerBook G4 (first generation) models supported video-mirroring and extended video desktop modes through a mini-VGA port. All 15 and 17 inch PowerBook G4 models have a DVI port as well as an S-Video out port. The mini-VGA port on the 12-inch PowerBook was replaced by a mini-DVI port starting with the second revision of the machine.
