Display for new Mac Pro

[nickgwyn]

I am a cheap person.
I like nice screens (what? some people hate nice screens and love bad screens).
I wouldn't mind the ability to plug in other sources (xbox, digital cable, etc.)
I think 20 inches is the sweet spot for price vs. size.
What should I get?
Where can I find reliable and up-to date reviews?
Where should I buy?

P.S. DVI is the best option, right?

[Moderator note: Duplicate threads have been merged.]

 

[fivetoadsloth]

For a mac pro, yes DVI is the best, but most higher end lcds are dvi these days. Personally id go for the 20" ACD but thats because one i find them really nice, and 2 I like to buy apple when possible. What ever you choose, im sure youll be happy with it.

 

[EricNau]

700 Is a little steep for 20 inches. Its under 400 for a dell 20 inch. For that price I could get two!

Then get the Dell.

 

[nickgwyn]

For a mac pro, yes DVI is the best, but most higher end lcds are dvi these days. Personally id go for the 20" ACD but thats because one i find them really nice, and 2 I like to buy apple when possible. What ever you choose, im sure youll be happy with it.

700 Is a little steep for 20 inches. Its under 400 for a dell 20 inch. For that price I could get two!

 

[fivetoadsloth]

700 Is a little steep for 20 inches. Its under 400 for a dell 20 inch. For that price I could get two!

'

Personally I find the dells inferior, though they are very nice. If you want cheap http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2275359&CatId=0 is a nice display and is low priced, it is becoming yesterdays technology lcd wise and has realy low resolution but if you want something inexpensive that works, i dont think youll get much lower price wise. This deisplay on the other hand http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2430636&CatId=0 is more to my liking, wide screen, and gets much better resolution.

 

[nickgwyn]

Well

I am an avid photographer (and full time high school student), but am seriously considering photography as a career, or part of a career. I intend to heavily use photoshop, aperture, and most likely FCP. For me, video quality is important, but I'm not about to pay extra for no real benefit, or something that I could only see if I were looking with a magnifying glass.

Just for future reference, what about that model is old?

 

[fivetoadsloth]

I am an avid photographer (and full time high school student), but am seriously considering photography as a career, or part of a career. I intend to heavily use photoshop, aperture, and most likely FCP. For me, video quality is important, but I'm not about to pay extra for no real benefit, or something that I could only see if I were looking with a magnifying glass.

Just for future reference, what about that model is old?

Most 20 inch lcds het around 1600x1200 rest, that model gets in the 1400x1250 so you wouldnt be ablw to see as much on a screen at once. It isnt as bright as some of the newer lcds and its 8ms refresh time is starting to not look so hot compared to some of the 4 ms. In my opinion the main thing is the res, i use an ancient 17" lcd dont know the refresh time its pretty bad though but i dont notice it, im just saying that there are newer things, and better, out there. With any photo editing app you are going to want as much screen space as you can get. and the best color quality.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

if there are two monitors a new one and a old one 90% of the people who use them wont notice a large difference but that 10% will, you dont want to be one of those 10%.

 

[nickgwyn]

Something tells me I probably would notice

 

[nitynate]

Ok.

It is like a 17" iMac's resolution SSTTRREECCHHHEEEEDDD across 20"


Not very pretty.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

Ok.

It is like a 17" iMac's resolution SSTTRREECCHHHEEEEDDD across 20"


Not very pretty.

yeah, not pretty at all.

 

[nickgwyn]

So what should I get then?

I think ACD is too much and the tigerdirect one isnt good.

 

[bluetorch18]

Go for a Dell 20"...they're like $363 I think...and they're pretty good quality

 

[fivetoadsloth]

So what should I get then?

I think ACD is too much and the tigerdirect one isnt good.

You could just go with the dell, or you could hunt around for a display. Id make sure it has the following though:
1 Widescreen, that may not be importan to you though
2 1600x1200 ish resolution
3 between 4 and 8 ms response time

if you feel comftorable with ebay they have some nice products.
Time to time apple has refurbished 20" they are marked down significantly, i cant rember exactly but i think it is around 25%. Sorry if i am just confusing you more and more.

Just to add more confusion, i have seen some nice looking 19" for less than 200. Saw one at comp usa for 179.

 

[Meyvn]

Dell's 2005FPW uses the same LCD as the 20" ACD. Its build quality isn't quite as good, and its backlight isn't either, but it's still really nice, and has the same high resolution, for significantly cheaper. I'd either go with it, or that one Samsung the guy listed with the same resolution as well. $290 for 1680x1050 is an excellent buy.

