Apple Display vs. Dell - so, why the price difference?

[Shacklebolt]

So, I'm biting the bullet, selling my awesome 15" Apple Studio Dislay LCD (ADC, not that other kind), and I was doing it so I could buy myself a 20" Apple Cinema display. But I'm having second thoughts on the Cinema display after checking out the Dell 2005FPW or whatever it is. The price difference is rather monstorous (I'm a student, so the apple display would cost 699 as opposed to 524 for the Dell), so can anyone speculate as to why? I like the design of the Apple monitor more, and sure, it's more elegant, but 175 bucks? That's a lot of dough. Aside from that, doesn't anyone know where I can get the dell display cheaper than 524?

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm going to look at this from Dell's perspective instead of from Apple's perspective.

The reason Dell is able to get away with charging $524 for their monitor is that they sell in such high volumes (especially to businesses) that they can afford to run periodic specials and take a hit on their profits to promote additional sales. Apple simply lacks the sales volume to use this approach.

[sbb155]

It is actually basic

If you read some annual reports or financial statements, it sometimes is very interesting!

Apple's gross margins are a lot higher than dell.
In other words, apple wants to make more profit from the monitor than dell.
Greedy? Maybe, or maybe they are just looking out for their shareholders.

The price difference is mostly because Apple wants to make a higher profit per monitor than dell wants to.
Dell has razor thin margins, while apple's are very high.
Apple could easily sell the monitor for less, but they want to make higher profits on fatter margins for the apple moniker. And they must know what they are doing, because a lot of people buy the apple monitor, just for the name and the design, rather than the performance.

[asif786]

in the end, it always comes down to looks. i'm getting a 20" cinema display next month, and i'll be getting the apple one. why? because every morning when i see the display, i dont want to think 'goddamnit, i wish i bought the apple instead of the dell". i think the apple 20" is reasonably priced. i expect we're all used to paying a little extra for the apple brand and aesthetics..

also, i guess i would rather be contributing to apple's bottom line instead of dell's. :)

plus, i'm just using it as a fancy pictureframe on my window-ledge, so it *has* to look good :D

[OCOTILLO]

Beauty doesn't come cheap.

[Calihafan]

You all DO know that the display in the Apple display is identical to the one in the Dell display? They're both manufactured by Philips? Yeah... unless you really need the aesthetic to fit into the office, I'd go with the Dell. I mean, you can villianize them all you want, and I don't like them either, but when the display is identical... I think it depends - are the looks worth $450? If not, go with the Dell. I don't like Dell, they suck, but the display is the display.

Calih

[aswitcher]

You all DO know that the display in the Apple display is identical to the one in the Dell display? They're both manufactured by Philips? Yeah... unless you really need the aesthetic to fit into the office, I'd go with the Dell. I mean, you can villianize them all you want, and I don't like them either, but when the display is identical... I think it depends - are the looks worth $450? If not, go with the Dell. I don't like Dell, they suck, but the display is the display.

Calih


Yeah, that pretty much killed it for me givent he rpice difference. When I go to buy I'll go Dell and save...especially on the 24" dell versus 23" Apple displays

[asif786]

You all DO know that the display in the Apple display is identical to the one in the Dell display? They're both manufactured by Philips? Yeah... unless you really need the aesthetic to fit into the office, I'd go with the Dell. I mean, you can villianize them all you want, and I don't like them either, but when the display is identical... I think it depends - are the looks worth $450? If not, go with the Dell. I don't like Dell, they suck, but the display is the display.

Calih

yep, there was a comparison the other day that showed there's really no difference. of course, there are a few contributing factors when picking a display:

a) what's the price difference? int he case of the 20" the difference is just under 200 bucks. obviously, as you look at larger displays the difference will be higher. that's when it's harder to decide.

b) if you go and spend say $3000 on getting a new powermac, why not get a matching display? sure, youll pay a couple of hundred more, but if you can spend $3000 on a comp, then you may as well get the whole package, right?

[sbb155]

It is very simple, getting back to the profits issue.
Would you rather have a few hundred in your wallet or in apple shareholders wallets?

Really, it is that simple.

Interestingly, some people prefer one side (less $$$ in their wallet) and others prefer more $$ in their wallet.

Apple has done brilliant marketing, getting people to pay sometimes 50% more for the same screen. Got to hand it to them. Most companies can't pull off that kind of marketing.

[dornoforpyros]

The price difference is rather monstorous...but 175 bucks? That's a lot of dough. Aside from that, doesn't anyone know where I can get the dell display cheaper than 524?


umm I know for a student $175 isn't pocket change but I hardley consider it to be monstorous. $400-$500 is monstorouse but $175?

Then again since the recent price drop on the apple displays they have become much more appealing to me.

[asif786]

Apple has done brilliant marketing, getting people to pay sometimes 50% more for the same screen. Got to hand it to them. Most companies can't pull off that kind of marketing.

let's be honest, it's not *exactly* the same thing. the insides are the same, not the outsides. you're paying more for what the product looks like.

and apple isn't the only company that's pulled this off. people buy expensive tv's all the time. at the end of the day a tv is a tv. but you pay a premium because of how it'll look in your house. another example is food: you can buy unbranded gummi bears from wal-mart or branded ones from another supermarket. they're both really the same thing..

umm, ok that last point was kinda lame but i wont cut it out :p

[Prelude2Tragedy]

This weekend the dell 2005 is only 400 bucks. There are 35% coupons and 90 dollar off stackable coupons. You can find them in deal forums like fatwallet and such.

[sbb155]

I agree asif, apple isn't the only company to pull it off. but most companies can't pull off a charge of 50% premium for their name.
The apple name really has allowed apple to produce very high margins on everything.

From the apple website, and dell's, you can see that gross margins for apple were nearly 30%, while for dell they were almost 9%.

So, on the average, when apple sells an item they mark it up 30% from their cost, and dell marks it up 9% from their cost.

I think apple stuff is a little overpriced, which is obvious when you look at their financial statements. Of course, to other people, a 30% markup may be completely reasonable to have an aluminum colored casing and an apple logo on the item.

That is why apple has brilliant marketing... they can make people believe that things are worth a markup, when the performance is equal... again, I got to hand it to them....really a great way to make profits - just mark things up more than you r competition, and get people to buy them! Really an amazing company if you ask me.

[Xenious]

Not all the insides are the same. The LCD panel itself is the same, the controller chipsets and the backlights are different.

I think ars technica had a good comparison review between them.

IMHO if you are getting it for mac use only I'd suggest the apple display. If you want to use it on a PC as well I'd suggest the Dell as it has some additional 1:1 fixed pixel modes (ie 640x480 shows up as 640x480 with black bar areas instead of stretched to the monitor size).

[witness]

Another factor that no one seems to think of is that the Dell is height adjustable. I find it very strange that Apple's monitors and now iMac's are not height adjustable, all you can do is tilt them. They might look nice, but if you have to stick a book or two under it it might not look so pretty.

