Guys, I need your help. Please read on or scroll down for the short version. I got a bit carried away 
I've got a 13" unibody Macbook with, of course, the mini displayport connector. The problem is I currently don't have a screen. But working a full day behind the laptop is bad for my posture and just bad for my body overall. So I've got to buy an external screen and keyboard. I've already got the mouse. The keyboard is easy, Apple Wireless Keyboard
The main problem is that I always work in the living room. So if I place a monitor here, it has to look good. You're all Apple enthusiasts, so many of you must also care about design.
I will use the screen, mainly for browsing (Safari), writing a lot (Pages), music (iTunes) etc. I'm a heavy multitasker, so the extra screen estate well be more than welcome (although Expose is brilliant). I'm not into digital photography or anything.
First I contemplated buying a relatively cheap 23" of 24" TN panel. However, I worked with some TN panels, and especially the larger screens I've seen are hideous. The colors shift even when your sitting still and just turn your head, backlight bleeding is terrible and so on. Still... since they are making so many of them with 1080P screens, they must have made some improvements? I know they are cheap. But they must have improved over time? The ones I worked with are 22" and probably two or more years old.
Anyway, so I am considering the P2310H and the ST2310 from Dell. The P2310H is adjustable in hight and almost every other way. The back, which will be in plane sight, because of my living room setup, is hideous. However, there is cable management. It has a displayport connector, there is a mini displayport (male) to displayport (male) cable for sale.
The ST2310 is not adjustable and is probably too low to improve my posture. The design, however, is quite nice. It has a glossy bezel with a white back. However, it doesn't allow for any cable management. And I will have to use an adapter (mini displayport to DVI) and a DVI cable. This will probably look like a mess
So last but not least is the Apple LED Cinema Display. The design is absolutely stunning. From all sides, the monitor is just beautiful. It has a power connector and is just a perfect companion for my unibody Macbook. The cable management is nice and it would look nice in my living room. It isn't hight adjustable. But the hight seems to be good.
But... But... But...
It is so expensive. I mean, it is well over two times (almost three times) as expensive as the other monitors. Yes, I know it uses a superior panel and LED backlighting. But still, it is a huge difference.
Furthermore, I have one other gripe: the glossy display (or to be more accurate the glass). I love the glass screen on my Macbook, but I can easily adjust it or just sit somewhere else. This is more difficult with the Cinema Display. I've only found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPDbpIaL_AM. However my situation is the exact opposite, the light is coming from behind the screen (when I'm behind the screen, I can look out the window) and some is reflected by the wall behind me. I hope that is clear.
Finally, the LED Cinema display has been on sale for almost a year. Do you feel they might lower the price in the coming month? There are some whispers about an iMac and Macbook line refresh.
So in short, I need a monitor for my living room to connect to my unibody Macbook. I'm having trouble deciding between a cheap 23" 1080P monitor with TN panel and the Apple LED Cinema display. The price difference is huge. Furthermore I am a bit worried about glare, because of the glass panel. Finally, the LED Cinema display was introduced almost a year ago, do you think they will lower the price or update the specs some time soon (maybe together with the rumored iMac and Macbook updates)?
What would you do? Or maybe you had to make the same decision, what did you choose?
I've got a 13" unibody Macbook with, of course, the mini displayport connector. The problem is I currently don't have a screen. But working a full day behind the laptop is bad for my posture and just bad for my body overall. So I've got to buy an external screen and keyboard. I've already got the mouse. The keyboard is easy, Apple Wireless Keyboard
The main problem is that I always work in the living room. So if I place a monitor here, it has to look good. You're all Apple enthusiasts, so many of you must also care about design.
I will use the screen, mainly for browsing (Safari), writing a lot (Pages), music (iTunes) etc. I'm a heavy multitasker, so the extra screen estate well be more than welcome (although Expose is brilliant). I'm not into digital photography or anything.
First I contemplated buying a relatively cheap 23" of 24" TN panel. However, I worked with some TN panels, and especially the larger screens I've seen are hideous. The colors shift even when your sitting still and just turn your head, backlight bleeding is terrible and so on. Still... since they are making so many of them with 1080P screens, they must have made some improvements? I know they are cheap. But they must have improved over time? The ones I worked with are 22" and probably two or more years old.
Anyway, so I am considering the P2310H and the ST2310 from Dell. The P2310H is adjustable in hight and almost every other way. The back, which will be in plane sight, because of my living room setup, is hideous. However, there is cable management. It has a displayport connector, there is a mini displayport (male) to displayport (male) cable for sale.
The ST2310 is not adjustable and is probably too low to improve my posture. The design, however, is quite nice. It has a glossy bezel with a white back. However, it doesn't allow for any cable management. And I will have to use an adapter (mini displayport to DVI) and a DVI cable. This will probably look like a mess
So last but not least is the Apple LED Cinema Display. The design is absolutely stunning. From all sides, the monitor is just beautiful. It has a power connector and is just a perfect companion for my unibody Macbook. The cable management is nice and it would look nice in my living room. It isn't hight adjustable. But the hight seems to be good.
But... But... But...
It is so expensive. I mean, it is well over two times (almost three times) as expensive as the other monitors. Yes, I know it uses a superior panel and LED backlighting. But still, it is a huge difference.
Furthermore, I have one other gripe: the glossy display (or to be more accurate the glass). I love the glass screen on my Macbook, but I can easily adjust it or just sit somewhere else. This is more difficult with the Cinema Display. I've only found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPDbpIaL_AM. However my situation is the exact opposite, the light is coming from behind the screen (when I'm behind the screen, I can look out the window) and some is reflected by the wall behind me. I hope that is clear.
Finally, the LED Cinema display has been on sale for almost a year. Do you feel they might lower the price in the coming month? There are some whispers about an iMac and Macbook line refresh.
So in short, I need a monitor for my living room to connect to my unibody Macbook. I'm having trouble deciding between a cheap 23" 1080P monitor with TN panel and the Apple LED Cinema display. The price difference is huge. Furthermore I am a bit worried about glare, because of the glass panel. Finally, the LED Cinema display was introduced almost a year ago, do you think they will lower the price or update the specs some time soon (maybe together with the rumored iMac and Macbook updates)?
What would you do? Or maybe you had to make the same decision, what did you choose?
