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Dell U2711 vs 27" Cinema Display

M

mpt-matthew

macrumors regular
Original poster
Both are quite similar.
Looking for an external monitor for my Macbook Pro.
Do quite a bit of photoshop, and would like accurate colour.

The Apple is LCD, and the Dell is CCFL, but I thought i read that the CCFL was better colour, but then somewhere else said the LCD was better colour 😕

Glossy vs Matte, not had any issues with my macbook pro glossy display, but may be changing location of monitor, which could interact with light from a window.

I have seen quite a few pros use the apple LCD displays, but would the Dell be better for colour accuracy.

Also, the thing i DO NOT like about the apple (despite looking beautiful) is that the height cant be adjusted. I had my old monitor right to the desk so it lined up with my MacbookPro.

I was almost certainly going to go with the Dell until i read that LCD had better colours.

Now confused 😕

PS anyone else know any high-end high-res 24"< monitors?
 
I'm not too sure which one produces more accurate color, but I know Dell makes an UltraSharp in 24" if that's what you are interested in. Have you tried looking at the newly released LG IPS displays? They come in 21" and 23" models and are actually quite affordable. Again, not to sure of which brands reproduce color better, but these monitors have good reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005234
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005232
 
The DELL U2711 is the absolutely worst display I have ever used. It has a VERY aggressive antiglare coating which gives the monitor a very "sparkle" like effect. It's hard to explain but text on the U2711 has a very "grungy" appearance. I RMAed my DELL and bought the Apple LED Cinema Display 27". Colors are far more vibrant, and text looks nice and clear.

Anther display of interest is the Samsung SA850. It looks to be a U2711 killer and a solid rival to the ACD27". Ships in a few weeks.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20072002-1/new-panel-tech-in-samsung-sa850/
 
There have been a lot of complaints about the new generation of Dell Ultrasharp monitors. Poor quality control resulting a lot of variation in display quality for one. Its a crap shoot if you will get a good one. God forbid you will actually have to deal with Dells horrendous customer service.
B&H Photo has the best price on Apple 27" that I have seen. $921, no tax or shipping.

http://www.appleinsider.com/mac_price_guide/
 
Most of the reviewers are use to cheap TN panels so these look great to them. If you are used to good IPS displays these will look like crap. The best deal on a 24" IPS display is the HP zr24w. They go for $350 to $400.

VeganHipster said:
I'm not too sure which one produces more accurate color, but I know Dell makes an UltraSharp in 24" if that's what you are interested in. Have you tried looking at the newly released LG IPS displays? They come in 21" and 23" models and are actually quite affordable. Again, not to sure of which brands reproduce color better, but these monitors have good reviews.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005230
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005234
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005232
Click to expand...
 
NEC makes a similar 23" IPS for the same price and NEC has much better quality control than LG. Plus LG generally makes cheap consumer monitors.
 
Another benefit that is often glossed over is that Apple includes MagSafe connector for MacBooks. It's like getting another AC adapter thrown in ($80 value).
 
the u2711 and the cinema display both use the same LG panel, it's just the back lighting and the coating (on the Dell) and glossy glass front (CD) that separates them. I went for the U2711, as it had far more flexibility in terms of interfaces - DVIx2, Displayport, HDMI, Component, etc.
 
Dell U2711's Pros:
  • Anti-glare matte screen
  • CCFL backlighting for better color gamut (96% vs. 83% Adobe RGB)
  • HDMI, 2 DVI-D, VGA, component video, composite video inputs
  • 4 (vs. 3) USB 2.0 ports
  • Memory card readers
  • Height adjustable

Apple LED Cinema Display's Pros:
  • $100 cheaper (Dell frequently discounts, so the difference is often not as significant)
  • Better styling
  • MagSafe connector for MacBook series
  • Better cable management for MacBook series
  • 2.1-channel speakers
  • Camera and microphone
  • LED backlighting for lower power consumption (98 W vs. 111 W at max brightness)
  • Software driven configuration (Dell's UI is quite horrible, especially source switching and brightness/contrast controls)

My bottom line. If you need additional inputs and anti-glare screen, go with Dell. Otherwise, I think Apple is a better buy overall.
 
One more thing to consider depending on your needs: Apple monitor doesn't have a power button. May not be a big deal to some, but I want to turn my computer screen off when I'm watching TV or at night. Apple monitors may come to life every few minutes depending what processes you have running on your Mac. My previous iMac drove me nuts with this behaviour.

I've had the Dell Ultrasharp 24" for a year, love it, no problems, but I'm not a video/photo guy (audio is my trade). It may have horrible colour, couldn't say, looks good to me.

But feature-wise it's a winner: I constantly switch inputs between my Mac, Mac Mini, PS3, PS2 & Sega Genesis. USB ports, card reader. Best bang for my buck when it's on sale. Cheers.
 
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