Also, another thing is that the dell supports svideo and composite inputs.

[noel4r]

As much as I'd rather have an Apple display, I got a 2005fpw a month ago for $424.00 including tax, free shipping. How can you beat that? I can't wait until next week when I get my Dual 1.8...Yeah!!!

[cmvsm]

Apple displays all the way, especially with the price drop...of which I didn't get to take part... :eek:

If you are frantic about an extra $175 bucks for quality AND asthethics, then maybe you should try not only the Dell monitor, but $399 Win box as well... :D

[bousozoku]

The Apple display is SWOP certified for colour rendition. I doubt the Dell display is that close but it depends on what you need.

[beyelka]

I was also in the market for a new Monitor, was comparing prices Dell v. Apple.

I ended up getting the Dell (with the additional "SoundBar" attachment). Bonuses were:
1> approx. AUD$1,200 cheaper for the Dell.
2> AUD$1,660 v. AUD$2,795; Dell v. Apple.
3> 5 input sources (DVI, VGA, S-Video, Composite, Video)
4> Picture in Picture from the 'video'-style inputs onto the DVI or VGA modes
5> Height, rotation, tilt adjustable
6> Pivotable Display to Portrait (w/support in Tiger)

I thought the price difference was definately repeatable :p

OK, the Dell is obviously not in the same design-camp as Apple, the aluminium surround on the Apple is nice, but, let's face it... most of the time you are looking at what's displayed on the screen, *not* the edges. Having said that, the matt black surround on the Dell is less "in-your-face" than the aluminium of Apple.

Oh, and *no* dead pixels. (Though admittedly I haven't seen a dead pixel on an Apple 23" either.)

In short, one very happy camper! :)

[jsalzer]

Dell and Apple have to do the same R&D to put out a monitor.

Microsoft and Apple have to do the same R&D to put out an OS.

Having a smaller market share doesn't mean you pay less for these things. How do you compensate? A larger markup.

Near as I'm concerned, we should all feel honored to contribute that extra markup to Apple's R&D!

(I also enjoy paying state taxes. Heck, I like my paved roads and take full advantage of them. Worth every penny! Think how much it would cost me to build my own. Or to have to use gravel roads. Or, the equivalent, to use a Wintel machine.)

[sbb155]

jsalzer-
You are exactly the kind of person that apple wants to market their products to... someone who justifies the higher price and supports the high margin! Bravo! I am glad you are helping to keep apple in business. (and their shareholders wealthy)

[aaandrewww]

the Dell can be had for $400 today check fatwallet.com for the coupons.

[solvs]

The Apple's are nice, and may even be better, but that can be quite a difference in money. For a poor student, I'd say go with the cheaper option. The Dell's aren't that bad, but be forwarned, you do get what you pay for.

Of course, how "poor" could you be to be able to afford a couple of hundred for an LCD. :p You may not get much for that 15" ACD.

[jsalzer]

jsalzer-
You are exactly the kind of person that apple wants to market their products to... someone who justifies the higher price and supports the high margin! Bravo! I am glad you are helping to keep apple in business. (and their shareholders wealthy)

I feel so special now. Apple wants me! Finally, someone wants me! ;)

Now, I didn't say that I always pay their price - just that I understand why it is what it is. And when I do pay, I understand that I'm pulling more weight than a Wintel user is to keep my favorite computer manufacturer alive and healthy. (Says the Pismo owner who hasn't contributed significantly in years.)

I used to work in a small, sinking, underfunded, understaffed college. All of the agencies (government and private) that send you paperwork to fill out don't quite care that the paperwork took me the same amount of time to complete their forms that it took for a person in an office with 100 times the staff to do it. The cost in man hours didn't change because of the size of the college or the size of the staff, which placed a much greater burden on me than my counterparts in larger schools. Apple R&D is in the same situation. Lowering their price won't increase their market share of monitors (considering that Wintel users will never believe an Apple monitor will work with their systems). So, you make the monitor great and hope you can get the higher markup.

I'm still all snuggly and warm that Steve loves me. :)

[sjpetry]

Near as I'm concerned, we should all feel honored to contribute that extra markup to Apple's R&D!
Honored?

Talk about being brainwashed. :rolleyes:

[jsalzer]

Talk about being brainwashed. :rolleyes:

I know. It's what happens when a co-dependent person leaves his cheating ex and has to find a new identity. :cool:

[sjpetry]

I know. It's what happens when a co-dependent person leaves his cheating ex and has to find a new identity. :cool:
And never forget you're a "Proud Father of a Pismo". ;) :p

[FFTT]

Graphics Converter really chopped the quality of this screen shot, but it shows
a full measure 8"X11" page open and explains why I went for the 24" display.

http://img194.echo.cx/img194/2711/macrumorswebdesktop9xf.jpg

In real life these images are crystal clear.

The Dell 24" 2405FPW specs are also much improved over the 20" 2005FPW

The Apple 20" is by far a better display than the Dell 20" IMHO,
but the small price difference up to the quality of the Dell 24" made it my
best option.
Coming up from a 17" Sony Multiscan 200ES CRT
I am SO spoiled now having all this room to play with.

[Maedus]

I see nothing wrong with jsalzer having criteria in his purchases beyond quality over price and I definitely don't think he's stupid or brainwashed.

Assuming the displays are equal, if I had the need for an Apple Cinema Display and I wasn't on a tight budget, I'd get the ACD because:

1) Its from a brand I trust (as opposed to Dell who I have no reason to trust.)
2) If I needed an ACD, it would be because I owned a PowerMac (or any variant of Apple computers that requires or could use a display) and an ACD would match my computer a lot better than the Dell display.
3) It is more aesthetically appealing. (My TV is silver. My DVD player, satellite TV box, VCR, and stereo are black. I wish ALL my entertainment devices were silver! If I had plenty of cash to throw around, I'd buy all new devices to match my more aesthetically appealing TV.)
4) If I bought an ACD while purchasing a PowerMac, it would be covered under AppleCare if I chose to get AppleCare.
5) Owning an Apple branded product would make me happier than owning a Dell branded product.
6) I would be contributing to Apple's financial success. For those of you who think this is stupid, do you think a boycott is equally stupid? Its the same principle in reverse. You support the companies you like and you boycott the ones you don't like. This is important because it means that a) Apple will continued to grow, b) Apple R&D will continue to be adequately funded, c) Apple employees will have a job and food on the table for their family as opposed to Dell enjoying these benefits.

I try to support companies I like by purchasing from them so that they can serve me in the future with new products that fulfill my needs. But sometimes this isn't possible because they may charge too much and I'm forced to buy more frugally. And this happens more often than not because I'm not loaded with cash and I have to budget my expenses. But not everybody is like me and some make more than enough cash to cover the necessities such as food and shelter and retirement. So what should they do with that extra cash? Horde it all or spend it on things that make them happy?

