apple cinema displays

[dyn]

can you post an example?

A really good one was the 20" ACD vs the Dell 2007WFP: same panel lower price.

Another one is the current 30" ACD and the Dell 3008WFP although this is not the same panel, the one in the Dell is the newer version. If you take a look at the price now it's 1799 for the ACD and 1399 for the Dell which has a newer panel and a lot more features. In cases when people have a Mac with just the mini displayport the Dell is actually the only good option since you can get a mdp-dp cable from Circuit Assembly for something like 15$.

The 24" ACD vs two Dell 24" monitors (2408WFP and U2410) is another example. The Dell monitors are almost half the price, they don't come with glass making it usable in environments with a lot of light/reflections but both monitors need the mdp-dp cable to be able to hook it up to your Mac with the mdp port on it. However, those monitors also have dvi so you can hook an older Mac to the monitor without any problems; you can't with the 24" ACD because you'll need an adapter for that (which is rare or non-existent at this time).

Those Dells are even considered to be somewhat expensive regarding some competitors such as Samsung (they both do panels and monitors, a lot of their panels are in monitors from brands like Dell, Apple, etc.). So yes, those Apple monitors can be considered overpriced, especially the 30" monitor as it is 2 years old and thus uses 2 year old technology.

Plus if you have a new mac, it works seamlessly with no adapters needed and I had no problems.

If the monitor can speak displayport you only need to worry about one end of the cable: the end that goes into the Mac. Circuit Assembly and some others have such a cable. In Circuit Assembly's case you can even order different lengths: 2 meters, 3 meters, 5 meters and custom (which will take about 6 weeks). The cable from the 24" ACD is not that long, for people with a Mac Pro under their desk it's too short, they can't hook up the 24" ACD without putting the Mac Pro on their desk. The cable length is a big issue for the 24" ACD, so much that some users don't even consider it.

 

[nanofrog]

No, the Dell I linked is an IPS monitor. It is their best monitor at the moment

Mind posting a link to the source of that information?

I ask, as I've never seen nor heard of any IPS based panel that can achieve an 80,000:1 Contrast Ratio (I realize this is a manipulated value). Most of their real values tend to fall in the 800 - 1000:1 range. Manipulate it, and it might get published at 3000:1. Nowhere near 80k. That's TN territory.

 

[Umbongo]

The panel's are different types between them too. The ACD is an IPS type, and that particular Dell is TN.

But there are other models, and other vendors. If you want to stick with some form of IPS, then you can look at the Dell 2408WFP, and it can be had for $449USD directly from Dell ATM. Hey, worth it at MSRP, but even better for $150 less. It's CCFL, as are most others, but they'll still "knock your socks off", and are matte. Not to mention some, such as NEC's LCD2490WUXi and Eizo Nanao's are made specifically for professionals, not consumers (which is what the 24" LCD ACD really is).

The panel in the Dell linked is H-IPS, the same as the HP LP2475w (LM240WU4-SLB1).

edit: didn't read second page. Nanofrog, the contrast ratio is just Dell's typical BS applied to their first H-IPS panel.

 

[nanofrog]

The panel in the Dell linked is H-IPS, the same as the HP LP2475w (LM240WU4-SLB1).

edit: didn't read second page. Nanofrog, the contrast ratio is just Dell's typical BS applied to their first H-IPS panel.

Nice to know it is H-IPS. A linky would be better though.

How in the heck did they come up with that (80k:1)?!?! I realize they manipulate the contrast ratios (aka dynamic), but WOW. I wonder what they were smoking?

 

[Umbongo]

http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/s-ips-lcd-list.php

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1441159

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_monitors

As for the contrast ratio, tell me about it. I mean who is that even marketed at?

 

[nanofrog]

http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/s-ips-lcd-list.php

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1441159

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_monitors

As for the contrast ratio, tell me about it. I mean who is that even marketed at?

Thanks.

Perhaps it's marketed at those who do some graphics work and game (sort of a semipro/high-end consumer unit for multipurpose use)?

 

[Scarlet Fever]

The panel's are different types between them too. The ACD is an IPS type, and that particular Dell is TN.

From Dell;

Panel Type:
IPS - In Plane Switching

They are both IPS panels.

Also, the apple doesn't come close to the dell in terms of connectivity...

Maybe Apple aren't targeting customers like me, but I quite like the ability to plug a console into my screen. If I worked at a photolab, I'd snap up Apple's (matte) displays in an instant. For home use, I'd look at that Dell panel.

 

[nanofrog]

From Dell;

Panel Type:
IPS - In Plane Switching

They are both IPS panels.

It was the contrast ratio that threw me (dynamic, which is a manipulation of the data). Taking a closer look, it is, and the contrast ratio is 1000:1. How the heck they came up with an 80x multiplier from contrast to dynamic contrast, is odd. It's typically high, but not that high. So the other panels that usually fall into that dynamic range are TN, and I wasn't aware that anyone was making such a claim on an IPS panel at all.

I didn't look deep enough, as I've gotten too accustomed to seeing "Panel Type = TFT" listings in the specs I guess.