Apple Displays Worth it?

Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
I'm looking at getting a bigger monitor to use with my 12" PB and am torn between the Apple 20-inch and some of the much cheaper samsung, viewsonic, etc. 19 inchers.



I like the looks, the size, and the usb/fw ports, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost, even with my student discount, and I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts.



Price likely to drop anytime soon? Will it last me for many years?



Thanks all
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 22
    The Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW uses the same identical screen as Apple's 20", and you can find it for $500 on Pricegrabber.



    If the extra ports and brushed metal is worth the extra money, go for it. But I'm very happy with the Dell.
  • Reply 2 of 22
    Alexius,



    I love my 20-inch Apple Cinema Display. I considered the Dell 20-inch widescreen, but I decided I wanted the Apple. It is much more affordable now. A year ago it was $1300.



    It looks absolutely gorgeous. It is true that the same panel is inside the Dell, but that doesn't mean the displays look the same, when connected to your computer. Some might also argue that Apple has stricter quality levels, and refuses slightly flawed panels that someone like Dell might accept, but I do not know, if that is true.



    Furthermore, the Apple Cinema Displays are visually stunning. They are artwork. I love mine, and I consider it one of the best purchases I have ever made.
  • Reply 3 of 22
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,951member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by nowayout11

    The Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW uses the same identical screen as Apple's 20", and you can find it for $500 on Pricegrabber.



    If the extra ports and brushed metal is worth the extra money, go for it. But I'm very happy with the Dell.




    It would be nice if there was some competition price-wise with Dell. It would make me feel dirty for buying Dell. Even when I was PC-only, I never considered them.
  • Reply 4 of 22
    Thanks for the replies... I hear you about the design.



    One thing I am noticing about the dell is that it is a 20.1 inch widescreen and has a 12ms response time as opposed to apple's 16ms.



    Significant difference? Or might apple make the refinement soon, considering it's more or less the same panel as Dell's.
  • Reply 5 of 22
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,951member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by alexius

    Thanks for the replies... I hear you about the design.



    One thing I am noticing about the dell is that it is a 20.1 inch widescreen and has a 12ms response time as opposed to apple's 16ms.



    Significant difference? Or might apple make the refinement soon, considering it's more or less the same panel as Dell's.




    The actual responses might be identical for both, assuming they are both using the same mode. There are articles on some of the more reputable PC sites that explain the spec differences between different displays that use the same panel. Also, for different panels, that a (for example) 10ms rated display might be worse than a 20ms rated display, for reasons such as dithering, color depth, different measuring standards, settling time and so on.
  • Reply 6 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by JeffDM

    The actual responses might be identical for both, assuming they are both using the same mode. There are articles on some of the more reputable PC sites that explain the spec differences between different displays that use the same panel. Also, for different panels, that a (for example) 10ms rated display might be worse than a 20ms rated display, for reasons such as dithering, color depth, different measuring standards, settling time and so on.



    Every PERSON I know who has the Dell (monitor) luvz it, lots and lots. On the other hand, every AUTISTIC person -- whoopsie, I meant to say, ARTISTIC person -- I know who got the monitor (most especially those who snagged it because *I* told them to), want to kill me for daring to suggest it, and have returned it.



    The LCD panels on the Apple Cinema and the Dell are identical. There is only one company on planet Earth that makes it (Phillips), and only two companies that buy it as far as I know (Apple and Dell). But... Dell uses a different backlight than Apple does. It won't calibrate correctly using professional color-matching devices, the backlight is TOO BRIGHT, black is never actually "black," there are hundreds of hysterical messages to this effect up on Apple's Discussions section.



    Dell is aware of this; the Revisions A's were so bad they suggested "placing a black filter over the monitor, we'll send you one!" The Revision B's were mostly fixed, and the Revision C's are coming.



    The current 20" Dells (the only ones I have first-hand knowledge about) WILL NOT correctly colormatch and use icc spaces, when you attempt to calibrate them. "Black" will not match pre-press "black" no matter how many hours you spend trying to get it that way. After trying to accomplish this with a friend of mine who brought 2 of them, due to my (stupid) advice, for 3 days he returned the two he purchased, and got one Apple Cinema and some ugly as fuck -- but apparently PERFECT (well the screen anyway, the case looks like you melted down ugly plastic) -- Eizo, for 5 times as much as the Dell's cost.



    The OBVIOUSLY CORRECT SOLUTION: Get a big-ass Cinema Display, and convince someone else to buy it for you. "I NEED IT, for my porn; whoopsie, I meant to say: WORK. Or everything I create for you will be NO GOOD!"



    In conclusion, you could always marry a really ugly girl with a great personality.



    Besides, they really aren't THAT expensive if you're a student, or scam your local Apple store (I have yet to find one that cares, "Hi, I'm a student! Did you want ID?" "Well ok then, let's just knock $120 off that price for you. I sure don't care"). But mostly this only works with MANAGERS. Being dressed like a fruitloop (I meant to say ARTIST) and being on drugs (or just acting that way) at the time of the purchase, seem to speed this process right along. "Here's your shit, please get the hell out of our store, don't sue us for emotional damages because the color-scheme of the carpeting is not to your liking!"



    I've got two. One a company paid for, the second one I purchased, using that exact system up there ^^^ Have fun kids!



    On the other hand, if you just want to read email, write crap in Word and surf the net dude! it's not like you're gonna care, most especially if you have no taste and are even contemplating the Dell just because it's a big monitor that gives good value for your money... are you insane?



    Also, aluminum glimmers with a pretty spectral luminescence, when exposed to blacklight. You just can't buy that kinda quality assurance from Dell.



