swissmiss readers: what monitor to buy?

I need to finally buy a bigger monitor that I can hook up to my laptop. Let the research begin. I am wondering: Is it worth spending the extra money on an Apple monitor? Am I just paying extra for looks or are they really better than, let's say, a Dell? Do you work off your laptop+extra monitor? What do you recommend?

Comments

I was using the laptop hooked up to an apple monitor for a long time, although I just moved to an iMac with a huge screen. I found having two screens much easier, and you can have your palettes on one and the work on the other. I would really recommend an Apple screen. It connects perfectly with the Apple laptop and if nothing else, visually streamlines your work area.

[Andreas]

Apple makes some good monitors, but you pay for the aesthetics. Dell uses (or at least used) the same panels as Apple in their UltraSharp series of widescreen monitors. I use the UltraSharp 2005WFP myself (now replaced by the 2007WFP), and I couldn't be happier. The colors and sharpness and contrast is very good. It's not a low end monitor, and the price reflects it. Still, worth every penny. Also available in 24 and 30 inches (mine is 20). Good luck on making a choice!

[Clifton Alexander]

Tina, the Dell Ultrasharp monitor that I have hooked up to my MacBook Pro uses the same exact screen that the Apple Cinema Display uses, supposedly. I have had it for a year and a half now and it's great. It doesn't match my MBP as well as the Apple monitor, but I grabbed the 20" widescreen Dell for around $250! Occasionally, dealcatcher.com and other sites like it will have crazy coupon codes for the Dell monitors.

[Justin]

I've been on a 24" Apple monitor for the last two weeks and am in HEAVEN.

[Fabian]

I'm very happy with a Dell 2007WFP on my macbook Pro.. for now.. i hope to upgrade to a 24" Dell in future..

[CDB]

I've used laptops with external screens all day almost every day for the past couple of years, and would recommend it as a great way to work. I try to make sure I can swivel the screen (turn it from landscape to portrait) if it's not big enough to display a full portrait A4 sheet comfortably when in landscape mode...good for portrait photo editing and because web pages (especially blogs) tend to be long rather than wide, good for web browsing as well.

[seaofclouds]

we've got a dell 2407wfp, their 24" monitor, hooked up to our macbook. we do miss the aesthetic of apple's aluminum enclosure, but feel that the dell make up for it in value and extras.

the real estate, brightness and clarity of the dell is wonderful, as is the built in card reader. it's also nice that the dell has inputs for other components - with the flip of a switch, we can be playing guitar hero on our playstation2.

another tip worth mentioning is that dell offers additional warranty service - we have a five year plan on the dell, compared to apple's three year.

[iynque]

When I accidentally switched from PC to Mac, I was cautious. The PCs sounded better on paper, but the actual and total experience of owning and using my iBook was undeniably better in every way than that of any PC I had used previous (Sony Vaio can compete, but still doesn't match Apple's total experience).

I imagine the same holds true for Apple's displays: even if the tech specs are comparable, the thought that goes into an Apple product is very evident once you are actually using it.

However, there are far fewer concerns when it comes to attaching an external display than there are with the core hardware your are working on. I just bought a high resolution 17" MacBook Pro, so, with plenty of extra pixels, I've since ditched my extended desktop. When I used to have a two-monitor setup, I just used an old, beige, "MaxTech 'Low Radiation'" CRT monitor. I kept my palettes over there on Mr. "Low Radiation" and my work on my sharp, beautiful built-in Apple display.

I was happy and I spent nothing to do it.

Of course, a prettier display is nice, but not Apple. ...unless you plan on having an open studio or something and you want to impress your friends.

You might look at
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CategoryIntelligenceArticle.aspx?articleId=234
which has a generalized buying guide, explanations, and even recommendations specific to graphic designers toward the bottom.

[Kelly]

I couldn't be happier with my refurbished Apple Cinema display that I hook up to my Macbook. If you do decide to go the Apple route, check out the refurbs, it could save you a few bucks. I actually bought both my laptop and display from the refurb store, and got incredible deals, and they still come with a one year warranty.

[mister jason™]

Another vote for the Dell monitors. Great image clarity and color with a really nice price point. If you can swing the extra cost the Apple counterpart *is* a little sexier on the desk, but the Dell still looks good.

[KC]

Here's a really technical answer for you which hopefully helps...
The apple cinema displays and the current dell 30" display use S-IPS LCD panels built by Philips, some of the dell displays (the 2007WFP) use these displays also - which provide the best color reproduction.

Currently the dell 2407WFP and some of the 2007WFP's use a Samsung PVA screen, which provide good color reproduction, but not as good as the S-IPS displays. The kicker with the dell 20" screens is that you don't know which type you're going to get.

Some of the more inexpensive displays typically use TN film, which are very responsive (good for things like gaming), but have poorer color (typically 6-bit instead of 8-bit) and should be avoided.

Depending on how color sensitive your design work is should help you decide whether it's worth the premium for the extra little bit in color. Personally, I feel like the Dell displays are a great value, and provide some nicer ergonomic features - I don't believe the apple displays provide height adjustment.

Hope this helps!

[djfred]

Another vote for the refurbished Cinema Display. $749 for the 23" is within shouting distance of competing models and I have a theory that refurbs might be actually be more reliable because they've been combed over by a trained technician, as opposed to someone on a factory line.
I don't delude myself that it's functionally better than a Dell but it LOOKS better on my desk and that's important to me. On the other hand, you can get a 24" Dell that pivots from landscape to portrait for $80 less.
I wouldn't pay that much attention to the specs. Apple makes good monitors and if color sensitivity is a big deal you undoubtedly already have calibrating tools.