[Xtremehkr]

I imagine it can be attributed to the concept of 'economies of scale.'

Dell is able to move many more units than Apple is. And the Dell design is much cheaper, which on a large scale gives them even more advantage.

The Aluminum Base is rock solid. The quality and durability far exceeds Dells use of plastic. And even the plastic on an Apple display is better.

Quality of product in a broad but important consideration.

I would go Dell for a second monitor though.

[Panoctopi]

I see nothing wrong with jsalzer having criteria in his purchases beyond quality over price and I definitely don't think he's stupid or brainwashed.

Assuming the displays are equal, if I had the need for an Apple Cinema Display and I wasn't on a tight budget, I'd get the ACD because:

1) Its from a brand I trust (as opposed to Dell who I have no reason to trust.)
2) If I needed an ACD, it would be because I owned a PowerMac (or any variant of Apple computers that requires or could use a display) and an ACD would match my computer a lot better than the Dell display.
3) It is more aesthetically appealing. (My TV is silver. My DVD player, satellite TV box, VCR, and stereo are black. I wish ALL my entertainment devices were silver! If I had plenty of cash to throw around, I'd buy all new devices to match my more aesthetically appealing TV.)
4) If I bought an ACD while purchasing a PowerMac, it would be covered under AppleCare if I chose to get AppleCare.
5) Owning an Apple branded product would make me happier than owning a Dell branded product.
6) I would be contributing to Apple's financial success. For those of you who think this is stupid, do you think a boycott is equally stupid? Its the same principle in reverse. You support the companies you like and you boycott the ones you don't like. This is important because it means that a) Apple will continued to grow, b) Apple R&D will continue to be adequately funded, c) Apple employees will have a job and food on the table for their family as opposed to Dell enjoying these benefits.

I try to support companies I like by purchasing from them so that they can serve me in the future with new products that fulfill my needs. But sometimes this isn't possible because they may charge too much and I'm forced to buy more frugally. And this happens more often than not because I'm not loaded with cash and I have to budget my expenses. But not everybody is like me and some make more than enough cash to cover the necessities such as food and shelter and retirement. So what should they do with that extra cash? Horde it all or spend it on things that make them happy?

Agree 100%... in capitalism the most important vote is the one you cast with your wallet. i understand if not everyone has the means to approach circumstances from that perspective everytime, that includes me, but when i can i usually do, i.e, i avoid spending money in any kind of large retail franchises.

So definitely re-examine your definition of what being stupid or brainwashed is, perhaps you'll find some irony in it...

[Sedulous]

Dell and Apple have to do the same R&D to put out a monitor.

Microsoft and Apple have to do the same R&D to put out an OS.

Having a smaller market share doesn't mean you pay less for these things. How do you compensate? A larger markup.

Near as I'm concerned, we should all feel honored to contribute that extra markup to Apple's R&D!

(I also enjoy paying state taxes. Heck, I like my paved roads and take full advantage of them. Worth every penny! Think how much it would cost me to build my own. Or to have to use gravel roads. Or, the equivalent, to use a Wintel machine.)

Dell doesn't spend much on OS development... you can be certain of that. The Apple display does indeed have a simpler interface, a firewire & USB hub, and as someone pointed out, better color fidelity.

[snkTab]

It also branding.

You can get jeans at Kmart for $10 bucks and jeans at whatever preppy store for >$100. I'm sure they both perform the same with the "designer" jeans looking a bit better, but in reality you are buying a name.

[Maxiseller]

How much do you really want the DELL logo on the front?

It aint pretty is it?

In my opinion, we often spend so much money purchasing the computer, but we ignore the one thing that is absolutly the most important thing: our eyes. How can you quibble over a mere $150 when in essence what you're doing is augmenting the computer product by a display that is worthy of your time.

You're going to be sitting at this thing for hours on end. Get the Apple display - it's aesthetically pleasing, beautifully desgned, and a damn good display to boot. You'll only regret it when you have a spare $200 thinking "Hmmm, the DELL really isn't pretty is it"

But this is just my opinion. I'm a perfectionist, and if I buy an Apple computer, I buy into the name, design and the fact that it earns me my bread and butter. Some may say I'm injecting too much into a company brand, but I chose Apple as it's the best for my needs. I could never sit a powermac next to a dell display!! It's just not right (looks for sledgehammer)

[edesignuk]

Near as I'm concerned, we should all feel honored to contribute that extra markup to Apple's R&D!That is just flat out scary :eek: :rolleyes:

[rugonnaeatthat]

I'd buy the Apple monitor - i know I know I'm a fashion victim, but I really don't like black plastic. I might change my mind as the $ gap widens and the Inch's increase. That said, Apple need to earn such loyalty... maybe they could make an ultra thin monitor for example, or another innovation which would loosen our wallets a little quicker. As far as I can tell the Dell is about as thin and imposing as the Apple.

I think everyone should read the Dell vs Apple 20in article that was doing the rounds last week especially if you are going to buy one in the near future. A large issue the article raises is that Dell has 3yrs warranty whilst Apple only has 1yr.

Apple is a great company but no infallible, this might well be the kick up the butt they need to innovate their monitors further - I can't think of anything they could do that wouldn't be superfluous... but I know this thread wouldn't be here if Apples monitor floated on magnetic force or had absolutely no frame...

[wrldwzrd89]

Apple's already earned my loyalty as far as displays go. If, for some reason, I have a compelling reason not to buy from Apple, Formac is my second choice.

When it comes to computers, I like things to match. Unfortunately, that isn't true of my Windows PC (the monitor is beige, but everything else is black); it is true of my iMac.

[asif786]

I see nothing wrong with jsalzer having criteria in his purchases beyond quality over price and I definitely don't think he's stupid or brainwashed.

Assuming the displays are equal, if I had the need for an Apple Cinema Display and I wasn't on a tight budget, I'd get the ACD because:

1) Its from a brand I trust (as opposed to Dell who I have no reason to trust.)
2) If I needed an ACD, it would be because I owned a PowerMac (or any variant of Apple computers that requires or could use a display) and an ACD would match my computer a lot better than the Dell display.
3) It is more aesthetically appealing. (My TV is silver. My DVD player, satellite TV box, VCR, and stereo are black. I wish ALL my entertainment devices were silver! If I had plenty of cash to throw around, I'd buy all new devices to match my more aesthetically appealing TV.)
4) If I bought an ACD while purchasing a PowerMac, it would be covered under AppleCare if I chose to get AppleCare.
5) Owning an Apple branded product would make me happier than owning a Dell branded product.
6) I would be contributing to Apple's financial success. For those of you who think this is stupid, do you think a boycott is equally stupid? Its the same principle in reverse. You support the companies you like and you boycott the ones you don't like. This is important because it means that a) Apple will continued to grow, b) Apple R&D will continue to be adequately funded, c) Apple employees will have a job and food on the table for their family as opposed to Dell enjoying these benefits.

