Apple Studio Display (21-inch CRT, 1999) vs Sony GDM-FW900

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Studio Display (21-inch CRT, 1999) compared with GDM-FW900
AppleStudio Display (21-inch CRT, 1999)SonyGDM-FW900
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 19992000
Display
Screen size19.8″22.5″
PanelCRT (Nominal 21-inch Sony Trinitron aperture-grille CRT with a 19.8-inch viewable image; 0.25–0.27 mm variable aperture grille pitch. Vertically flat screen, without a fixed native pixel matrix.)CRT (Flat FD Trinitron aperture-grille CRT; marketed as a 24-inch tube, with a 22.5-inch active diagonal in Sony's US brochure. No fixed pixel matrix or native refresh rate.)
Colour modes–EASY, EXPERT and sRGB; 5000 K, 6500 K and 9300 K presets, adjustable colour temperature, RGB gain and bias
Pixel pitchVariable 0.25–0.27 mm aperture grille pitchVariable aperture-grille pitch, 0.23 mm at the centre to 0.27 mm at the edges; not an LCD pixel pitch
Supported signal modesSupports 1600 × 1200, 1280 × 1024 and 1024 × 768 at up to 85 Hz; 1152 × 870 and 832 × 624 at up to 75 Hz. Horizontal scan 31–107 kHz; vertical scan 48–120 Hz. These are selectable CRT signal modes, not a fixed native matrix or one native refresh rate.Sony specifies a maximum 2304 × 1440 at 80 Hz and recommends 1920 × 1200 at 85 Hz (16:10). Horizontal scan range 30–121 kHz; vertical scan range 48–160 Hz. These are supported timings, not native resolution or refresh. Standard image area 474 × 296 mm (16:10), 395 × 296 mm (4:3), or 370 × 296 mm (5:4); maximum viewable area approximately 482.1 × 308.2 mm.
Screen coatingAntireflective and antistatic screen coatingHigh Contrast AR screen coating
CalibrationInternal measurement system adjusts the electron beam to maintain factory calibration; stores ColorSync profiles. Includes an ambient-light tool, variable 4100–9300 K white-point selection and gamma-curve adjustment.Horizontal and vertical convergence, top/bottom vertical convergence, geometry, landing and moiré adjustment; automatic and manual degaussing
Connections
Video inputsVGAVGA
USB-C chargingNoneNone
USB ports4 × USB-A4 × USB-A
Other connections15-pin mini D-Sub VGA video connector with supplied VGA-to-Macintosh adaptorOne HD15 VGA input and one analogue RGB input comprising five BNC connectors (R, G, B, horizontal sync and vertical sync). Supports separate/composite sync and sync-on-green; BNC does not support DDC Plug & Play.
USB hub detail–One square USB-B upstream connector and four rectangular USB-A downstream connectors; hub remains powered in monitor power-saving mode
Design
Stand adjusts–Tilt, swivel
Weight with stand35 kg42 kg
Tilt–5° down to 15° up
Swivel–165° left or right, as shown in the operating instructions
Size with stand51.1 × 56.6 × 55 cm (width × height × depth), January 1999 Blueberry datasheet; later Graphite enclosure dimensions differApproximately 571.5 × 500 × 522.5 mm (W × H × D)
Weight detail–Approximately 42 kg for the complete monitor
ControlsPower, brightness and contrast; compatible Mac software supplies geometry, convergence, degauss, white-point and calibration adjustmentsRoll-in cylindrical control panel with joystick, input selector, automatic sizing/centring and reset; OSD control lock and nine menu languages
ColoursTranslucent Blueberry and white enclosureMetallic silver front bezel and navy-blue rear cabinet (Japanese archive description)
Power and support
Power useMaximum 180 W operating; less than 30 W standby; less than 5 W when the computer is in energy-saving modeUp to 170 W in operation, up to 15 W in standby/suspend and up to 1 W in active-off mode, all without USB peripherals; 0 W with power switched off
Power supply90–264 V AC, single-phase 47–63 Hz; mains frequency is separate from display refreshInternational operating instructions specify 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, 2.2–1.2 A; Japanese-market archive specifies 100 V AC. Use the appropriate supplied regional mains lead.
SoftwareMaker announced the new Studio Display family on 5 January 1999; January retail precision is used because a distinct first-sale day is unconfirmed. January M6204LL/A datasheet requires the new Power Macintosh G3 with built-in USB and Mac OS 8.0 or later. Brightness and contrast ratio are unpublished and omitted; no pixel density is assigned to this CRT.DDC1/DDC2B/DDC2Bi and GTF support over HD15; graphics-card timing support is required for widescreen modes
Certifications–ENERGY STAR, TCO'99 and MPR II in the international operating instructions; Japanese archive also lists VCCI Class B
In the boxDisplay, Apple Displays software, VGA-to-Macintosh adaptor, power cord, ambient-light tool and setup guidePower cord, video-signal cable, USB cable, Power Mac G3/G4 adapter, warranty card, screen-cleaning notes and operating instructions (international manual; regional contents may vary)

More comparisons