Best second monitor for a 21.5" iMac

[Fr3d]

I know this question has been asked before, but, monitors/prices change so frequently I want to make sure I get an up-to-date answer!

I've recently purchased the new entry-level 21.5" iMac, and I am currently using it alongside a 20" Dell 2005FPW (which I already had).

I want to replace this monitor with a newer one that will be a better match with the iMac's own display. At the moment, the main differences seem to be brightness (the iMac is LED-backlit), contrast & colour, and finally the 'gloss' finish on the screen.

Does anyone have any good recommendations/suggestions? I'm not looking for anything massive (same size as the iMac or slightly larger - I've no idea what the limit is to what can be run off the mini displayport?). Budget is around £200 (which is around $320 apparently!).

Thanks for your advice!

[rw3]

Dell U2211H....Uses the same panel...

[Fr3d]

Brilliant, thanks rw3, that looks like what I was after!

Do you know if it has the same gloss effect as the iMac screens?

Thanks Again,

[rw3]

Most all Dell monitors are AntiGlare screens.

[Fr3d]

Ah righty, are there any options without the AntiGlare, i.e. glossy screens?

Thanks.

[DannyBres]

I would think you will have a hard time finding another glassy display!

[DannyBres]

That display is 80 cd/m² (25%) dimmer than the iMac tho! and not LED backlit or Glossy!

best bet im afraid is the 24" apple cinema display! that will be perfect glossy exactly the same brightness and black, alu & glass so will look wicked next to it! :(

[Fr3d]

best bet im afraid is the 24" apple cinema display!
Budget is around £200 (which is around $320 apparently!).
:eek:

The monitor I'm currently using doesn't have the gloss and isn't as bright, these are the most noticeable differences between the two.

Is there nothing available for around that money that uses LED back lighting and has the same gloss finish?

EDIT:

Just found this on the Dell website:
http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=ie&l=en&s=dhs&cs=iedhs1&sku=425510

The model number is almost identical (P2211H), but this one has an LED back light (and it's cheaper). What do people think?

[macintoshse1]

:eek:

The monitor I'm currently using doesn't have the gloss and isn't as bright, these are the most noticeable differences between the two.

Is there nothing available for around that money that uses LED back lighting and has the same gloss finish?

EDIT:

Just found this on the Dell website:
http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=ie&l=en&s=dhs&cs=iedhs1&sku=425510

The model number is almost identical (P2211H), but this one has an LED back light (and it's cheaper). What do people think?

The reason it's cheaper is that its' a TN panel not a IPS also it does not have a display port. I know this is outside your budget but the Dell UltraSharp™ U2211H 55cm (21.5") I believe is still a better fit
(http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=ie&l=en&s=dhs&cs=iedhs1&sku=421257c=ie&l=en&s=dhs&cs=iedhs1&sku=421257)

[ebbichan]

Did you decide on which monitor to get?
I'm shopping around for a secondary monitor for my 21.5" iMac too and I'm interested in knowing what you decided on.

[Thermonuclear]

Consider buying a mini DP/HDMI converter along with an inexpensive and possibly used 1080p HDTV. Yes, it will be outside your budget, but you can use the HDTV for other purposes as well.

[tigereat]

How about for iMac 27 ? for Software Development

[bolen]

How about for iMac 27 ? for Software Development

The new 27" Cinema Display of course! :)
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/27display.html

or if you want there's the Dell U2711. Same panel, but it is CCFL, AntiGlare and it's less pretty!

[Thermonuclear]

Consider getting a monitor that can be run safely (i.e., not overheat) while in portrait mode vs landscape mode. This is great for coding as there will be a full 1,920 rows of pixels for displaying source code. Of course, Mac OS/X supports portrait display via selectable rotation on any hardware.