Apple has just released a new iMac that comes with a display that puts ultra-high definition screens to shame.
The fancy new desktop, which comes with a corresponding fancy price, is definitely ahead of the pack. However, it comes with its share of advantages and shortcomings.
The new iMac comes with a 5K (5120 x 2880 pixel resolution) Retina display. That amounts to 14.7 million pixels. That's seven times the number of pixels on your high-definition TV, which usually clocks in at 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Impressive, right? There's reason to gasp if you're conscious about the number of Ks that your screen possesses. However, it has its limitations if your ultimate goal is to see the most minute detail on your favorite movies and TV shows.
"With a resolution of 5120 x 2880, iMac with Retina 5K display has four times more pixels than the standard 27-inch iMac and 67 percent more pixels than a 4K display. Text looks as sharp as it does on a printed page, and you can see more of your high-resolution photos with pixel-for-pixel detail. In apps like Final Cut Pro X, you can view 4K video at full size while still leaving plenty of room for your assets and editing tools," Apple said in a press release.
The company's selling points for the iMac with Retina 5K display is quite telling. There's no mention of watching video, which is an activity that would likely to come up, especially considering the hefty $2,499 for the fancy device. At a price that high, people would likely want to be able to do everything, and it's not unreasonable to want to watch movies and TV shows on such a high-definition screen.
The problem, though, is that there is currently no media content created specifically for 5K displays. There's also a dearth of 4K content, which has hurt sales of 4K TVs. In essence, it's too far ahead of the competition. This is likely to change in the future. For now, however, people with deep pockets would have to console themselves with HD movies on a 5K screen, watching blown-up videos until the standard catches up with Apple's device.
The new iMac is not the first desktop computer with a 5K display. Last September, Dell announced the UltraSharp 27 Ultra HD 5K, which has the same price as the new Apple computer.