I try to support companies I like by purchasing from them so that they can serve me in the future with new products that fulfill my needs. But sometimes this isn't possible because they may charge too much and I'm forced to buy more frugally. And this happens more often than not because I'm not loaded with cash and I have to budget my expenses. But not everybody is like me and some make more than enough cash to cover the necessities such as food and shelter and retirement. So what should they do with that extra cash? Horde it all or spend it on things that make them happy?

that's an excellent post. full of valid points.

at thge end of the day, we all work hard so we can have nice things. so we can provide our families with nice things. some people have families to support, so an extra $200 for a similar thing is out of the question. other people dont (like me). so, when it comes to buying the display, i will get the apple one.

inside, we all want to get the apple one. whether we have the financial means to spare that $200 extra for a similar product is an entirely different question.

[oriol]

why get a Apple screen.?
-why ride in a BMW? if u can get a Civic that does the same job.
-i prefer to see on my parking lot a BMW. why? STYLE.
just get what u want if u just need a ride get a civic, if u want a car get a BMW.

my two cents

[cwerdna]

so an extra $200 for a similar thing is out of the question. other people dont (like me). so, when it comes to buying the display, i will get the apple one.

inside, we all want to get the apple one. whether we have the financial means to spare that $200 extra for a similar product is an entirely different question.
It's a ~$400 difference now. Don't know about you, but I'd rather buy 2 2005FPWs (might have to wait till the deal's run again for the 2nd one) and run multimon than go w/a single ACD 20.

FWIW, I recently ordered a 2001FP for myself at ~$450 before tax (2005FPW wasn't this cheap back then) for the future Power Mac I'm going to get.

[Ryon]

why get a Apple screen.?
-why ride in a BMW? if u can get a Civic that does the same job.
-i prefer to see on my parking lot a BMW. why? STYLE.
just get what u want if u just need a ride get a civic, if u want a car get a BMW.

my two cents

Not quite. The BMW has a more powerful engine and many more features than the Civic. The Apple has the same LCD panel and fewer features than the Dell. The ONLY thing it has going for it is looks and brand.

Edit: Of course, there is a much greater difference in price between the BMW/Civic.

[Abstract]

Honored?

Talk about being brainwashed. :rolleyes:

I know. Just when I thought this place was getting a bit better, the sheep have returned. "Baaaaaaaaa..."

[Abstract]

why get a Apple screen.?
-why ride in a BMW? if u can get a Civic that does the same job.
-i prefer to see on my parking lot a BMW. why? STYLE.
just get what u want if u just need a ride get a civic, if u want a car get a BMW.

my two cents


A Civic and BMW perform differently. An Apple LCD and Dell LCD don't perform much differently. Your point is so invalid...I....I just don't know how to reply.

If a car identical to a BMW 3-Series were to be released and priced the same as a Civic, and yet didn't have the BMW badge and had a Hyundai badge on it instead (no offense Hyundai owners....I own a Hyundai as well), I'd buy the Hyundai rather than the BMW, especially if it meant I paid 40% less after rebates. This is especially true if the Hyundai just happen to not only offer identical performance, but offered more standard options and a long warranty, much like the Dell offers more extras + a 3 year warranty instead of 1 year like Apple does.

I just think its vain if you're at the point where your monitor has to match the appearance of your computer. Something like that isn't important. I don't even know the colour of my television, but I'm sure it doesn't match my room. :o Most TVs don't match your room unless you decorate everything in black, white, or grey, and you don't care, do you?

[_bnkr612]

Hey, it's our money. Dell's not fun. Apple is.

This topic should end.

[Maedus]

Hey, it's our money. Dell's not fun. Apple is.

This topic should end.

Well put. It's our money. I can't understand how people can get upset over what other people want to use and buy. And I find it somewhat offensive that if somebody doesn't agree with the same purchasing philosophy as another, they must be a sheep and brainwashed to think that way. It reminds me of an article I read about why Apple still uses a one button mouse. It was a well thought out and informative article and the first few comments to it were intelligent and complimentary towards what the purpose of the article was. And then the comments turned into a battle between one button mice vs. multi-button mice. To recap the comments in a nutshell, the one button side seemed to argue that a one button mouse serves a purpose (forces software UIs to be more thought out), people do like them, those who can't stand a one button mouse probably wouldn't be happy with any mouse offered as standard. The multi-button mouse party seemed to argue that a one button mouse is unusable and then basically resorted to attacks such as "apple's brainwashing you" and "only stupid people use one button mice." I couldn't believe how angry these people got, especially people who were angry that somebody would have the :eek: audacity to use a one button mouse and like it!

I personally enjoy my one button mouse but I know everybody doesn't and I think everybody shouldn't be confined to using a one button mouse and I have no problem when people ditch their apple mouse for a logitech or even a microsoft mouse. I like the mouse that comes with their computers default because it is a high quality mouse and it ensures programmers have to make their programs simple enough to be usable on a one button mouse. To bring this back to point, I think it is wrong for people to want to force people like me, who are happy with a one button mouse, into using what they want. And I hate it when a person belittles somebody else and calls them brainwashed or sheep because their reasons for something doesn't agree with their own. That only goes to show how close minded you are that you cannot accept what other people like and choose to buy.

This is just the same here. Just because a person has other criteria beyond price and quality in deciding their purchases doesn't make them smarter or dumber. For those who buy the Dell monitor over the Apple monitor, good for you. You found a product that serves your needs and makes you happy. For those who buy the Apple monitor over Dell monitor, good for you too, because you also found a product that serves your needs and makes you happy.

For those who think that just because you prefer an Apple product over a Dell product you must be sheep or brainwashed; take a look in the mirror. Because you sound just like brainwashed sheep to me, but worse, because at least the so called "sheep" weren't insulting other members in this thread but sharing legitimate reasons why they choose to purchase an Apple monitor. They did not demean others opinions in giving their own.

I'd be especially careful of calling others apple sheep because of their opinions because I know some other people in this thread have just been called the same for expressing their opinions in other threads, such as Abstract who voiced his opinion in another thread that "A PB 867MHz G4 will probably feel like a 2.4 - 2.6 GHz P4. However, when it comes to the hardcore intensive stuff, the P4 will be faster at the processing" and got responses that that comment was "fanboyism at its finest."

I'm sorry to rant, but I'm getting tired that people are being demeaned over their opinions or that they are Apple fanboys and sheep if they :eek: like Apple products on a forum about Apple.

[Diatribe]

...such as Abstract... Not to say any names... :D

Nice posts, the two of yours. Not very common these days.
I just think that we shouldn't accept every price that Apple serves us and I definitely think that the premium Apple wanted for the displays before the price drop was insane. I do support Apple whenever I can but you have to set limits and being a fan of company or a product should never keep one from being critical. Support is good, blindly following is bad.

[dejo]

The Apple has the same LCD panel and fewer features than the Dell.

