Apple Cinema Display Price Cut

[dongmin]

Dell 24" 2405 FPW HD display (Prices vary ALOT! $799-$1049)

If you ever find the 24" at under $800, please post here. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the price to come down on one of those. I've yet to see it dip below $1000. (I know there were steeper discounts when they were first introduced.)

 

[RichP]

About the pink issue...

I purchased a 23" ACD last July when it was released. I was very pleased with it, and noticed no issues. Recently, with academic computer needs, I need to use a PC for autocad programs; and with KVMs costing so much that can even attempt to run 1900x1200, I would just go all out and get another 23" ACD. Went to apple, kicked out the student ID for the discount, and also grabbed an ACD to DVI adapter so I could run my G5 with dual 23"s just to see what it was about. To my disappointment, the older 23" was PINK. However, it was nothing I really noticed until I put another one next to it.

The old 23" is now out for warrantee service; I can only hope that a solution is reached such that the two displays are color matched to each other; It is the least I expect for the price of enty on Apple products.

Come to think of it, Apple quality just isnt up there it seems; I have had a bad ipod, an 17" PB display die, my G5 had all sorts of audio issues, and now the 23" issue...

 

[FFTT]

If you ever find the 24" at under $800, please post here. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the price to come down on one of those. I've yet to see it dip below $1000. (I know there were steeper discounts when they were first introduced.)

The problem will Dell pricing is that not everyone is eligible for the best discounts.

Education, Small Business and Corporate purchasers are entitled to certain discounts depending on their school or business account status with Dell.

You must speak directly with Dell by phone to find out more.
Those who qualify will need to provide their membership I.D. number.

Students should be able to aquire that information from their school store.
Small business owners should be able to set up an account directly with Dell and Corporate users should have a company representative through their IT purchasing department.

Discounts will vary up to 35% off.

 

[wdlove]

About the pink issue...

I purchased a 23" ACD last July when it was released. I was very pleased with it, and noticed no issues. Recently, with academic computer needs, I need to use a PC for autocad programs; and with KVMs costing so much that can even attempt to run 1900x1200, I would just go all out and get another 23" ACD. Went to apple, kicked out the student ID for the discount, and also grabbed an ACD to DVI adapter so I could run my G5 with dual 23"s just to see what it was about. To my disappointment, the older 23" was PINK. However, it was nothing I really noticed until I put another one next to it.

The old 23" is now out for warrantee service; I can only hope that a solution is reached such that the two displays are color matched to each other; It is the least I expect for the price of entry on Apple products.

Come to think of it, Apple quality just isn't up there it seems; I have had a bad ipod, an 17" PB display die, my G5 had all sorts of audio issues, and now the 23" issue...

So I take it that you didn't purchase the 23" display at the same time as the G5?

 

[avu]

dell versus apple prices

>This does not however justify nearly double the price tag between the Apple 23" >and the Dell 24"

Where are you getting such a great deal on the Dell 24"? The education prices for the dell is about $1080 and the apple is $1299 = about $200.

 

[avu]

tilting

Like many, I'm trying to decide between the two. It's going to be used alongside a PB15, so the alum grey would certainly look a lot better and more neutral. They're not that different in price, but the main issue for me is that portrait mode - this is going to be used for a lot of photography and graphic layout, and I can imagine getting a lot of use from that. Question - can you use use mac in portrait mode with Tiger? I'm going to be getting a floating wall mount so that either monitor will be able to be tilted (this gets rid of the dell's less than gorgeous base, btw).

also btw - people have been talking as if the 30in have no problems - not at all what I read. I was just in London and a lot of the mac magazines and reviews there were slashing it - edge to edge was poor, color drop off, lots of issues. the consensus seemed to be that it was the first generation to be that huge so it was bound to have tons of issues = early adoptor technology.

thanks in advance

 

[FFTT]

>This does not however justify nearly double the price tag between the Apple 23" >and the Dell 24"

Where are you getting such a great deal on the Dell 24"? The education prices for the dell is about $1080 and the apple is $1299 = about $200.

DELL education by phone

 

[RichP]

So I take it that you didn't purchase the 23" display at the same time as the G5?

I purchased the G5 a while before the 23".

 

[toddya]

Sorry, this just bugs me...

I've been lurking in this forum for awhile, and I must say I love this message board more than others I've seen. However, it really just bugs me that there are so many people who 'bash' Apple's LCD monitors.

