Apple display VS. Dell display

[Jo-Kun]

hi all, i was shopping for a new screen and have been infatuated with the apple 23"hd for some time now. 1300 bucks is a lot of money for me however. then the other day my browsing found me a deal on a dell ultrasharp 2405FPW 24" which has pretty much the same "on paper" specs. same resoloution similar response times etc. it's allure is the 899 pricetag.

well I just checked the Belgian Dell Site... the 2405 is priced a whopping 1399,00 euro's... not much of a price deal compared to Apple's 23"...

the 20" is a different story 450,00 euro's is a good deal... but for just a little more you get a LaCie wich in ways of colour reproduction are still one of the leaders... I'd rather buy a LaCie... but the best one they have the 321 is +/- 1600,00 euro's but than you get CRT quality in colour reproduction/contrast on a LCD... nice...

so I'll save my money and wait until the LaCie can come my way

 

[gabriel_uk]

As for the 23/24" panels, the Dell is easily the better panel. The Samsung PVA panel has inherently better characteristics to the S-IPS LG-Philips in the 23" ACD, particularly wrt colour reproduction and contrast ratio (read: deeper blacks). The Dell also uses a much more powerful backlight and there have been almost no reports of the same backlight issues that existed with the 2005FPW.

Again the Dell has a bucket load of input options, including component input so that you can even use it as an HDTV (provided you have a HD component output source).

The only real advantage the 23" ACD has over the 2405FPW is the Apple design and styling. The Dell has the better image quality, greater functionality, and a much lower price to boot. Just a slight bum that it'd look a bit odd next to a shiny PowerMac. Nothing that a little spray paint can't fix though

At first I wasn't convinced, but when I read the barefeats comparison with the 24" Dell - http://barefeats.com/lcd.html - and the CNET reviews, I was like shocked!

So I've just cancelled my 23" ACD order and have ordered the Dell instead.

Sure, the Apple display is far more attractive, but I'm more concerned with how a screen looks inside the frame than outside the screen, if you get my drift.

It's weird - because I've spent the last few years using a pefectly good but rather boring looking 18" NEC - dreaming of the day I'd buy a nice big Apple display! And here I am, at the very last minute, buying a Dell!

I'm a big Apple fan because I always thought (and still do, usually!) that Apple is the best. But I refuse to buy Apple simply because it's Apple. Yes, design is important, but only when matched by equally attractive perfomance.

 

[Hattig]

At first I wasn't convinced, but when I read the barefeats comparison with the 24" Dell - http://barefeats.com/lcd.html - and the CNET reviews, I was like shocked!

Yeah, when the difference is that much you can't ignore it, especially if it is at a lower price. The Cinema Displays are good enough but if the display is that bad (pink greys and poor greys - did they calibrate it?) then it really needs to be updated.

If only the Dell display came in a Cinema Display style casing and without the Dell logo on it!

 

[_DsK_]

I remember when the 2405 was just announced, i was literally on the verge of getting the 23" apple. However once i did my research i found that being a PC user, getting the Apple display would limit how much i could calibrate it, and not to mention the pinkish greys.

The initial price for the Dell 2405 was £860, will a little persuading some managed to haggle the price down to around £750, i was lucky enough to get one much cheaper thanks to a silly error on Dells site.

The .27 dot pitch did worry me as i was currently on .25 pitch 17" LCD, but when i fired up my PC with the Dell plugged in, i was simply gob smacked!!

The PIP function is useful and the s-video and component inputs are rather handy too.

 

[mohaukachi]

So I've just cancelled my 23" ACD order and have ordered the Dell instead.

Sure, the Apple display is far more attractive, but I'm more concerned with how a screen looks inside the frame than outside the screen, if you get my drift.

DUDE...





your getting a dell!

 

[Capt Underpants]

thats what they said in that review i mentioned above. but they also said that the picture quality on the apple looks better. i don't understand why but it confirms my feeling that the apple display simply is better. probably someone here on the forum can explain this (better electronics? or apple only buys higher quality batches by whatever measure?). i really like to know because as i said i'm probably in the market as well.

edit:
i only found the 20" comparison: http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=2400

The Apple cinema display only has to worry about a DVI connector, along with USB and Firewire ports.

The Dell has VGA, DVI, S-video, and composite, along with 4 USB ports. I am thinking that with all of these video inputs, the DVI signal would get a little degraded. I think that they mentioned this in the above article (but it's been a while since i read it).

If I were you, I would just get the Dell. I have a 2005FPW and I love it.

 

[Capt Underpants]

What are the specs on that PC? It looks really good. I think I see a red x800 in there, but it's really tiny so I'm not sure... lol. I am guessing you custom built it.

 

[mcarnes]

No matter how you slice it, running OSX on Dell hardware is just gross.

 

[Capt Underpants]

No matter how you slice it, running OSX on Dell hardware is just gross.

Get over it

 

[gabriel_uk]

No matter how you slice it, running OSX on Dell hardware is just gross.

These (albeit selective) CNET comments about the 23" ACD are also pretty gross:

February 16, 2005
It is very inconsistent when dealing with colors.

February 14, 2005
Color consistency is very poor. 2-3 inches on the left and right side, color is washed out and very uneven (very visible with solid-colored backgrounds). Not good for color-critical work.

January 27, 2005
Its colored pink, and has uneven color, as well as washed out and dingy yelow stained edges.

January 12, 2005
Pink cast across left of screen. Unable to produce even greys. Dark corners. Inappropriate problems at such a high price.