They have different backlights, a major component (AnandTech: The 20" LCD Shootout: Dell versus Apple (http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2400)). As for the fewer features, what features are you referring to? For example, the ACD comes with two FireWire 400 ports but the Dell has none.

[Maedus]

Not to say any names... :D

Nice posts, the two of yours. Not very common these days.
I just think that we shouldn't accept every price that Apple serves us and I definitely think that the premium Apple wanted for the displays before the price drop was insane. I do support Apple whenever I can but you have to set limits and being a fan of company or a product should never keep one from being critical. Support is good, blindly following is bad.

I hope I did not offend Abstract and if I did, I'm sorry, Abstract. I only singled him out because I was reading another thread he posted in and thinking "Wow, this guy is intelligent and adding to the thread and yet he's being attacked as a fanboy simply because people didn't understand what he was saying and they didn't agree with him." I just wish were weren't so critical of each other over if we're being fanboys or not and we instead focused on trading ideas and contribute to everybody's overall knowledge.

For the second part, I agree. Truth be told, I probably wouldn't buy an Apple monitor because I can't justify the costs, personally. I just don't have that kind of cash to throw around. But I think it's great that some people can afford to buy an Apple branded monitor and do.

And nobody is perfect because even now, I can think of how stupid I thought people who bought all Tommy Hilfiger clothes that I think are way overpriced. I pretty sure I insulted and made fun of them over it. I didn't understand why they wanted to own it at the time, but now I realize that having Tommy Hilfiger clothes made them happy and hey, if spending an extra 10 - 20 bucks on a shirt can make you happier or make you feel more confident about yourself, god forbid I take that away from them. Upon reflecting, I feel bad about making fun of somebody because they chose to wear something that made them feel confident in public and happy. I wish I could apologize for what I did now, but I doubt I'll ever see the person I'm thinking of again so it's too late now. Maybe if somebody would have pointed out how stupid I was at the time instead of agreeing or laughing with me, I wouldn't have been so childish and closed minded at the time. But we can't change the past. What we can do is learn from it and try to change the future.

[cwerdna]

They have different backlights, a major component (AnandTech: The 20" LCD Shootout: Dell versus Apple (http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2400)). As for the fewer features, what features are you referring to? For example, the ACD comes with two FireWire 400 ports but the Dell has none.
The Dell has composite, s-video and analog s-video in. The ACD doesn't. The Dell lets your rotate the display 90 degrees to run it in portait. You can't do that on the ACD. The Dell has more controls on its front panel than the ACD does on its side panel. The Dell lets you do PIP and PBP. You can't on the ACD. The Dell lets you unscale the signal. The ACD does not. Oh yes, the warranty on the Dell is 3 years vs 1.

See quote below:
"Another critical note for gamers interested in these displays is the aspect ratio. 1680x1050 is not a very common aspect ratio (16:10). We can watch unscaled 720p inside a window on either display, or scaled 720p with black bars across the bottom of our screen, but it isn't native. Very few games support 1680x1050 as a resolution (with the exception Half Life 2 and Far Cry), so no matter what you play, you will be playing on a scaled signal. Scaled signals degrade play quality as one pixel becomes stretched or compressed to account for the screen size. Dell has an ace up their sleeve with the ability to unscale the signal and have it display as it truly should in native form in the center of the screen (the Dell 2001FP also did this). Apple's Cinema display does not have the circuitry to do this. Several games support a 1600x900 resolution, which on the Dell 2005FPW, only leaves a few pixels along each side uncropped."

FYI, the Dell's manual is at http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/2005FPW/English/index.htm.

[aswitcher]

The Dell has composite, s-video and analog s-video in. The ACD doesn't. The Dell lets your rotate the display 90 degrees to run it in portait. You can't do that on the ACD. The Dell has more controls on its front panel than the ACD does on its side panel. The Dell lets you do PIP and PBP. You can't on the ACD. The Dell lets you unscale the signal. The ACD does not. Oh yes, the warranty on the Dell is 3 years vs 1.




The Dell does seem the stand out.

I really wonder whats next in terms of performance and price when the next rev of the 20" and 24" come out...wonder when that will be

[oriol]

when i was taking about the cars i was refering about STYLE, i wasn't taking about performence if u look the specs of course a DELL monitor is better but why people get Apples monitors???;STYLE. why get a BMW; STYLE. if i just want performence just get a SRT-4 , STYLE i don't think so it stills a Neon.

[Tamer Brad]

when i was taking about the cars i was refering about STYLE, i wasn't taking about performence if u look the specs of course a DELL monitor is better but why people get Apples monitors???;STYLE. why get a BMW; STYLE. if i just want performence just get a SRT-4 , STYLE i don't think so it stills a Neon.

You're not making any sense. Parially because your point is nonsensical, and partially because so is your sentence structure. >_>

[oriol]

You're not making any sense. Parially because your point is nonsensical, and partially because so is your sentence structure. >_>


ok english teacher wut u don't undertand? do u speak another language :confused: i speak 4 so let me know how can we communicate.

[Tamer Brad]

ok english teacher wut u don't undertand? do u speak another language :confused: i speak 4 so let me know how can we communicate.

English teacher? I'm only sixteen.

Well, for one thing, it should "don't you" not "u don't". And you should've spelled out "four" instead of the number 4 (though that's debatable).

Getting a BMW is not just for style. It is a high performance machine. You are paying the premium for PERFORMANCE AND AESTHETICS (like with Apples), not just aesthetics. The Dell display is less good looking but higher quality (IMO) and wayyyy cheaper.

Your argument is moot.

[punkbass25]

um, you both just said the same thing...

[csubear]

All apple displays come with a free serving of Apple Cult Kool-Aid.... Thats why I have mine ;)

[Abulia]

why get a BMW; STYLE.That's not why I bought one.

Freaking awesome driving experience. Don't think I'll ever drive another type of car again. They're that good.

[Maedus]

That's not why I bought one.

Freaking awesome driving experience. Don't think I'll ever drive another type of car again. They're that good.

Nuh uh! Everybody tells me that their $500 new super-stripped down and ultra tiny car gets them from point A to point B just as good as any BMW on the market and that perfect 50/50 front to rear weight distribution means nothing to the driving experience!

Yeah, my friend's Dad had a BMW back when I was in high school and it was a treat to get to ride around in that on the very rare and limited occasions. :p

And I think a proper comparison would have to be a luxury car such as a top of the line Ford (or any other car company that has released a feature-packed luxury car for relatively cheap) compared to a BMW and then asking why you payed extra to get a BMW. This is because both vehicles would be well built and top of the line; just like the monitors in question.

[MontyZ]

Some of you are putting style over substance. I agree the ACDs are beautifully designed and look great, but, I'm more interested in the actual image it displays, and that's where the ACDs fall down. I'm talking specifically about the 23" model, which is riddled with defects.

Then there's the measly 1 year warranty, and if you don't buy the display with a computer, AppleCare will not cover it. So, if the thing goes BOOM in 1 year and 4 days, you're screwed.

