LaCie Delivers Next Generation 24'' Display with a Premium IPS Panel

[btarunr]

LaCie today announced the latest addition to its line of professional displays, the LaCie 324i – featuring a 10–bit P–IPS LCD panel. An ideal monitor for prepress, illustration, web design, and photographic workflows, the LaCie 324i delivers uniform and accurate colors thanks to its wide gamuts and backlight stabilization.

The LaCie 324i P–IPS panel offers a realistic presentation without discoloration or inconvenient pattern distortions. Distinguished by its impressive gamut spectrum, the LaCie 324i color is rated at 102% NTSC and 98% Adobe RGB. With wide gamuts that are not disturbed by irregular patterns, digital artists can rely on true colors that maintain the integrity of their work.



"For years, LaCie has designed monitors for digital artists who demand color precision," said Ahcene Tirane, LaCie Product Manager for Displays. "From concept to creation, LaCie developed the 324i with the highest level of color accuracy, and with a firm belief that when professionals have a tool that enhances their workflow, they can deliver their best work."

Enhanced Workflow
Designed for versatility in any office or studio, the LaCie 324i 178° viewing angle provides the same visual experience and quality from numerous axes, without distorting the picture or losing color. Further, its anti–glare panel guarantees that you will not have to worry about unwanted reflections often found on glossy panels.

With 24 inches of usable workspace and a native 1920x1200 resolution, users can enjoy two projects at once, with room for toolbars and palettes. If Landscape is not the desired display mode, simply pivot the LaCie 324i 90° to Portrait mode. The multifunction stand glides effortlessly when raising, lowering, swiveling, tilting, or pivoting the display.

Additionally, the 324i comes with a 3–year Gold Protection Plan that includes a robust 3–year advance care warranty. If you experience a problem, LaCie will ship a replacement monitor immediately – so you never have to worry about downtime.

Absolute Accuracy
In addition to its 1000:1 contrast ratio and backlight stabilization – for the brightest whites and darkest blacks – the LaCie 324i can be further enhanced with the optional LaCie blue eye calibration tool. The included software also provides prepress professionals with the option to enhance soft proofing accuracy using test and report features approved by UGRA (the Swiss Center of Competence for Media and Printing Technology).

Enhanced Connectivity
The LaCie 324i has four display and video inputs, making it compatible with most computers and video devices. Use DisplayPort or DVI–D for connecting the monitor to a computer and HDMI or component for video sources. The 324i also has three USB 2.0 ports for a convenient USB hub to your computer. All cables are neatly arranged in the 324i's handy cable manager.

Availability
The LaCie 324i P–IPS LCD Monitor is available from the LaCie Store Online or through LaCie Color Partner and LaCie Reseller+, starting at the suggested retail price of $1,249.

[ebolamonkey3]

Soo expensive QQ

You can almost get a HP ZR30W for that much.

[toyo]

Beautiful! I used to work on a LaCie 20" CRT back in the days when I was an employee at a newspaper (glad I made it out and do fine by myself). The price seem a little high, given that Dell has a IPS at 27" and higher resolution at 1000 Euros, and it's very much the love of reviewers everywhere.

NEC also have some nice model, P-IPS also... but even if IPS is cheaper now, it's still too expensive. Maybe next year... when I'll have a video card able to drive properly a 1080p+ resolution.

[wolf]

damn IPS monitors are so expensive... wish I could afford one. toyo you make a good point too about the 27" dell.

[toyo]

I have a friend who owns a 24" H-IPS Philips 240PW9ES... just for his pleasure, photography and stuff, no professional use. He is so disappointed that wanted for months to sell it (couldn't, no one understood why IPS worth so much more than a equivalent TN... gamer culture here in my country). He couldn't sell even at less than half-price, monitor was under a year old, and with warranty/documents.

His eyes were set on the Dell UltraSharp U2711... he was desperate to get it, even if at the 1000 USD price it was way out of his reach... couldn't get his credit card extension so no monitor, sadly. However, I'm kinda happy for him since he never really needed it and if bought, it would have put the guy through much financial problems.

So that's how I met the killer 27" from Dell. I covet it too, as a designer, I also need it (I work on a calibrated TN, no problem, as I know where to stand and how to look and move the graphics so I see the colours at full TN beauty, sigh). I could buy the Dell tomorrow, but then why would I spend all my money on it? Just look at them IPSs how cheap they become. In 1-2 years we will have them at 500 USD.

So have patience, friends...

