There was a thread a while back (maybe a year) about the quality of apple monitors that asserted, off the back of some considerable research, that apple monitors smacked the crap out of dell monitors for most professional applications, despite ppl always claiming they're exactly the same.
What the guy explained was that there are 3 popular kinds of LCD: TN (the worst and cheapest with no viewing angle), S-WPA (or something like that that that Dell uses) and S-IPS (Apple's kind). Quality on the last 2 was comparable except that Dell's preferred technology is good for response time, but the contrast ratio diminishes very quickly unless you're looking at the screen dead-on. Apple's preferred tech may not be snappy (hence why gamers are always bashing them, and buying dell's - not to mention that the inputs on the dell's cater to that market with component sockets etc.) but the contrast ratio is more even across a wider viewing angle, hence their predominance in the FX/GFX industries.
As the buyer's guide explains, apple tends not to update the screens so much as discount them intermittently to keep them in line with dell's prices. That said, with over 15 months since the last Mac Pro update, we could be forgiven for expecting a new enclosure, which would doubtless mean the screens got an update too. Besides, Apple doesn't seem to sell the isight much anymore as its free with most macs, so i would expect them to include a free camera for Pro users too. They also need an HDCP-compliant HDMI port for the arrival of Blu-ray and other such tech.
So, yeah, hopefully, new screens at macworld alongside long overdue Mac Pro's.
As for the better deal, you're expecting... my understanding is Apple is not very helpful when it comes to dead pixels, but that's to do with the attitude of a given company and not a policy likely to change. Apple's CS is pretty touch-and-go, altho I understand that it beats dell's in most respects, if not on that particular quibble. As with all things Apple, its up to you, the consumer/apple fan, as to whether or not the premium they put on their product is worth what it has over the competition. Apple probably doesn't expect your fear of dead pixels to sway the average buyer's decision enough for them to bother with a better policy.
logo better.