I love Apple computers and software, but I've had the worse luck with Apple displays. The Apple 21" Colorsync CRT display I owned about five years ago literally caught on fire and started smoking inside! Even though it was past the short warranty period, Apple was more than happy to refund the entire price and quickly take back the "evidence" because I was in contact with the Consumer Protection agency, otherwise they would have continued to ignore me.

The two 23" ACDs I bought were full of defects, all mentioned by many others on Apple's own boards (the ones not deleted yet). Rather than wait for them to also meltdown, I returned them for a refund after Apple once again decided to ignore instead of fix the problems.

So, I have NO loyalty to Apple whatsoever when it comes to displays. In fact, at this point I'm wary of buying any more displays from Apple. I'll probably get the Dell 24" because it performs better than Apple's displays even though the enclosure might not be as cool as Apple's. But I plan to use the display as a display, not a conversation piece.

[cube]

I think that buying from Dell is wrong, but I really couldn't stand paying more for an underfeatured alternative.
All things being equal, I would pay a couple of hundred more just not to support Dell.

Fortunately, I'm not looking to buy a new monitor now, but those Dell prices really make it tempting.

[Lancetx]

I've been quite happy with the Dell 2005FPW that I bought last month. I certainly don't much care for Dell as a company and this happened to be the first Dell product I've ever purchased in my life. However, I just couldn't justify paying over $400 more for the 20" ACD when the display quality is pretty much the same. I personally don't think you can go wrong with either one and if spending the extra for the ACD makes since to you, then you should go for it. I just couldn't personally justify the difference myself, that's basically why I went with the Dell.

[MontyZ]

I've been quite happy with the Dell 2005FPW that I bought last month.
Does the Dell monitor have USB and/or Firewire ports in the back like the Apple ones do? That's the only thing holding me back from buying the Dell. I need more USB ports.

[mcsenerd]

My feelings are pretty much like this:

All companies make dogs every now and then. All companies hit home runs every now and then. Some companies hit more home runs than they make dogs. Some vice versa. Regardless of brand loyalties, OS ideology, or even subscribed economic ideologies...Dell is a strong company, and so is Apple. Dell has had some serious flops...I can remember a few massive recalls not so long ago. Apple has had some massive flops as well...I don't think we need to get into that. Both displays would easily be the most beautiful slice of monitor technology I've ever personally owned in my entire life. I too give the Apple the nod for asthetics. It would match quite well with my furniture and my mini. The Dell, I hate to say, gets my nod for flexibility. The multiple inputs are a nice feature and one I'd surely use (I actually do use it). And then there's price...Look, I'm sure like many around here...I'd have gotten the Apple if this amount of money was not a big deal in my budget...but with two small children...it's a big deal. I was doing good to swing the Dell. I say if you can afford the Apple and you can justify the price to yourself...congratulations! You're the proud new owner of a fine Apple display! Now go home and enjoy it for all the reasons you purchased it for, and don't feel sad for the fact that you could have saved money to purchase a fairly similar product from Dell. If you can't afford the Apple, or can't stomach paying for the Apple, or you need more flexibility from your monitor...congratulations! You're the proud new owner of a fine Dell display! Now go home and enjoy it for the reasons you purchased it for and don't feel sad because you didn't get the Apple looks.

I have personally enjoyed the 2005FPW. It's a fine monitor and no less capable than the Apple IMHO. I would have purchased the Apple had money been no object however strictly based on how it would look with my furnishings and my computer.

[mcsenerd]

Does the Dell monitor have USB and/or Firewire ports in the back like the Apple ones do? That's the only thing holding me back from buying the Dell. I need more USB ports.

The Dell has a 4-Port USB 2.0 hub integrated...it just doesn't have Firewire.

[Sun Baked]

Dell = WalMart -- lot's of volume, king of low prices, low quality stuff, loss leaders get you into the store to buy the stuff they make money on, but not usually a place you want to be seen shopping in

Apple = KMart -- Look's more upscale, higher prices, doesn't know where it fits into the market, occasional empty shelves or shelves with ancient stock, lower volume, and the vultures are sitting on top of the store

[MontyZ]

The Dell has a 4-Port USB 2.0 hub integrated...it just doesn't have Firewire.
That's great! I need USB more than Firewire, so, I think this dude will be getting a Dell. Apple's loss, they had my money for a while, but, inferior quality display doesn't make up for sleek, beautiful exterior.

[Maxiseller]

Form or Function

These are the only two words prevalent in this debate.

This forum is for Apple fans. It is therefore only logical to assume that we are all in support of Apple products. I don't think it's fair to start calling us all "sheep" to quote a post just because you disagree with a particular purchase that fundamentally, is a private transaction.

My personal views are that the Apple displays are indeed overpriced. However, when my new purchase is logged in a couple of month’s time, I will of course be ordering a 20" Apple display rather than a Dell display. For me, the Apple image is indeed "Form" relevant. That is, it needs to look good. I've brought into the Apple name, and while some may say that I’ve overspent, I say "But what about the clients walking into my office; they see a professional" - that kind of image pays for itself in dividends.

Apple has long been about design. Whether people disagree with me or not, the general consensus about the company is that it offers a higher level of computing experience. It comes from the OS, the Software, the interaction, the hardware components and of course the design. To me, to destroy this image by placing a great black monstrosity in front of my shiny new Power Mac is pure evil.

[wrldwzrd89]

I'm a "form" person too...that's not my only reason for preferring the Apple display over the Dell. The Dell display has features that I would never use; the Apple display has FireWire ports, which I would make extensive use of. Too bad I don't have a PowerMac...

[Maxiseller]

I would imagine that a lot of Mac users are Form people, thats not to say there aren't exeptions!

I can't wait for the powermac!! Then just to save for dual display (ahh think of it...the sheer beauty. Come on people, you can't tell me DELL has that beauty?)

[Bigheadache]

That's great! I need USB more than Firewire, so, I think this dude will be getting a Dell. Apple's loss, they had my money for a while, but, inferior quality display doesn't make up for sleek, beautiful exterior.

I know you were asking about the 2005 but the 2405 has a built in 7 in 1 media reader as well. Both are definitely a good deal compared to the Apple alternatives.

[YS2003]

The two 23" ACDs I bought were full of defects, all mentioned by many others on Apple's own boards (the ones not deleted yet). Rather than wait for them to also meltdown, I returned them for a refund after Apple once again decided to ignore instead of fix the problems.


I think the infamous 23" ACD ghosts have been taken care of by now. I just bought a 23" ACD and it is perfect as there is no dead/stuck pixel nor any tint on the screen. I have compared the 23" with my 20" ACD and there was not difference in the color (ie. pink tint issue). If you are concerned about the "initial" quality, buy it from CompUSA. They have 21 day return policy and they will exchange a defect screen with a new one (there is a limitation for a refund though if you opened the box).

