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Best Monitor for external display using Macbook Pro for under $500?

Odysee

Odysee

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 13, 2007
257
100
Manchester, UK
Hey guys,

I am wanting to get an external display to use full time and link it up with the MacBook Pro.

I read that Dell are probably the best monitors to buy, I have found this beautiful looking one here and it's at a fantastic price. Would any of you guys recommend it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-S2740L...id=1421772204&sr=8-1&keywords=dell+monitor+27

Please note: I obviously need the functionality of HDMI to Firewire.

Thanks all
 
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thealpha1 said:
Hey guys,

I am wanting to get an external display to use full time and link it up with the MacBook Pro.

I read that Dell are probably the best monitors to buy, I have found this beautiful looking one here and it's at a fantastic price. Would any of you guys recommend it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-S2740L...id=1421772204&sr=8-1&keywords=dell+monitor+27

Please note: I obviously need the functionality of HDMI to Firewire.

Thanks all
Click to expand...

That monitor looks awesome and £236.31 seems like a decent price for a 27 inch 1080p monitor, though I can't help but wonder if you could get your hands on a 4K monitor for a few pounds more? I've seen a 28 inch 4K monitor on Monoprice for around $570 US though I don't know if you can order from monoprice in the UK or whether you'd be hit with large shipping or not. Also if you don't want to go all the way to 4K, there are a few 25xx by 16xx monitors on Monoprice starting at $400 ranging in size from 27 to 30 inches.

The bottom line is that at 27 inches or more, at a mere 2 megapixels 1080p isn't all that impressive. For one thing, 1080p can be driven with VGA or DVI so you can get a cheaper cable (though the adapter to go displayport or thunderbolt to VGA costs a bit more than the adapter to go DP or TB to HDMI). For another thing, the pixel density of 1080 at 27 inches is pretty unimpressive and at that size, I'd prefer to get something that is at least 1400 pixels tall and 2500 pixels wide.
 
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r0k said:
That monitor looks awesome and £236.31 seems like a decent price for a 27 inch 1080p monitor, though I can't help but wonder if you could get your hands on a 4K monitor for a few pounds more? I've seen a 28 inch 4K monitor on Monoprice for around $570 US though I don't know if you can order from monoprice in the UK or whether you'd be hit with large shipping or not. Also if you don't want to go all the way to 4K, there are a few 25xx by 16xx monitors on Monoprice starting at $400 ranging in size from 27 to 30 inches.

The bottom line is that at 27 inches or more, at a mere 2 megapixels 1080p isn't all that impressive. For one thing, 1080p can be driven with VGA or DVI so you can get a cheaper cable (though the adapter to go displayport or thunderbolt to VGA costs a bit more than the adapter to go DP or TB to HDMI). For another thing, the pixel density of 1080 at 27 inches is pretty unimpressive and at that size, I'd prefer to get something that is at least 1400 pixels tall and 2500 pixels wide.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that! unfortunately, the price of shipping will be far too much.. I've just seen this what about this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-P2815Q...TF8&qid=1421781374&sr=8-2&keywords=4k+monitor
 
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r0k said:
That will do nicely if it fits your budget. I wouldn't invest in any monitor larger than 24 inches that's a mere 1080p. Also that monitor has both DP and HDMI inputs and the TB to DP cable might be even cheaper than the TB to HDMI cable.
Click to expand...

I get you! so would you recommend a 24 inch widescreen?

Either one of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-P2414H...F8&qid=1421782853&sr=8-3&keywords=dell+24inch

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-UltraS...F8&qid=1421782853&sr=8-5&keywords=dell+24inch
 
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thealpha1 said:
I get you! so would you recommend a 24 inch widescreen?

Either one of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-P2414H...F8&qid=1421782853&sr=8-3&keywords=dell+24inch

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-UltraS...F8&qid=1421782853&sr=8-5&keywords=dell+24inch
Click to expand...

Yes they both look nice and are value priced. If you can live with 1080p then either of those would be an excellent choice. I have an Asus monitor that has an HDMI input and it only cost me $150 a few years ago which was a pretty good deal at the time. I am thinking about getting a 27 or 28 inch monitor or possibly picking up a 27 inch iMac but for now the 24 inch monitor is working well enough. I have a late 2011 hires antiglare MBP that is 1050 pixels high so it matches well with a 1080p monitor sitting right next to it. I will probably replace it with a rMBP one of these days and when I do, I'm sure there will be 24 inch 4K monitors available that will work well alongside a rMBP as my 23.5 inch Asus works alongside my hires antiglare MBP. Then again I might decide to "splurge" and grab a 27 inch monitor just to get the ability to see fine details better even if I have to sacrifice a modest amount of desk space.
 
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I'd also recommend Dell's monitors, they are some of the nicest displays on the market without paying a huge amount of money for them in my opinion.
 
thealpha1 said:
I get you! so would you recommend a 24 inch widescreen?
Click to expand...

Yes, but unless you're using it almost exclusively for watching movies I'd still go for 16:10/1920x1200 rather than 1080p.

I have a Dell U2412M, which is great but does look a bit '4 years ago':
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-UltraSharp-U2412M-inch-Monitor/dp/B005JN9310/

Connects via a cheap Mini-Displayport-to-Displayport cable.

However, although I can't give a personal recommendation the new-ish U2415 looks nice:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-UltraSharp-U2415-Inch-1920x1200/dp/B00O9ZGI58/
 
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