If you are fine with the $1600 price tag on the 30" ACD I guess by all means get it. Though consider that you can get 2 3007WFP-HC if you wait. If you want instant gratification you can get a HP LP3065 for $1200 on Newegg which is superior to the ACD in every way (panel, input, stand, HDCP etc) other than the Apple looks.
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Dell 3007WFP-HC or 3008WFP?
- Thread starter akadmon
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Yes, friends, deep down inside wives are not bad people. Why would we marry them otherwise!
I forgot about the HP. It is very highly rated. The only reason I didn't get it instead of the Dell is that it only has DL-DVI inputs. Even though HP has a Displayport to DL-DVI adapter, it's even more expensive than Apple's and is a complete unknown in terms of uMBP compatibility (where I would also use a mDP->Dp adapter). If it weren't for the mDP problem on my uMBP I would have gotten the HP.
Hey guys, by no means am I discounting your advice! I'm sure you invested a lot of time into researching your monitor purchase and made educated decisions. It's just that I'm still a bit of a child (deep downs inside) when it comes to tech toys. I want them right now <stamps foot>!
So what about HDCP? I don't buy/rent movies from iTunes, or play DVD movies on my Mac Pro. Occasionally I stream stuff from Netflix. Would lack of HDCP in the ACD prevent me from streaming Netflix content?
So what about HDCP? I don't buy/rent movies from iTunes, or play DVD movies on my Mac Pro. Occasionally I stream stuff from Netflix. Would lack of HDCP in the ACD prevent me from streaming Netflix content?
Keep in mind you will still need to calibrate the monitor on a regular basis. Even if it comes calibrated out of the box (which I wouldn't trust). Colors drift over time and regular calibration (monthly is fine) helps keep colors in check.
Would the PANTONE huey Monitor Calibrator work OK for a c/omdc (casual/occasional mega display calibrator...er)?
For less money you can get the Huey Pro elsewhere, but I have heard of complaints about that system not working correctly on Macs without fiddling with the angle of the device on the screen. I use a Spyder2Express and am planning to get the Spyder3Pro
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Yes it would. Netflix requires HDCP compliant cards and monitors with DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort (any digital connection).
VGA can be used to get around it, but what's the point, as presumably the increased resolution was desired (and non-native resolutions look like crap on LCD panels).
As an alternative option the new 27'' iMac can be used as an external monitor: http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=6299 and it's HDCP compliant.
Which ever calibration device you choose make sure it has support to calibrate wide gamut monitors.
No, the OP cannot use the iMac as an external monitor. That only works with a computer with a miniDispayport out, and he has a Mac Pro, which doesn't have that.
Not to mention, that's a very expensive way to get a large monitor if you already have a Mac.
Why are you moving off the Spyder2Express? I'm OK with my display being 90% "there" colorwise.
Sucks! But still not an ACD deal breaker (yes, I'm trying hard to talk myself into buying one, though that HP unit looks quite tempting at $1199). I can always get a Roku box and stream Netflix to my TV.
Yes, they're nice. Unfortunately, the glass on the iMac is nogo for me.
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Spyder2Express is an entry level system and doesn't do a great job handling wide gamut displays. In the past I've mostly used it for my laptop displays and the 23" ACD I used previously. But for what I spent on the 30" display I'd rather spend a little more to get it right. I want it as accurate as possible, mostly for the motorsports photography I do. And I'll still have spent less than I would have on the 30" ACD, even after my educator discount.
Glad you mentioned the edu discount! I can save another $56 ($1599) by buying the ACD for my daughter who's in college That's only just (duh!) over $100 more than what I would have to fork out for the Dell 3008WFP (considering I'd have to pay sales tax on the Dell). And I can get it tomorrow...correction, today! Sweet
That's only just (duh!) over $100 more than what I would have to fork out for the Dell 3008WFP (considering I'd have to pay sales tax on the Dell). And I can get it tomorrow...correction, today! Sweet 
Don't buy the ACD no matter what. It's overpriced and older tech/specs compared to the other monitors here. The other thing which someone just mentioned, but which I think is a serious if not the best consideration, is getting the new 27" iMac quadcore and selling your Mac Pro. The performance is similar to even better than the current gen Mac Pros AND the monitor is a very similar resolution to the 30" displays heretofore discussed. (for much less than the price of both unless you find a refurb monitor) The iMac is only 400px shorter in vertical resolution. The major factor here is that the price very little more than buying the 30" Apple Cinema Displya by itself!