Yes it is pricey compared to some of the others, but at least be reasonable. Some people really sound fanatical when they talk about how great Apple is, but when it comes up to talking about the LCD and the prices... they just go wild on how horrible it is, or how expensive it is. Especially "How can they justify those prices!" well, unfortunately that is the world of business. Look at Nike, their shoes are not much better than other brands, but they get the dollars they ask for. But there are their loyal fans who stick by it...

I like the apple displays because it creates the overall 'appeal' of the product, it looks nice and UNIQUE. Case in point. I just wish that some people wouldn't be so defensive on Apple versus a Windows machine and then turn around and just "priase" a Dell LCD because of the deal they got. It really makes us Apple users look like a bunch of who talk out of both sides of our mouth.

Just a little rant, not meant to get any one offended. But I hope you understand what I mean. It makes us "Apple" fans look rather stupid when others who love it just as much as I do, say "the Deal" was just too irrsistable. Because if you say that for their LCD (Like DELL for example), then that would obvioiusly make their PC's also "irresistable" where you should be buying one of those with it! I mean they are only about 60% the price of the MacMini, and far more upgradeable..

I speak as this because I'm a real avid fan of Macintosh as of lately.. I've grown to appreciate what Apple represents in the "old computer days" of having Apple, Atari, Commodore, iBM PC Jrs and so forth. I "woke up" from the Windows world a few years ago wheree I switched to the "Dark Side" after Amiga went belly up in the late 1980's. Always was on the "side that died". Atari, Amiga, you name it...

So its nice to see Apple being "different", so let's just keep that in mind before everyone praises "Dell" for their awesome LCD, regardless it's made by whoever OEM'd it.

Sorry, it just bugs me that people can be so two sided. However, I do agree its a matter of economics too. I just can't stand how it makes the rest of us Apple users look. You can say there are issues with their LCDs, but you have to be honest and say its no different than a Dell users saying their "Wintel" is better than a Macintosh because "Apple is too overpriced".

Sorry, just my 2 cents. And to think I also like LCDs from Sharp and Sony too. But I ended up buying the Apple because it just made the package look right, and I thought the quality is pretty good. Unfortunately their OEMs for the computer side of Apple is another story...

 

[FFTT]

Toddya,

Currently a Mac Collector :
G5 2.5 - X800XT - 30 ACD (work)
G4 MDD 1G/Dual - 2GB - R9000 (home) - 23 ACD (Original)
MacMini 1.42 - 1GB - SuperDrive
iPod 4G/40 - 2G/20 - Shuffle 1GB - Mini 1G/2G
PowerBook G4 17 RevA Aluminum
iBook Snow G3 700Mhz

You certainly have a fantastic set-up, but keep in mind that many of us here simply can't afford everything we want.

You should also note that most of the posts in this thread are completely objective showing pro's and con's of each display.

The point of these reviews is to show that there are good alternatives
for those trying to put together a great system on a budget.

 

[TheGimp]

I've been lurking in this forum for awhile, and I must say I love this message board more than others I've seen. However, it really just bugs me that there are so many people who 'bash' Apple's LCD monitors.

Yes it is pricey compared to some of the others, but at least be reasonable. Some people really sound fanatical when they talk about how great Apple is, but when it comes up to talking about the LCD and the prices... they just go wild on how horrible it is, or how expensive it is. Especially "How can they justify those prices!" well, unfortunately that is the world of business. Look at Nike, their shoes are not much better than other brands, but they get the dollars they ask for. But there are their loyal fans who stick by it...

I like the apple displays because it creates the overall 'appeal' of the product, it looks nice and UNIQUE. Case in point. I just wish that some people wouldn't be so defensive on Apple versus a Windows machine and then turn around and just "priase" a Dell LCD because of the deal they got. It really makes us Apple users look like a bunch of who talk out of both sides of our mouth.

Just a little rant, not meant to get any one offended. But I hope you understand what I mean. It makes us "Apple" fans look rather stupid when others who love it just as much as I do, say "the Deal" was just too irrsistable. Because if you say that for their LCD (Like DELL for example), then that would obvioiusly make their PC's also "irresistable" where you should be buying one of those with it! I mean they are only about 60% the price of the MacMini, and far more upgradeable..

I speak as this because I'm a real avid fan of Macintosh as of lately.. I've grown to appreciate what Apple represents in the "old computer days" of having Apple, Atari, Commodore, iBM PC Jrs and so forth. I "woke up" from the Windows world a few years ago wheree I switched to the "Dark Side" after Amiga went belly up in the late 1980's. Always was on the "side that died". Atari, Amiga, you name it...

So its nice to see Apple being "different", so let's just keep that in mind before everyone praises "Dell" for their awesome LCD, regardless it's made by whoever OEM'd it.