[MontyZ]

Come on people, you can't tell me DELL has that beauty?)
I don't think anyone here is really saying the design of the Dell display is as good or better than the Apple display. They are saying it's better value for the money. Plus, it doesn't have the same defects the 23" ACDs do. Believe me, if the 23" ACD didn't have display defects, I'd have two of them sitting here in my studio. It was not easy to return them. They did look beautiful, but, I couldn't justify spending nearly $2,000 for a defective piece of equipment, no matter how good it looked when turned off.

[MontyZ]

I think the infamous 23" ACD ghosts have been taken care of by now. I just bought a 23" ACD and it is perfect as there is no dead/stuck pixel nor any tint on the screen. I have compared the 23" with my 20" ACD and there was not difference in the color (ie. pink tint issue).
Unfortunately, the pink cast and dead pixels are not the only defects that plague the 23" ACDs. The color consistency from left-to-right, banding and ghosting are also problems on every single one I've seen. Often these problems become more apparent (and get worse) over time.

[cmvsm]

That's great! I need USB more than Firewire, so, I think this dude will be getting a Dell. Apple's loss, they had my money for a while, but, inferior quality display doesn't make up for sleek, beautiful exterior.

Inferior quality? You forget that the display panels come from the same place. If the workmanship stopped at the display, you'd have a dead heat. Unfortunately, it does not.

If you read the same Anandtech article that compares the two, the Dell monitor scored lower than the Apple cinema in color scales and intensity. The article also went as far as saying that Dell overexaggerated their specs in terms of image quality, so the contrast and brightness comparison is out the window.

According to the article, one of the largest complaints received from consumers about the Dell 2005FPW that it had severe screen uniformity problems. This of course means that a sampling of monitors won't have the same performance. Anandtech stated that it was a troublesome complaint as it points to poor construction or poor handling while being constructed. The article went so far as stating that the quality control with Dell is inferior to Apple's. What do you expect from a mass produced, pc/monitor production mill?

The article also makes mention of low quality DVI video outputs and cables found in the monitor which has been causing image issues in terms of the monitor capturing and holding the DVI signal at 1680x1050 resolution.

Again, you get what you pay for. The quality does not stop at the display panel.

[MontyZ]

Inferior quality? You forget that the display panels come from the same place. If the workmanship stopped at the display, you'd have a dead heat. Unfortunately, it does not.
Don't know where you're getting your info, but, the LCD panels do not come from the same place. Apple's come from LG, Dell's come from Samsung. Two different companies, two different panels.

I've read a bunch of things written by owners of both the 23" ACD and the Dell 24", and the Dell gets pretty good marks. If the Dell display was worse than the 23" Apple display, don't you think it would have been mentioned by Apple users?

While you appear to be getting all of your info from a single source, I've been getting mine from several, including my own in-person experience with the 23" ACD.

[cmvsm]

Don't know where you're getting your info, but, the LCD panels do not come from the same place. Apple's come from LG, Dell's come from Samsung. Two different companies, two different panels.

Here's where I'm getting my info from:

http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2400

I think the quote was:

"As unique as Apple's Cinema display might be in the world of 19" to 21" flat panel displays, it shares the same LG.Philips panel as the Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW. There happens to be only a single panel manufacturer capable/willing to mass produce wide screen, high resolution flat panel displays for the PC market."

And your "variety" of sources are from where?? Sorry...didn't see it posted in your last response.

[MontyZ]

"As unique as Apple's Cinema display might be in the world of 19" to 21" flat panel displays, it shares the same LG.Philips panel as the Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW.
I'm not talking about the 20" Dell, I'm talking about the 24" Dell. It does not use the LG panel, if that article states that, it's wrong.

My sources are C-Net, NY Times, MacWorld, e-Week and from knowledgeable people on the Apple Forums.

[cmvsm]

I'm not talking about the 20" Dell, I'm talking about the 24" Dell. It does not use the LG panel, if that article states that, it's wrong.

My sources are C-Net, NY Times, MacWorld, e-Week and from knowledgeable people on the Apple Forums.


Glad you clarified. Yes, the 24" is a Samsung screen manufactured by BenQ. It is a great "display panel" for the money. Overall construction is still a mass produced Dell product, which is its downfall.

[MontyZ]

It is a great "display panel" for the money. Overall construction is still a mass produced Dell product, which is its downfall.
I know it's a mass-produced Dell product. That's why it's cheaper in price and doesn't look as gorgeous as the Apple displays. I'd much rather have the 23" Apple display, but, they have a lot of problems, the warranty is only 1 year, and you can't get AppleCare on it unless you buy it with a computer (which I already have). It's also more expensive. So, the Dell is the best tradeoff I can find right now. And this 17" CRT I'm using right now is horrible after having used the 23" displays for a few weeks, so, the Dell, while not as goolooking as the ACD, is still going to seem luxurious.

[Bigheadache]

Overall construction is still a mass produced Dell product, which is its downfall.

I have no idea why this is a bad point. What are you saying, Apple actually assemble their own monitors in the good ol US of A???? LOL
All the majors use the same OEMs like Hon Hai, Quanta, etc. You're dreaming if you actually think there is a build quality difference.

[cmvsm]

I have no idea why this is a bad point. What are you saying, Apple actually assemble their own monitors in the good ol US of A???? LOL
All the majors use the same OEMs like Hon Hai, Quanta, etc. You're dreaming if you actually think there is a build quality difference.

Quality control standards are different for every company, and are usually much easier to manipulate when you are smaller corporation, such as Apple. For example, if there is a flaw or problem within a production line of products, monitors or whatever, usually a smaller company can manipulate the line and make physical corrections much faster than a larger company. Smaller distribution channels also aid this as the "bad" product gets filtered out of the pipeline quicker than mass produced, mass merchandised products.

To use your example, Hon Hai also produces electronics for Sony as well as Dell and Apple. If you want to compare the quality of Sony electronics to Dell in terms of quality control, then knock yourself out. You seem to think there is none if the parts are the same to each manufacturer. Now that's funny...

:D

[cmvsm]

I know it's a mass-produced Dell product. That's why it's cheaper in price and doesn't look as gorgeous as the Apple displays. I'd much rather have the 23" Apple display, but, they have a lot of problems, the warranty is only 1 year, and you can't get AppleCare on it unless you buy it with a computer (which I already have). It's also more expensive. So, the Dell is the best tradeoff I can find right now. And this 17" CRT I'm using right now is horrible after having used the 23" displays for a few weeks, so, the Dell, while not as goolooking as the ACD, is still going to seem luxurious.

I'll have to agree with your there. Not being able to get Applecare on the monitor unless you buy it with the CPU is crap. I fell into that issue myself.

[nihilisticmonk]

Guys,

Allow me to share my views of the Dell 2005 20" and the ADC 20".