    Steve Jobs UNDERSTANDS.
  • Reply 7 of 22
    pbpb Posts: 4,255member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by ibook911

    Some might also argue that Apple has stricter quality levels, and refuses slightly flawed panels that someone like Dell might accept, but I do not know, if that is true.





    Neither do I, as far as the 20" model is concerned, but for the 23" model Apple really screwed it up badly. I don't know about the the last batch, but until recently the 23" display had too much serious color shift problems to be considered as an option in this price range. Nevertheless, the general consensus about the 20" model is that it is a really nice and well performing display.
  • Reply 8 of 22
    gongon Posts: 2,437member
    The Apple 20" is a good display, and with edu pricing the price is not totally horrible either. You'll just have to decide for yourself whether the aluminum and Firewire hub are worth what you lose. It isn't just price. Everything else on the market has at least VGA and DVI. The Dell 20":s have also SVHS and composite. Other manufacturers give 3 year warranties, Apple one year. Others generally have lots of different physical adjustments (tilt, rotation, height, pivot), Apple only has tilt adjustment.



    The current Apple 23" has been a rip-off from the start with the color problems. The ones I've seen on display at stores have had very poor viewing angles as well. I have no idea why they haven't done a total overhaul of the internals, and no idea why someone would buy this when Dell, Viewsonic and Samsung offer far superior products in the 23"-24" class. The Apple otakus who insist on having everything Apple should get 20" or 30".



    The 19" displays are essentially stretched 17":s. Same resolution and features. I don't see the point in them, other than maybe gaming. If you go for sub-20" screens, might as well take 17".
  • Reply 9 of 22
    Richard. Funny post.
  • Reply 10 of 22
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,951member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Gon

    The 19" displays are essentially stretched 17"s. Same resolution and features. I don't see the point in them, other than maybe gaming. If you go for sub-20" screens, might as well take 17".



    In general, I do agree, but there are people that don't want the higher dpi. I can see their point, no consumer OS currently has good scaling of UI elements in general, the user either has to accept elements as they are or put up with screen windows with text that gets clipped at the edges.
  • Reply 11 of 22
    andersanders Posts: 6,523member
    Find the price difference between the Dell and Apple 20 incher. Decide for yourself if the looks is worth the price difference. This is not a diss towards Apple. I bought the Apple model based of this philosophy and haven´t looked back...
  • Reply 12 of 22
    I'm still using the 17-inch Studio Display LCD. I bought it back in Feb/2003 with the G4.



    Right now, the brightness level is still being set to the lowest setting. I use it pretty much over 8 hours a day. I do recommend Apple display.
  • Reply 13 of 22
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by JeffDM

    It would be nice if there was some competition price-wise with Dell. It would make me feel dirty for buying Dell. Even when I was PC-only, I never considered them.



    Dell really has two product lines in PCs and displays, the shit which they sell for ~$299 in the sunday paper and on TV, and a high end line which, honestly isnt too bad. Things like XPS and high end workstations are pretty solid.



    Their displays are the same way, the cheep-o's stink. the more pricey ones arent too bad. The way to tell the differance just by the picture is if the bace is black it is a cheapo and if the bace is silver-ish then it ids the higher end...also the higher end has things like DVI ports...not to mention a better build quality...and in the case of the 1005, the same pannel that apple uses.



    The one reason, other than priceing, that I will not getan Apple display is the cable is built in, if the cable snags, freys, a pin breaks...you are SOL, I didnt mind this risk in the days of sub $200 CRTs but with a ~$500+ display, I want detachable/replaceable cables
  • Reply 14 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by JeffDM

    It would be nice if there was some competition price-wise with Dell. It would make me feel dirty for buying Dell. Even when I was PC-only, I never considered them.



    IBM Maybe? There are really lots of brands out there...Viewsonic is also fairly good.
  • Reply 15 of 22
    Quote:

    The Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW uses the same identical screen as Apple's 20", and you can find it for $500 on Pricegrabber.



    Dells have really sloppy powersupply quality. They're very noisy (high pitched sound) because their OEM doesn't know how to wind industion coils properly.



    Don't mess around. Get a Samsung, Sony, or NEC.
  • Reply 16 of 22
    Back in the day, when LCDs were just becoming afforadable, there was the Formac brand which competed well with the Apple monitors. They were stylish and had similar performace at a lower price. But I don't see them mentioned recently. Are they no longer competitive?
  • Reply 17 of 22
    Formac had a bad reputation for an abysmal return policy. Don't know if that's changed, but you're right, they are not mentioned too much anymore.
  • Reply 18 of 22
    I have a 20" Apple cinema display and would recommend it to any one.

    People I know all have various different makes and models but I'm amazed how natural the colors are on my cinema display. Here in the uk widscreen is not the standard regarding computer displays.



    Looks good and performs good.



    10/10 from me
  • Reply 19 of 22
    jeffdmjeffdm Posts: 12,951member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by mynamehere

    IBM Maybe? There are really lots of brands out there...Viewsonic is also fairly good.



    There are lots of brands out there, but whenever I checked, the brands known to me (and even the unknown brands) didn't have deal prices anywhere near Dell's.
  • Reply 20 of 22
    Here's a review that compares Dell to Apple: http://www.anandtech.com/displays/sh...px?i=2400&p=10



    I'm also on the brink of buying a LCD monitor. Can't decide between Samsung Syncmaster 173p+ (17", 1500:1 contrast, 8ms response time) and 193p+ (19", 1000: 8ms response time, same resolution as the 173p+). The last contender is Apple's 20" cinema display.



    I'm going to use it for web browsing, writing a lot of papers, watching dvd's and playing games (games are of very high importance!).



    What do you recommend - is the cinema display up to it, or is samsung the better choice?
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