January 12, 2005
Once warmed up, I started noticing flashing green pixels on dark shades of gray. The problem gets worse as the monitor warms up and is very noticable and distracting. Watching a video like the Matrix highlights the problem. Returned to Apple as defective and went with alternative brand.

December 3, 2004
Color consistency is poor. I've returned one already and the replacement is just as bad. Sides are yellowish, left side is pinkish and there is a bluish vertical band just left of the center. Not recommended for graphics pros.

October 18, 2004
I've returned one unit with poor color only to receive another unit with the exact same problems. The left/right sides have a yellowish tint when viewing white. There is a bluish vertical band just left of the center when viewing gray. The left side has a pinkish cast to it when viewing gray. There are a number of other users waging a battle about these same issues in the Apple Discussion Forum.

October 2, 2004
They have a PINK casting and backlighting problems. Unsuitable for graphic designers.

September 27, 2004
The actual LCD screen is aweful. Turn the background to a pure color (white, grey, whatever) and you will notice the sides are different colors! I got two monitors: one for the PC and for the Mac in the office and both are bad.

August 30, 2004
Too little contrast. Black is not black. No Pivot. The quality is more important than design, especially when used by designers.

 

[tsk]

Get over it

LOL, my thoughts *exactly*. Nothing turns me off more than people getting all snobby about their Macs.

 

[G5Unit]

Did someone mention a G5 and a Dell 24" display?

Qualifying buyers must speak with the Dell education rep or the Small Business rep by phone to get the best prices. Mine was WELL UNDER $899 shipped.

How much did you end up paying?

 

[FFTT]

The standard education price is $899, but better prices are available for those
who qualify, depending on how much volume your school or business does with Dell.

Even at $899.00 the money you save gets you a fantastic display and leaves you enough to get other nifty goodies like a few Gigs of RAM or a better graphics card to make your G5 all that much sweeter.

My school store had their Dell membership I.D. number posted on the school store web site.

Dell education 1-866-535-3578

 

[Flynnstone]

Also, the people waiting for a 23-inch iMac are going to have a loooong wait (forever). I really don't see Apple introducing a 23-inch iMac. Remember: the iMac is a consumer/entry-level machine. People who want 23-inch displays are "supposed" to buy a Powermac and go from there, until 23-inch becomes "entry level", which won't happen for at least 3-5 years

So a 30" iMac is really out of the question

 

[Capt Underpants]

The standard education price is $899, but better prices are available for those
who qualify, depending on how much volume your school or business does with Dell.

Even at $899.00 the money you save gets you a fantastic display and leaves you enough to get other nifty goodies like a few Gigs of RAM or a better graphics card to make your G5 all that much sweeter.

My school store had their Dell membership I.D. number posted on the school store web site.

Dell education 1-866-535-3578

You should consider getting a multiple button mouse with the money you saved.

 

[_DsK_]

What are the specs on that PC? It looks really good. I think I see a red x800 in there, but it's really tiny so I'm not sure... lol. I am guessing you custom built it.

You've got a good eye, its a AMD 3000+ (@ 2.48ghz), DFi Ultra D mobo, ATi X850XT, Corsair BH5 (2 x 256), couple of 250gb HDDs etc...

 

[FFTT]

You should consider getting a multiple button mouse with the money you saved.

My G3 on the right has the Logitech 2 button scroll mouse.
It just didn't show up in the photo.

As you can see the Dell 24" dwarfs the 17" Sony CRT.

I was doing my best to put together a great system on a budget and still need to save up for an M-Audio 1814 interface and ProTools M-Powered AND Logic
7 Pro.

 

[bmelon]

what about tv?

sorry, this is kind of basic...
Baravelli pointed out the possibility of attaching a bunch of different input sources to the dell 24" monitor, and then being able to switch between dvd player and mac, for instance. what about tv? what would it take to watch the superbowl or mtv on one of these? would the signal have to go through the mac (and one of those eyetv things?) or could it come straight through a vcr/cable tuner? or would you have to have hdtv cable?

 

[FFTT]

sorry, this is kind of basic...
Baravelli pointed out the possibility of attaching a bunch of different input sources to the dell 24" monitor, and then being able to switch between dvd player and mac, for instance. what about tv? what would it take to watch the superbowl or mtv on one of these? would the signal have to go through the mac (and one of those eyetv things?) or could it come straight through a vcr/cable tuner? or would you have to have hdtv cable?

I haven't messed with it much yet, but the Dell does have both picture in picture and picture by picture.
Apparently you can select the signal source in the display's own menu.

 

[_DsK_]

sorry, this is kind of basic...
Baravelli pointed out the possibility of attaching a bunch of different input sources to the dell 24" monitor, and then being able to switch between dvd player and mac, for instance. what about tv? what would it take to watch the superbowl or mtv on one of these? would the signal have to go through the mac (and one of those eyetv things?) or could it come straight through a vcr/cable tuner? or would you have to have hdtv cable?

Yep, two main ways you could go about it:

1) get a tuner card/USB box for you max, then watch at your luxury via the mac

2) hook up a cable/satellite/digital box to (preferably) component input, then you can watch it full screen, PIP, split screen etc via display input options the LCD has.


I have a DVB card for my PC so watch TV that way on this screen, imho this is a better option as you gat the abilty to use your rig as a PVR device, and can have the TV app full screen or windowed, whatever size and where ever on the screen.

 

[FFTT]

If you live in an area prone to lightning or power surges, I would be very careful about leaving your TV cable or phone lines connected to your system.

Even when using the best available surge protection, it's very difficult to control the whims of mother nature.