Here's the 2005FPW, which gets EXCELLENT reviews on these forums: http://www.saveateagle.com/deul20gr20lc.html?ovchn=OTHER&ovcpn=Froogle&ovcrn=2005FPW-N&ovtac=CMP

 

[nickgwyn]

Dell's 2005FPW uses the same LCD as the 20" ACD. Its build quality isn't quite as good, and its backlight isn't either, but it's still really nice, and has the same high resolution, for significantly cheaper. I'd either go with it, or that one Samsung the guy listed with the same resolution as well. $290 for 1680x1050 is an excellent buy.

Here's the 2005FPW, which gets EXCELLENT reviews on these forums: http://www.saveateagle.com/deul20gr20lc.html?ovchn=OTHER&ovcpn=Froogle&ovcrn=2005FPW-N&ovtac=CMP

Why would I get the 2005 and not the 2007 though? They are $10 different in price.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

Why would I get the 2005 and not the 2007 though? They are $10 different in price.

Well, i dont know what he meant, but even the 2007 model, which is really really nice, dont get me wrong does have a lower brightness, and the build quality is a metter of opinion but i would say it is a little lower, but unless you are swimming in cash its not worth the difference. If you are looking for a cheap mnitor that will do the trick go down to a local compusa office depot etc, and see what they have on sale. I was in office depot and saw one that would fit your needs for $300. my only issue would be you dont know the reliability of the brand. Sorry if i just am confusing you more, more and more.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

Why would I get the 2005 and not the 2007 though? They are $10 different in price.

Well, i dont know why he didnt use the 2007 instead of the 2005, but even the 2007 model, which is really really nice, dont get me wrong does have a lower brightness, and the build quality is a metter of opinion but i would say it is a little lower, but unless you are swimming in cash its not worth the difference. If you are looking for a cheap mnitor that will do the trick go down to a local compusa office depot etc, and see what they have on sale. I was in office depot and saw one that would fit your needs for $300. my only issue would be you dont know the reliability of the brand. Sorry if i just am confusing you more, more and more. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2430636&CatId=0
This is a nice lcd, i posted it before, and will definatly do exactly what you want. Samsung is reliable and they make nice displays.

 

[pjarvi]

I have a Gateway FPD2185W myself, and love it. It has both VGA and DVI inputs, can have 2 computers connected (1 to each), and toggle between them with the press of a button. It can be moved up/down, tilted up/down, and rotated landscape/portarait. To top it all off it doubles as an HD monitor with Component inputs, and can do picture-in-picture. Also, forgot to mention the built-in 4-port USB 2.0 hub. Costs $499.

Here's an image of the connector's:

And here's a picture of mine (note: the speaker bar has to be purchased seperately):

 

[Neonguy]

If you thinking about getting the Apple 20 Display. Don't do it. I regret it when I get the 20. Pay couple more hundred and get the 23 HD instead. It's High Definition and the resolution is twice better 1900x1200. It look a lot better and brighter then the 20 too.

 

[DXoverDY]

You could just go with the dell, or you could hunt around for a display. Id make sure it has the following though:
1 Widescreen, that may not be importan to you though
2 1600x1200 ish resolution
3 between 4 and 8 ms response time

if you feel comftorable with ebay they have some nice products.
Time to time apple has refurbished 20" they are marked down significantly, i cant rember exactly but i think it is around 25%. Sorry if i am just confusing you more and more.

Just to add more confusion, i have seen some nice looking 19" for less than 200. Saw one at comp usa for 179.

Aren't the ACDs 14ms response time?

 

[RichP]

Check out samsung. I saw a few 20" models they make in Compusa, and the price is good, and the quality is generally pretty high with them. All are well below 400, at one point, I htink their 20" widescreen was below 300 with rebates.

 

[joshwest]

I am a cheap person.
I like nice screens (what? some people hate nice screens and love bad screens).
I wouldn't mind the ability to plug in other sources (xbox, digital cable, etc.)
I think 20 inches is the sweet spot for price vs. size.
What should I get?
Where can I find reliable and up-to date reviews?
Where should I buy?

P.S. DVI is the best option, right?

[Moderator note: Duplicate threads have been merged.]

Go to the dell outlet and get a 20" you can get them cheap and they have compoisite video/dvi/vga

 

[Meyvn]

That Samsung looks like it could be a winner if it is indeed reliable; same res. as the Apple and the Dell, much cheaper. As far as the 2007FPW vs. the 2005FPW, I can't say why you should or shouldn't buy the 2007 over the 2007. They're the same resolution and specs as far as I know.

 

[nickgwyn]

That Samsung looks like it could be a winner if it is indeed reliable; same res. as the Apple and the Dell, much cheaper. As far as the 2007FPW vs. the 2005FPW, I can't say why you should or shouldn't buy the 2007 over the 2007. They're the same resolution and specs as far as I know.

the 07 is prettier