[timta2]

I don't know, I really like the prices on those Dells too but the reviews appear to be So-So. Maybe they are using cheaper panels and that is why they are so much cheaper?

[Wrigleyvillain]

Yeah it's partly the overpriced IPS but LaCie has always been higher-end (read: higher-priced) and even targeted towards graphics and imaging pros. This doesn't seem to be much different. As to whether those folks absolutely need to spend that much is debatable.

Fun Fact: LaCie phone support was my first real tech job back in '97! Ah, the good old days.

Fun Fact 2: I am on my old Mac and typing this on a LaCie 22" Electron Blue III CRT. Still alive and kicking after all these years. These things were like a grand in their day!

[toyo]

When at the newspaper, we really needed the LaCie (we also had other pro stuff, but LaCie was top notch). We had a pretty old and bad rotary press (even if we were the largest newspaper in the West of the country), and pics were bad due to quick, journalism-type photography and bad, uncalibrated Apple Cinema monitors.
After calibration, the LaCie was a life saver and I quickly replaced the Cinema Display that came with the Dual G5 we were using (nice stuff back in the day, when dual cores were pretty unknown). I seldom do colour critical work nowadays, but even so I miss my old LaCie, it was perfectly usable for proofing... I hope this is the English term.
So I have much faith in the models they label as pro... but evidently, a few years can change much in the orientation of an enterprise (can't forget Iiyama - went from full pro to consumer) and quality of their products.

[pantherx12]

Originally Posted by toyo

When at the newspaper, we really needed the LaCie (we also had other pro stuff, but LaCie was top notch). We had a pretty old and bad rotary press (even if we were the largest newspaper in the West of the country), and pics were bad due to quick, journalism-type photography and bad, uncalibrated Apple Cinema monitors.
After calibration, the LaCie was a life saver and I quickly replaced the Cinema Display that came with the Dual G5 we were using (nice stuff back in the day, when dual cores were pretty unknown). I seldom do colour critical work nowadays, but even so I miss my old LaCie, it was perfectly usable for proofing... I hope this is the English term.
So I have much faith in the models they label as pro... but evidently, a few years can change much in the orientation of an enterprise (can't forget Iiyama - went from full pro to consumer) and quality of their products.

Aye quality went down from pro, but they're still great consumer level monitors, much better than samsungs/lg and the other usual stuff.

[Wrigleyvillain]

Originally Posted by toyo

When at the newspaper, we really needed the LaCie (we also had other pro stuff, but LaCie was top notch). We had a pretty old and bad rotary press (even if we were the largest newspaper in the West of the country), and pics were bad due to quick, journalism-type photography and bad, uncalibrated Apple Cinema monitors.
After calibration, the LaCie was a life saver and I quickly replaced the Cinema Display that came with the Dual G5 we were using (nice stuff back in the day, when dual cores were pretty unknown). I seldom do colour critical work nowadays, but even so I miss my old LaCie, it was perfectly usable for proofing... I hope this is the English term.
So I have much faith in the models they label as pro... but evidently, a few years can change much in the orientation of an enterprise (can't forget Iiyama - went from full pro to consumer) and quality of their products.

I hear all that. Though as a general IT guy who has to move stations around far too often let me tell you flat panel displays saved my life (and my back!).

[Mussels]

Additionally, the 324i comes with a 3–year Gold Protection Plan that includes a robust 3–year advance care warranty. If you experience a problem, LaCie will ship a replacement monitor immediately – so you never have to worry about downtime.

^ that is probably why its so expensive

Can get a dell 30" IPS for $200 more, U3011.

[pr0n Inspector]

This is a very nice NEC monitor.

[WarEagleAU]

Very nice but damn IPS panels being more expensive. Id like one to have an HDMI connector. They do look more beautiful on color than their TN counterparts.

[NeSeNVi]

Only 98% Adobe RGB on IPS panel? Some TN can show 100% nowadays... like Samsung PX2370. Some could say: "hey, only 2% of difference", but it's more important than you think for

illustration and photographic

professional works... or I am wrong:)

[pr0n Inspector]

Originally Posted by NeSeNVi

Only 98% Adobe RGB on IPS panel? Some TN can show 100% nowadays... like Samsung PX2370. Some could say: "hey, only 2% of difference", but it's more important than you think for professional works... or I am wrong

You may be wrong. A simple percentage number doesn't give us a lot of information about the colour gamut. Colour gamut is best displayed with a 3D model, displays can have the same size but different shape.