Sorry, it just bugs me that people can be so two sided. However, I do agree its a matter of economics too. I just can't stand how it makes the rest of us Apple users look. You can say there are issues with their LCDs, but you have to be honest and say its no different than a Dell users saying their "Wintel" is better than a Macintosh because "Apple is too overpriced".

Sorry, just my 2 cents. And to think I also like LCDs from Sharp and Sony too. But I ended up buying the Apple because it just made the package look right, and I thought the quality is pretty good. Unfortunately their OEMs for the computer side of Apple is another story...

I agree. People forget that the overall Apple aesthetic, both in software and in hardware design, is a significant factor in being a "mac person". If that were not the case, most would not have sprung for the rev B iMac G4's when they could have had similar productivity with the later emacs. Remember, noone except arguably some professionals "needs" a 23-inch screen, and I think Apple's current 20-inch offering is quite reasonable.

Those who take exception to Apple's 23-inch pricing are only confirming the appeal of the design.

 

[toddya]

Toddya,

You certainly have a fantastic set-up, but keep in mind that many of us here simply can't afford everything we want.

You should also note that most of the posts in this thread are completely objective showing pro's and con's of each display.

The point of these reviews is to show that there are good alternatives
for those trying to put together a great system on a budget.

I understand that. I work long hours and don't spend much money on much else than my "new found glory" of the Macintosh. Especially when Windows XP with SP2 just trashed my hard drive INCLUDING the backup hard drive I had (with the Delayed Write Cache error that SP2 introduces into Windows XP).

Again, I understand if you are looking for the 'most for your money, but put that with a grain of salt please. Apple is an "experience", whereas Dell is just.. well.. Dell.

And I'm a former Dell owner of 1994 when the Pentium 90's with it's bug ridden "math floating point error". Yeehah..

I still build my own PC box, but right now I'm just fed up with Windows. It cost me 6 weeks of headaches, and I just started to switch my whole family to Macs. (That's why the list looks long of "toys", but they ain't toys.. they have replaced many Windows boxes.)

Its nice to see a good forum like this exist. I hope that we can all get along together ;-)

Todd

 

[Multimedia]

Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW 24" Wide (1920x1200) Monitor Is Best

Like many, I'm trying to decide between the two. It's going to be used alongside a PB15, so the alum grey would certainly look a lot better and more neutral. They're not that different in price, but the main issue for me is that portrait mode - this is going to be used for a lot of photography and graphic layout, and I can imagine getting a lot of use from that. Question - can you use use mac in portrait mode with Tiger? I'm going to be getting a floating wall mount so that either monitor will be able to be tilted (this gets rid of the dell's less than gorgeous base, btw).

also btw - people have been talking as if the 30in have no problems - not at all what I read. I was just in London and a lot of the mac magazines and reviews there were slashing it - edge to edge was poor, color drop off, lots of issues. the consensus seemed to be that it was the first generation to be that huge so it was bound to have tons of issues = early adoptor technology.

thanks in advance

OK. I bought two Dells. 1920x1200 24" and 1600x1200 20". Both do portrait. I have 3 Macs Spanning across 3 screens. PowerBook to 24" VGA, G5 to 24" AND 20" DVI, Cube to 20" VGA and Apple Studio 15" 1024x768 VGA. PLUS the Dell's both have VIDEO inputs. The 24" has, composite (RCA), S-Video AND component RGB inputs. The 20" has composite (RCA) and S-Video inputs. Both have a 4 port USB 2 powered hubs. The 24" also has a 4 slot 10 type digital media card reader attached to the USB hub in addition to the 4 ports. Apple only provides two FireWire ports that Dell does not. Otherwise Dell provides a built in way to connect a lot more stuff simultaneously for no extra charge. I have had both for a month now and I am delighted.

The 24" cost me $1,111 and the 20" cost $616 including 8% sales tax. $1727. Apple doesn't sell a 1600x1200 anything. The 1200 verticle is more important to me than losing 80 horizontally on the Apple 20" that is 1680x1050. Reason for wanting the 24" is to display NATIVE HD video. 1920 is the minimum horizontal for that. The DivX HD TV I am watching on it is stunning - 350 MB per 40 minute episode.

BOTH do portrait 90° swivels on their stands. Tiger is the first OS X version to natively support portrait mode. It is part of the Tiger Display Preference widow to allow rotation settings no matter which way you have turned the screen.

Rotate: Popup menu: Standard, 90°, 180°, 270°.