[Joel Pirela]

Your work space already looks beautiful, why tarnish it with a PC-esque monitor? Another vote to a cinema display. I have the 23" and love it.

[Theresa Stone]

I have a Dell 21-inch monitor hooked up to my MacBook Pro, and this Dell does a VERY bad job representing gradients. Like, shockingly bad.

[Chris Peterson]

With Apple, you're paying for looks, compatibility, ease of use, simplicity, and performance. With the others, you save some money, but gain buttons, logos, chrome, plastic, and more buttons.

The refurb route is a great way to save, and I've found the refurb bits I have to be just as good as the new items.

With regards to size, select the Apple display that's right for you, and then buy the next bigger one. You can never have too much screen real estate. As for using one screen for palettes and the other for work, I did that for a few years. The head tilting and turning isn't worth saving the extra few hundred dollars. Just buy the 30" and be done with it. You'll be very pleased in the long term.

[Chris Long]

Apple 23" gets my vote. I work on the 30" all day and it's fantastic, but expensive. The 23" looks just as good if not better and has ample room to MOVE. You won't regret it.

[Jennifer Apple]

Cinema Display 23 or 30. Some advice: Buy online at the Apple Store. I sent two back because of pixel issues, and they were great about that. Door to door replacement. Also, get Apple Care! That takes you from 1 to 3 years on being covered.

[Dylan Thomas]

I work on a 20" Dell 2005WFP I got a few years ago, hooked up to my 12" Powerbook. I love it. Colors are true, and gradients are beautiful.

It has always worked flawlessly and I have never had a problem connecting any computer or other device to it.

Since both Apple and Dell source the EXACT same Samsung-manufactured LCDs, you are paying for the box it comes in and what kind of things you can hook up to it.

When I bought mine here were the factors:

Apple: $800, Sexy Alumninum, built in USB/Firewire hub,DVI only
Dell: $400, Black Plastic, built in USB hub, VGA, DVI, S-Video, Component (RCA), Picture-in-Picture, Picture-By-Picture, and a rotating swivel (can use screen in portrait mode, great for posters and long documents).

Dells are the best bang for the buck in my book.
But the Apples are beautiful...

[Kirk]

Dell monitors are very good and cheaper than Apple's. The Apple monitors are very good and look better. Buy the Apple monitor. You know you want to. It's ok.

[David B.]

The Apple branded monitors are overpriced and have a midland service history. Apples policy on what are an acceptable number of bad pixels within hours of warranty ending are unexceptable.

Samsung makes some great LCD panel displays with a great warranty and terrific color reproduction and nice contrast ratio. Depending on your video chip-set, you'll also get a fair range of refresh rates depending on your desired screen resolution.

www.theskinofmyteeth.com

David

[Claire]

Another Dell vs. Apple point -- if you're planning on using more than one computer with the monitor (or if you want to use it to watch TV or movies), the Dell monitors will support that with a slew of connections, the Apple monitors won't. My 2000FP (about five years old and still going strong) has DVI, VGA, S-Video, and composite video. While I rarely use the video connectors (although we did replace our TV with one of these temporarily), I often use the DVI and VGA connectors to allow me to have two machines running at once.

You can do the same thing (and better), with a KVM switch, but they're expensive for DVI video and until very recently have been pretty buggy. Also, PC laptops often don't have DVI outputs (and don't generally support both DVI and VGA), so you need VGA to use them.

[Johan]

I've been in the same situation. Own a MacBook and ended up buying a Cinema Display 23". Absolutely love it! My desk is situated in the middle of a big room and the monitor is visible from all angles. I know it sounds kind of irrelevant but the BACK of the Cinema is gorgeous. It's like a sculputure in it self. Even though it's a big display it very elegantly presents itself.

Honestly, I think the real difference's in the details. All the little facts that don't show up in the tech charts. The Apple display is dead silent. All heat dispence is via the aluminum and not via fans. The cord materiel is classic Apple. The three buttons on the side're touch sensitive. The little light on the front's very subtle and unintrusive. And you can't beat the foot for aesthetics!

Consider why you fell in love with the MacBook Pro's design in the first place - and think display.

. johan

[Giusto]

the samsung 244T is where it's at. best monitor i've ever used ...

[Antonio]

The Apple displays are top notch and they look amazing. It would be a travesty to hook up a Dell monitor to your beautiful mac. And for a person who appreciates great design, I can't see you committing such an awful sin.

[ManxStef]

I'd wait till it's on special, which happens frequently, and buy the Dell, maybe the 27" 2707WFP. Yes, the case design doesn't look quite as nice – they're not actually that bad, though – but discounted they're almost half the price of the Apple 30". As much as I love Apple, their displays are way overpriced. Also, the Dells come with a 3 year warrantee (hear that, Apple?).

I'd then spend the savings on a good hardware calibration tool. Seriously, I'm amazed that so many designers don't bother to calibrate their monitors – no wonder their on-screen results never get close to matching their proofs! I've got an Eye-One 2 which is great; if you do a lot of printing you may want to take a look at the new Spyder3Studio, which includes a dedicated hardware device that generates printer profiles by scanning printed patch targets. These things are amazing, wish I could justify getting one!