I actually saw a great deal on the net for the dell 20", so me and a buddy both purchased one. I had 8 dead pixels on the screen and some minor backlight problems.
My buddy had no dead pixels, major backight bleed and a faulty DVI connector.

He got a re-fund, I was so in love with the display, I decieded to go for the 20" apple display.
I haveno problems at all. A search on the net for the dell 20" gives worries of bad batches, defects etc....

yes, the SCREEN is the same manufacturer for both displays. The encasement, the design and the manufacturing of the product are vastly different....

Apple = quality, no matter the price...

[MontyZ]

Allow me to share my views of the Dell 2005 20" and the ADC 20".
Most people have had no problems with the 20" and 30" Apple Displays. Quite the opposite with the 23" display, which is what my posts were discussing.

[Cooknn]

I'll have to agree with your there. Not being able to get Applecare on the monitor unless you buy it with the CPU is crap. I fell into that issue myself.Why don't you just buy your Apple display at CompUSA and opt for the $159 extended warranty? It's better than AppleCare anyways. 1 dead or stuck pixel and they will replace the monitor. At least that's what they told me :o

[MontyZ]

Why don't you just buy your Apple display at CompUSA and opt for the $159 extended warranty? It's better than AppleCare anyways.
I actually did this from the place I bought my monitor (MacConnection). They offered an extended warranty/repair plan that covered it for three years for about $160 as well. Another good reason not to buy everything directly from Apple. MacConnection's return policy is also much better than Apple's. Pretty sad that a discount mail-order company has better warranty coverage and return policies than Apple Stores.

[Cooknn]

I actually did this from the place I bought my monitor (MacConnection). They offered an extended warranty/repair plan that covered it for three years for about $160 as well.It's an interesting relationship I have with Apple. On the one hand I love the OS and hardware, but OTOH, I don't trust their QC at all :( It's totally necessary to cover your a$$ when buying Apple hardware IMHO.

[MontyZ]

It's an interesting relationship I have with Apple. On the one hand I love the OS and hardware, but OTOH, I don't trust their QC at all :( It's totally necessary to cover your a$$ when buying Apple hardware IMHO.
Same with me. I think Apple hardware is generally better than most of the PCs I've owned over the years, but, it's not perfect and Apple's standard warranties are WAY too short, especially considering you pay a premium for their products. But, I have lost all faith in their ability to make quality displays becuase I've never had so many problems with ANY kind of hardware before as I have with Apple displays in the past. I've had serious problems with every single Apple display I've ever owned. But I think their computers and OS are superior.

[cmvsm]

Same with me. I think Apple hardware is generally better than most of the PCs I've owned over the years, but, it's not perfect and Apple's standard warranties are WAY too short, especially considering you pay a premium for their products. But, I have lost all faith in their ability to make quality displays becuase I've never had so many problems with ANY kind of hardware before as I have with Apple displays in the past. I've had serious problems with every single Apple display I've ever owned. But I think their computers and OS are superior.

I like to cover my a$$ no matter what I'm buying. High end or not, there's always a possibility of an electronic device having issues. I've had two Apple displays and have never had any problems. Now that I've said that, I've probably jinxed myself.

Anyhow, the CompUSA suggestion is a good one. As long as THEY stand behind what they are selling.

[justinshiding]

I can't say much about the apple displays as I've never used one of the current generation cinema displays, but I just ordered the dell 2005fpw and I have a few comments on it. First, I got it for ~400 dollars, which I consider to be quite a steal. Second, it arrived quickly, no dead pixels, no discoloration, nothing wrong at all. Given the choice , I would go with dell again for the following reasons.

1) cost (I am a student after all...)
2) adjustable stand with 90 degree rotation (sure beats moving the whole display when I just want to change the angle a bit)
3) 4 inputs. very versatile. I have my pc hooked up into it , and (when I get it) my powerbook will take the dvi connector. leaving room for two more devices...(ps2 perhaps for the svideo). changing between the inputs is done at the push of a button. one button , right on the front of the display.
4) one button auto adjust for vga connections
5) display modes , picture in picture, side by side (from two different inputs)
6) display options, 1:1, aspect, and fill. if you want to run an older game, but dont want it stretched and blurry looking becuase it was only meant to handle 800x600 then you've got options that will let you have the picture centered but still only use that many pixels...

I'll agree , the apple display looks better, and if I had an extra 300 dollars to toss out the window...I still wouldn't becuase (to my knowledge) the apple display lacks some of these features.

I say to anyone thinking about getting this display, go for it it's lovely :).

cheers,
justin

[cmvsm]

I can't say much about the apple displays as I've never used one of the current generation cinema displays, but I just ordered the dell 2005fpw and I have a few comments on it. First, I got it for ~400 dollars, which I consider to be quite a steal. Second, it arrived quickly, no dead pixels, no discoloration, nothing wrong at all. Given the choice , I would go with dell again for the following reasons.

1) cost (I am a student after all...)
2) adjustable stand with 90 degree rotation (sure beats moving the whole display when I just want to change the angle a bit)
3) 4 inputs. very versatile. I have my pc hooked up into it , and (when I get it) my powerbook will take the dvi connector. leaving room for two more devices...(ps2 perhaps for the svideo). changing between the inputs is done at the push of a button. one button , right on the front of the display.
4) one button auto adjust for vga connections
5) display modes , picture in picture, side by side (from two different inputs)
6) display options, 1:1, aspect, and fill. if you want to run an older game, but dont want it stretched and blurry looking becuase it was only meant to handle 800x600 then you've got options that will let you have the picture centered but still only use that many pixels...

I'll agree , the apple display looks better, and if I had an extra 300 dollars to toss out the window...I still wouldn't becuase (to my knowledge) the apple display lacks some of these features.

I say to anyone thinking about getting this display, go for it it's lovely :).

cheers,
justin

$400 bucks? Looks like you paid about $100 too much. Take a look Here (http://www.supercoupon.com/index.php
option=com_content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=92)

Then of course, monitors are like new cars...once off the lot, you've lost your a$$. Tell ya what, I'll give ya $150 and we'll call it even...
:D :D :D

[FFTT]

The whole point of these reviews is to show that there are several good
choices you can make depending on your budget and your priorities.

The more important issue is being a well informed pro-sumer.

Hopefully you'll read through this related thread

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=122554&page=11&pp=25

If you need a new monitor, you have some great options, but do your homework and don't pay too much.

[justinshiding]

$400 bucks? Looks like you paid about $100 too much. Take a look Here (http://www.supercoupon.com/index.php
option=com_content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=92)

Then of course, monitors are like new cars...once off the lot, you've lost your a$$. Tell ya what, I'll give ya $150 and we'll call it even...
:D :D :D

Ha, seriously things are like that, but I just checked the site. The monitor that was going for 300 was the 1905fp. I win! :) I got a good deal, and I'm not going to look at coupon code related sites for a loooooooong time. Just so I don't see something at a better price.

cheers,
justin

That last 1.1 inches was quite costly , but I like the widescreenness :)