Apple Cinema Display Price Cut

[ThinkMatt]

Need help!

I have been reading a lot of the banter between Dell displays and Apple displays and I am sure both have their merits.

Here's my problem. I have a credit with Apple sizeable enough to get one of two things. I can get either 2, 20" ACD's or 1, 23" ACD. My question is why should I want to get the 23 when I get TONS more desktop space with two 20's?

I realize the 23" supports HD 1080i/p in native format, but is that the ONLY reason I would want the larger single display?

My main uses are web design, video editing (non-HD currently), general apps (office/net/email), and some gaming (especially when hooked to my pc).

My main machines are a PMG5-2.5, 3Gb of RAM, 2x250Gb SATA HD, 2x250Gb LaCie FW800 HD, and a 9600xt vid card. My PC is a custom AMD64-3000+, 1Gb RAM, 80Gb SATA HD, and a Radeon x800XL vid card.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[jobberwacky]

PS- Portrait rocks. Someone was complaining about possible stress on the eyes. Check the brightness and contrast settings. Dell's 2005 has almost twice the contrast ratio of Apple's and the 2405 is bright enough to burn out your retinas at 1000:1 ratio. OK so maybe not burn out but definitely you need your sunglasses if you don’t do some tweaking to the monitor settings.

Yes, that was me writing about getting sore eyes from portrait mode. No, I don't think it had anything to do with the contrast & brightness settings, because I didn't twiddle around with these. And once I switched back to landscape mode things were ok again. (I tried out portrait mode during two full working days and switched back on day three.)

My guess is still that this is due to pixel arrangement which is optimized for standard landscape viewing.
Andreas

 

[MontyZ]

Where are some links to the forums? I just checked the first page of the forms and saw nothing indicating such a response.

That is because Apple monitors on the Apple forums are deleting nearly all posts of people who are complaining about the many (yes many) problems they are having with the 23" Apple display. I've seen quite a few of them myself before they disappeared.

I bought two 23" displays and had to return them both because they were full of so many technical glitches and problems, they weren't worth the cost of the packaging they came in. Which is really too bad, because they sure look sleek and gorgeous on the outside, but, the color is very uneven, many have a pink cast to them, the ghosting gets worse and worse every day you have it, and white becomes a dingy yellow on the left and right 2" of the monitor.

It's defective equipment, and Apple shouldn't be selling that kind of crap with their logo on it.

 

[plastique45]

It is true that the Dell screens are 1/2 the price, but the quality is not comparable. I have a 20" Apple Cinema and a 20" 2005 Widescreen Dell hooked up side by side on my G5. The Cinema has a very smooth image without any pixels or descreening showing. Even though they both feature similiar specs, in reality the Apple is the true winner.
I just use the Dell as a palettes monitor.

Ahahahaha, that's a pretty funny statement, considering that both the Apple & Dell's 20" use the exact same LCD panel from the exact same manufacturer!

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

It's like the LaCie 19" CRT and NEC FP955, you are buying the EXACT same monitor from Apple or Dell.

 

[Multimedia]

I Love My New 2001FP and 2405 FPW Dell Multi-Source Monitors

But what about the 24" Dell?...

Just received both today. I am in LCD nirvana. Got spoiled on my 15" PowerBook for the past 18 months and finally pulled the trigger on this dynamic duo over last weekend. I can even drive the 24" at full native resolution with my Cube's old Radon 7500 TwinView.

I disagree with MacWhispers and love my new Dell monitors because they have multiple video inputs, including COMPONENT inputs on the 24" 1920x1200 native HD model and both analog VGA and DCI inputs so I can easily connect them simultaneously to different Macs and video sources to watch different things different ways. Plus they pivot which Tiger now supports.

MacWhispers may think they are junk. But I do not. They have many features that Apple displays do not that I NEED and am grateful to have. I will make sure I have long term warranties from Dell in case they go bad later. God knows I saved a ton of money going with Dell to afford their extended warranties. Plus I got a much more flexible nine source setup - 4 computer and 5 video sources.

 

[chaosbunny]

Nice to know how much they cost in the States.

Herein Europe it is different and the Dells cost not half the price of the apples at all!

