Thunderbolt Display?

Don't waste your money on the Thunderbolt Display -- it's just an LG 27" H-IPS panel with apple branding. You can get the same exact panel for $400-$500. My Crossover 27Q uses the same exact panel:

http://www.amazon.com/CROSSOVER-27Q-LED-P-2560X1440-Monitor/dp/B008B6I5UW

This + the Thunderbolt to Dual Link DVI cable puts you at $525. Same exact screen

 

Agreed. I purchased a Thunderbolt Display back in May and ended up returning it after 2 exchanges within 4 days. If you've ever experienced the dreaded "yellow tint" on a MBP, then you can only imagine how it looks on a 27-inch display. Do yourself a favour and spend half the price on a decent IPS display from ASUS or NEC.

If you're going to be spending 5-8 hours a day on your MBP, then you'll definitely want to invest in an external display. Additional screen real estate, less strain on your eyes, etc, etc.

 

Just make sure whatever you get has displayport out. Then get a displayport->minidisplayport cable.

Personally, I'm partial to dell ultrasharp monitors. They tend to be pretty good.

 

Also, if anyone here is serious about color reproduction and accuracy, you owe it to yourself to pick up a Spyder4Pro or other spectrophotometer so you can calibrate your MacBook and display. Every single display I've owned has had pretty lackluster accuracy out of the box, and the MacBook Pro seems to have a pretty intense blue cast and black crush out of the box.

My CrossOver 27Q had a pretty terrible green cast out of the box as well.