I currently own a 2008 Mac Pro octo-core and the Dell 3007-WFP. I am considering buying the brand new i7 iMac 27" to replace this combo - by selling those items and getting the iMac I'll have a stronger machine and gain $1000 or so by selling the others. the considerations that have kept me from doing so far are: collating the 5 or so hard drives I have so far and determining how I'll deal with 1 internal and firewire only, and also the tax implications of getting a new machine when I just got one the last tax year. (3 yr depreciation factor, etc, i just know it was a pain with the tax man last yr because I bought a replacement Mac every yr the last 2.)
I currently own a 2008 Mac Pro octo-core and the Dell 3007-WFP. I am considering buying the brand new i7 iMac 27" to replace this combo - by selling those items and getting the iMac I'll have a stronger machine and gain $1000 or so by selling the others. the considerations that have kept me from doing so far are: collating the 5 or so hard drives I have so far and determining how I'll deal with 1 internal and firewire only, and also the tax implications of getting a new machine when I just got one the last tax year. (3 yr depreciation factor, etc, i just know it was a pain with the tax man last yr because I bought a replacement Mac every yr the last 2.)
Also, you can probably break/take off the glass on the iMac if it annoys you. That would actually be pretty impressive - and you wouldn't get an Apple surcharge for a "matte" screen.
I dunno guys. The ACD can't be that bad, even if it's an old design. It consistently gets very high marks everywhere people who have bought it leave comments (apple.com, Amazon). And really, what is so older tech about the ACD? No HDCP? No problem, I don't plan on watching movies or hooking it up to a game console. Only one input? I only need one. No Displayport? Don't need it on a Mac Pro. Fixed stand? No matter which monitor I buy, I'm still going to get a separate stand, one that allows me to rotate the screen (none of the other standard stands do this). Everything else that matters is as good as or better than the others. It uses the same IPS panel, and it's backlighting technology is second to none in this size range. It's bright, it's uniform, and offers the best color reproduction of any consumer monitor straight out of the box (HP coming close second). The only knock on it is the price.
You've got a 2407wfp in your sig, that's got a 90degree rotation stand (mine certainly do) - As do the 30" dells in question
Surely that's one of the largest considerations to make, especially for a product that has inferior inputs/features/panel compared to cheaper competition.
As mentioned above, the iMac cannot be used as an external monitor with the OP's Mac Pro. It's not even an option for him, and it would be the most expensive one if it even worked.
I have a Dell 3008 and I'm quite happy with it. Of note, it also has a display port connector so you can connect at full 2560x1600 resolution with your display port Mac without the need for Apple's $100 buggy dual-link adapter. You'll need a full-size display port to mini-DP cable, but they're only a few bucks on monoprice and similar sites.
I am sure you will be happy with the ACD 30" but don't spread unfounded rumors around that the ACD is just as good if not better than the others. It is not. It is currently the oldest 30" using the oldest panel. All the other IPS 30" has newer panels. You essentially bought a LCD from 2006 when a lot of IPS improvements has been around since then. None of the reasons you listed is true. There is only one reason to get the 30" ACD, which is that it looks nicer next to a Mac Pro (a perfectly legitimate reason to buy it).
Oh man really? Fashion over function? I find that hard to believe that in this case. The OP has been hashing out specs and is obviously concerned about getting a reasonable price. Paying for an outdated and overpriced ACD simply because it looks good next to a Mac Pro is laughable. Just sayin.
It's done. I have a brand new 30" ACD sitting next to its little brother, the Dell 2407WFP
I love the ACD (shh, don't let my wife hear this...). Besides the fact that it looks gorgeous (a don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful gorgeous!), the colors appear spot on to my uncalibrated eye. I've never noticed it before, but next to the ACD my old Dell has a definite yellowcast to it. On the ACD white is truly white.
Not that it matters now, but lixuelai, what makes you so sure Apple is using the same exact panel they did in 2006? And even if what you say is true, there may be a good reason for it. As the saying goes, don't fix it if it ain't broken.
I love the ACD (shh, don't let my wife hear this...). Besides the fact that it looks gorgeous (a don't hate me 'cause I'm beautiful gorgeous!), the colors appear spot on to my uncalibrated eye. I've never noticed it before, but next to the ACD my old Dell has a definite yellowcast to it. On the ACD white is truly white.
Not that it matters now, but lixuelai, what makes you so sure Apple is using the same exact panel they did in 2006? And even if what you say is true, there may be a good reason for it. As the saying goes, don't fix it if it ain't broken.
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That doesn't really mean anything if you haven't been calibrating both with a hardware system. The Dell may or may not be equally or more capable of accurate color. If it appears yellow, that might mean nothing more than the ColorSync profile is off.