Is the Apple LED Cinema Display (27" flat panel) worth the money?
Just about to buy a Mac Pro 12 core and I noticed the Apple LED Cinema Display (27" flat panel) costs a staggering £899!
Now I read this is basically a LG 27" LED panel, that looking on Amazon costs around £300
So can anyone persuade me why I should pay more than double to have it wrapped in Apple's shiny metal casing?
What are the best alternatives to Apple's screen?
Kevin
Comments
thunderbolt(10Ghz) plus 2560x1440 resolution.... perhaps this is the fastest thunderbolt LED in worldwhich able to buy over the market(for consumer level)...apple probably will refresh the display line since usb 3.0 n hdmi is came with it's most high end rmbp... wait or not?
newbie....
Thx Coalabear87 for your thoughts on this.
I thought apple wasn't supporting USB 3, that is what Thunderbolt is for?
What is rmbp?
The retina MacBook Pro. Thunderbolt is the successor to USB 3, but Apple doesn't have a choice to support the latter in Ivy Bridge.
Works out for consumers, as we just all get faster ports.
Those cheap ones are TN displays so they have poor viewing angles and colour reproduction and the possibility of bad gradient banding.
The Dell U2711 uses the same panel as Apple:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-U2711-Ultrasharp-Premier-Widescreen/dp/B003A4H17S/
it is £150 cheaper than Apple's:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-27-inch-Thunderbolt-Display/dp/B005DXS7DQ/
The Dell has a matte coating, which some people prefer but you do get some light diffusion over the screen that makes blacks less black in bright light but it has no reflections/glare.
The Apple one has a webcam, ethernet, FW800 and internal speakers. The Dell one will rotate into portrait and has a 3 year zero dead pixel warranty vs Apple's 1 year warranty where they find a handful of dead pixels acceptable.
Other competing displays:
Viewsonic VP2765 AMVA 178/178 viewing angles like IPS
http://www.amazon.co.uk/VP2765-LED-68-58-AMVA-1920-1080/dp/B005UB18Y6/
HP ZR2740W:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ZR2740W-27-IN-LED-monitor-Promo/dp/B005VOEJ7A
Samsung LS27A850DS - PLS panel
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-LS27A850DS-EN-inch-Monitor/dp/B005CYXNVW/
There is a benefit to the metal case - I was checking out the Samsung on Youtube and someone had posted a video where they pressed the back of the panel and it totally screwed up the display signal. The Dell and HP monitors are quite rugged but they're all plastic and have some amount of flex.
I personally don't think any of them are ideal, you just have to pick one that best fits your own preference and budget.
Personally, I would wait until Apple refreshes the Thunderbolt display with USB 3.0.
The Samsung LS27A850DS - PLS panel is a better option IMO. I am using one at work and its great. Thinking of getting one to attach to my 27" iMac.