Bought my new Mac Pro

[Umbongo]

Thank You for taking the the time to write back.

So, at what level of Apple display do I jump in at? or which alternatives?

Call a Dell rep and ask how cheap they will do the U2410, should get it for $499 or find/wait for one of the deals they have on them.

 

[blackmtn]

The new 27" displays boast the highest pixel density for that size class, and if you can live with 16:9, they're a superior option to 30" displays. I'm expecting NEC's new displays to be fantastic.

That said, the older 30" ACD is actually probably a good buy for $300, assuming it's in good condition. It may be old, but it's still a decent IPS display with probably the last ever firewire hub build in and a couple USB ports too.

I actually find that pixel density can be a curse when it is too high - case in point - an older Dell 15" I used to have... 1920x1200!! IIRC, that worked out to ~130ppi. Text was incredibly small, I got rid of it within a year. Until operating systems have a way to scale properly with differing PPIs on monitors, I prefer to keep my PPI LESS than 100.

 

[covrc]

Promotion Coupon

As part of the headache for having to return the 5 iMac i7s. I received a promotion coupon for a discount up to $100.

I told them that I would be ordering a computer from them at some point in the immediate future after the refund check arrived.
Waited 6 weeks for refund check

When I got the check I wrote and thanked them, They then gave me a promotion coupon for $100 off a purchase of $300 or more.

So, as painful and disappointing the i7 iMac experience was, they treated me very fair.

THAT'S how I got the Mac Pro $2049.