20" Widescreen from Dell: 578,76 €
20" Widescreen from Apple: 819 €

I'd never pay almost 600 € for that ugly black dell monitor. For me 250 € for looks is worth the money since I'm a freelance graphic designer and working with my stuff and looking at a beautiful monitor 8 hours+ every day (while working, not counting the time when I see it standing around) for about 5 years (which is as long as such an expensive monitor should last me either way) is just worth the hard earned money. However, I can't order one right now, no money since I ordered a new 15" PB, which I can pick up later that day hope it will come with tiger! apple monitor maybe in august/september, maybe it will be 600 € by then.....

 

[FFTT]

I just talked to the Dell education rep.

2405FPW @ $899 + tax, free shipping.

I'm SO buying one!

 

[Multimedia]

Doh! I Didn't Know They Had An Education Store.

I just talked to the Dell education rep.

2405FPW @ $899 + tax, free shipping.

I'm SO buying one!

Doh! I Didn't Know They Had An Education Store. You will be so glad you did. What was the procedure for you to get that price?

And how did you find the Education rep in the first place?

 

[wdlove]

Doh! I Didn't Know They Had An Education Store. You will be so glad you did. What was the procedure for you to get that price?

And how did you find the Education rep in the first place?

Here is the link at apple.com to find out if you qualify for the educational discount. It is a very good deal if you qualify.

 

[MacWhispers]

MacWhispers may think they are junk. But I do not. They have many features that Apple displays do not that I NEED and am grateful to have. I will make sure I have long term warranties from Dell in case they go bad later. God knows I saved a ton of money going with Dell to afford their extended warranties. Plus I got a much more flexible nine source setup - 4 computer and 5 video sources.

Pop off the backs, and look at the electronics and assembly. Again, these budget electronics shops slice every penny that they can slice from component grade and precision, and from mechanical design features. They specifically build the product to have big time out of box performance, and big feature lists, and intentionally and very knowingly shortchange every possible point where some care could have been invested into long-term performance and reliability. They, litterly, do not give a flip if the thing even works 3-years down the road. I know, as I deal with these exact issues every single day.

Again, you simply cannot see any performance difference when playing a standard SD DVD on a brand new Wal-Mart $39 DVD player and a brand new $299 Sony DVD player. And, for the price, I am amazed at all of the input/output and remote control options there are on those $39 machines. Use both products every day for three-years. Look at the performance then, and, at the service/performance track record.

And, please... one more time, just pop the frames out of the housings and look at the assembly and the electronics on the Apple and the Dell LCDs. Then, make up your own mind about the "value" of electronics products.

If I can find time tonight, I'll pop open the Apple and Dell 20-inchers here, take some digital photos, and post a link. "Junk" was not a word I used lightly, or from emotionalism.

Then again, I have a sister-in-law who makes it her lifestyle to simply buy the cheapest junk electronics she can find at Wal-Mart, and, just replaces any of the products, as needed. She says she's better of buying a new $59 VCR every year or two, than in buying one good one for $300 every five-years. Go figure...

 

[wildmac]

OK, the 20" models have been debated, but again, what about the Dell 24" versus the Apple 23"?

And I need to know from the view of a graphic artist. I'm not concerned about gaming. Color accuracy and consistency across the screen are what I am after.

 

[MacWhispers]

OK, the 20" models have been debated, but again, what about the Dell 24" versus the Apple 23"?

And I need to know from the view of a graphic artist. I'm not concerned about gaming. Color accuracy and consistency across the screen are what I am after.

If you're moving from a CRT, you will not be satisfied with the color depth or accuracy of either the Dell or Apple units. In fact, after using a variety of the large screen LCDs, the only one I have found that reliably lives up near top-CRT quality is the Viewsonic VP231wb. It's a few hundred dollars more than the others, but, they spent the time and money to get the driver circuitry and backlight and panel all nicely matched and engineered to work well. It's a great product for color print work.

Hope this helps.