You could do this with an Apple Display attached to a vesa mount for an extra $200-$500 or even a $1,000 extra. Dell lets you do it for no extra charge.

If you want to see them in action, watch CSI on CBS Thursday evenings at 9 pm. They are using Dell displays in the Las Vegas Crime Lab ALL THE TIME attached to their Macs and their PCs. Dell Screens, Dell Keyboards, PC and Macintosh computers. They also use PowerBooks.

 

[toddya]

OK and so what's the point about Dell?

I'm not looking to get into an argument. I was just stating the fact that the "bragging and ranting" of Dell's low price monitors versus WinTel boxes are "junk and ridiculously unuseful, hated by most, etc" just is tiresome.

I'm a PC person by heart, but I like the Mac mainly because it is stable. I also like the idea that its very true to the original computer days where YES computers WERE expensive, but hey, that's the price you pay to play.

I just didn't want to be labelled with the extremist who will PRAISE Apple forever, and dump on Windows/Intel/Dell/whoever. And then turn around and praise Dell for their low cost LCDs. It just sounds like a ridiculous statement! Because Apple computers are "ridiculously overpriced, slower than a PC counterpart, etc etc". I mean it goes both ways.

That was my only concern. I'm not saying that Dell makes junk monitors (or i should say, resells bad ones).

For me personally, I think LG makes a better monitor (gulp) versus Samsung. I own both. a 710 series and the Apple/LG OEMs. And The 710 just doesn't impess me. People think brightness is the only issue. Its not. Infact being too bright makes the image lose its 3Dimensional look.

I'm glad you got your Dell monitor and it has tons of hook ups, etc etc.

I do wish Apple did the same. But again, Apple's mantra is to make it simple. Not to be a technie piece.

And trust me. I'm a true techie by heart. So I'd love to have all those inputs. Alas these Cinema displays don't. But does it turn me off? Not really. I don't have 3 computers on my desk and do all kinds of stuff like most people. I have many computers, but I have a dedicated monitor for each one. (over the years you tend to 'collect' monitors if you catch my drift).

Lastly. I don't believe that monitors that "also act like TVs" work very well. They cannot scale video properly and look horrible. But hey it gets the job done!

peace,

Todd

OK. I bought two Dells. 1920x1200 24" and 1600x1200 20". Both do portrait. I have 3 Macs Spanning across 3 screens. PowerBook to 24" VGA, G5 to 24" AND 20" DVI, Cube to 20" VGA and Apple Studio 15" 1024x768 VGA. PLUS the Dell's both have VIDEO inputs. The 24" has, composite (RCA), S-Video AND component RGB inputs. The 20" has composite (RCA) and S-Video inputs. Both have a 4 port USB 2 powered hubs. The 24" also has a 4 slot 10 type digital media card reader attached to the USB hub in addition to the 4 ports. Apple only provides two FireWire ports that Dell does not. Otherwise Dell provides a built in way to connect a lot more stuff simultaneously for no extra charge. I have had both for a month now and I am delighted.

The 24" cost me $1,111 and the 20" cost $616 including 8% sales tax. $1727. Apple doesn't sell a 1600x1200 anything. The 1200 verticle is more important to me than losing 80 horizontally on the Apple 20" that is 1680x1050. Reason for wanting the 24" is to display NATIVE HD video. 1920 is the minimum horizontal for that. The DivX HD TV I am watching on it is stunning - 350 MB per 40 minute episode.

BOTH do portrait 90° swivels on their stands. Tiger is the first OS X version to natively support portrait mode. It is part of the Tiger Display Preference widow to allow rotation settings no matter which way you have turned the screen.

Rotate: Popup menu: Standard, 90°, 180°, 270°.

You could do this with an Apple Display attached to a vesa mount for an extra $200-$500 or even a $1,000 extra. Dell lets you do it for no extra charge.

If you want to see them in action, watch CSI on CBS Thursday evenings at 9 pm. They are using Dell displays in the Las Vegas Crime Lab ALL THE TIME attached to their Macs and their PCs. Dell Screens, Dell Keyboards, PC and Macintosh computers. They also use PowerBooks.

 

[toddya]

Dell in TV, etc.

One last things before I forget.

As far as Dell being on CSI, TV, etc.
I don't think that means much of anything.

Even Apple's are on TV, etc.

Its funny when people get all excited to see "their brand" on TV. It's just a prop!

I can imagine that AMD users are just tooting their horn as they are on the end credits of Star Wars Ep3. (but so it Dell, and go figure. they don't even make AMD boxes)

Sheesh.

Todd