 

[Cooknn]

Just bought a 23" Apple Cinema Display

It's a thing of beauty And it's PERFECT. Not one dead or stuck pixel! Picked it up at the Tiger party at CompUSA. Got the new reduced price. 'Tis the year of HD BABY

 

[Kerry Sanders]

I opted for the Apple 20" Cinema display today when I ordered my Power Mac partly due to payment options, but mostly due to the review over at Anandtech that I read today. He reviewed the 20" Cinema and the Dell 2005FPW. His pick was the Dell, but when I saw the inside of the Dell compared to the Apple and the fact that the Dell has all the venting to keep it cool and to allow dust... I decided to make mine all Apple to Apple.

 

[FFTT]

Doh! I Didn't Know They Had An Education Store. You will be so glad you did. What was the procedure for you to get that price?
And how did you find the Education rep in the first place?

Both Apple and Dell offer fantastic discounts to qualified Students, Educators, Government and certain large and small business clients.

I found the Dell education link through my community college help page.
Each school or business usually has a member number, so you'll need that information before you talk to the education reps by phone.

You may also be eligible for a small or large business member discounts.
Your company IT department should be able to help you with member information.

READ ME!
You will not find the best deals posted online, so I urge you to
speak with your rep directly!

The young lady that helped me today was fantastic!

If you qualify and would like a referral,

PM me for further details.

 

[powerbook911]

I opted for the Apple 20" Cinema display today when I ordered my Power Mac partly due to payment options, but mostly due to the review over at Anandtech that I read today. He reviewed the 20" Cinema and the Dell 2005FPW. His pick was the Dell, but when I saw the inside of the Dell compared to the Apple and the fact that the Dell has all the venting to keep it cool and to allow dust... I decided to make mine all Apple to Apple.

I think you made an excellent choice. I've had my cinema display, for nine weeks now, and it is fantastic. I actually mentally think "this is cool," every day.

 

[~Shard~]

I actually mentally think "this is cool," every day.

You actually mentally think? Wow, how else do you sometimes think?

 

[Kerry Sanders]

I think you made an excellent choice. I've had my cinema display, for nine weeks now, and it is fantastic. I actually mentally think "this is cool," every day.

Thanks. It is always nice to get positive encouragement for things like this from others who have done it. 3.6 large is a lot to lay down for a system. But then again, we are getting what we pay for.

 

[~Shard~]

Thanks. It is always nice to get positive encouragement for things like this from others who have done it. 3.6 large is a lot to lay down for a system. But then again, we are getting what we pay for.

That's the nice thing with Apple.

 

[FFTT]

Apple/Dell combo

Thanks to the -$600 Sale priced Rev B 2.0 dually and my fantastic deal
on the Dell 2405FPW 24" HD display, I ended up with a great system for just over $2700.

I am SO Content!

 

[wdlove]

Thanks to the -$600 Sale priced Rev B 2.0 dually and my fantastic deal
on the Dell 2405FPW 24" HD display, I ended up with a great system for just over $2700.

I am SO Content!

That is really the most important thing. It is very important to be happy with the purchase that you made.

 

[Kerry Sanders]

I have a small question which is slightly off this topic, but it is sort of inline. I know that the 23" and 30" Cinema displays are both HD, but what about the 20"? The native resolution is 1680x1050, so it should be able to do 720p, right?

 

[aswitcher]

I have a small question which is slightly off this topic, but it is sort of inline. I know that the 23" and 30" Cinema displays are both HD, but what about the 20"? The native resolution is 1680x1050, so it should be able to do 720p, right?

YEP

 

[Kerry Sanders]

Very sweet. I was thinking that was the case, but I wanted to make sure. I do not have HD television at the moment, but I know that DVDs will look good on the Cinema display. Of course, I could have purchased a Sony Grand WEGA 60" HD flat panel for the $3600 that I spent on my system, but I would not have as much fun.

 

[YS2003]

23" Apple Cinema Display

I am interested in a 23" ACD and I am wondering if Apple and LCD maker (LG Philips?) has fixed the 23" model's color tint and other quality anomaly issues. The 20" ACD I purchased almost a month ago is perfect and I am hooked to Apple's elegant display design (there is no vent which means no dust will get inside the chassis). Since my PBs cannot run a 30", a 23" ACD should work well. I heard so many posts on many forums about problems with the 23" model; but, I have not heard if that problem has been fixed.