[TerryG]

Hello everyone!
I know that there are just a handfull of companies actually building everyone's LCDs, but that differences do exist.
I ruled out Apples own 23” LCD because of its pink screen issues & high price.
I am no fan of Dell, but one model, the 2405FPW built for them by Samsung on paper looks to have excellent spec’s

1920X1200 resolution
12 ms response time
1000:1 contrast ratio
DVI-D port

But I have some questions about this model.
1. Dell’s web site states its PC compatible, but no mention of Mac compatibility.
Are Apple’s DVI ports any different than Dell’s DVI-D connections?

2. Dose anyone own this model? I would like to know how you feel about it compared to other large LCDs.

3. Sony offers a line of Xtra-bright LCD monitors, anyone familiar with these models?

4. Do any of these companies, or on-line stores offer a more generous return policy because of dead pixels?
Thanks for your feedback!

[admactanium]

i have a new sony 23" lcd monitor and i'm loving it so far.

[Koodari]

1. Mac compatible, definitely. Also the integral 7-in-1 card reader should be compatible since it's a standard USB memory device and also works in Windows without drivers. Pivot support is reportedly coming in Tiger.

2. I've got 2405FPW ordered, projected delivery two weeks. I intend to use it with iBook and a PS2.

4. I hear they have generous return policy in the US. I don't worry about my local return policy because law gives me 14 day unconditional return period on "mail sales". Three year warranty is good in my book, but I think other manufacturers except Apple give the same.

[FallenFromTheTree]

I just ordered my Dell 2405FPW 24" HD display today.

Outrageously good deals if you know how to shop.

Education/Corporate discounts offers a HUGE savings.

Thanks to Wednesdays' $600 reduction on the Rev B 2.0 PowerMacs
and a very friendly Dell education store rep,
I will now have a NEW Rev B 2.0 dually and a Dell 24" HD display
for just over $2700.

I'm happy!

[jellybonefish]

That is quite the haul in hardware! Make sure you post how the 24" works out for you, I'm very curious.

[FallenFromTheTree]

I am totally blown away with my new Dell 24" display!

Beautiful, bright, crisp images. The trim around the edges is flat charcoal black and relatively thin so the edges disappear into the background of your workspace on screen. The sturdy pedestal is not really an issue at all when you have the display on the lowest height setting.
The only thing cooler would be to have two of these
for the price of one Apple 23" display with no real compromise in quality at all..

I'm still trying to get a hold of my daughter's digicam so I can post some photos.

[atomicbartbeans]

Yeah, but I'd much rather support Apple than Dell. I'd gladly pay more to buy from a company with the best products, support, and reputation in the business. The brushed metal of a cinema display is so awesome...

[Luca]

Is it worth $300 extra? I don't think so.

As I've said in the past, if one company can make a comparable product and charge less for it, I'll buy it (well, assuming I need it). My buying a product from Dell would be an indication of Dell's success of that product. I don't let politics cloud my judgment--in the end, Apple and Dell are just businesses trying to make a profit. If Dell makes a 20" for $499 and Apple's is $799, and I buy the Dell, that's Dell's reward for their superior price/performance ratio. If people keep buying Dell displays instead of Apple displays, it will send Apple a message that they're still charging too much for their displays, and they'd rather sell them at a lower profit margin than not sell them at all.

I own an iPod, a Mac mini, and an Apple keyboard. There's my support for Apple right there... I didn't buy the stuff because I think Apple's a good company that deserves my money (I'm too poor, I could sell everything I own and send it all to Apple and they wouldn't even notice), I bought them because they are superior products for the money. Every time I buy something, I think of it as all the companies out there bidding for my money. Of course the companies aren't directly involved, but they all have their offerings out in the public for all to see. So while I have a Mac mini, I don't have Apple RAM in it, because Apple's offering for RAM was unreasonably high.

[Koodari]

Originally Posted by atomicbartbeans Yeah, but I'd much rather support Apple than Dell. I'd gladly pay more to buy from a company with the best products, support, and reputation in the business. The brushed metal of a cinema display is so awesome...

Your comment is only valid in general. In this case (Dell 24" vs Apple 23"), the Dell is obviously the superior product, with superior warranty, replacement policy, performance, features, pricing, and so far no widely reported problems like the 23":s well publicized pink hue. The only issues in the Dell are in features the Apple does not even have. This leaves looks as the only Apple selling point. It's still fine to buy Apple or other brand for the looks, but it pays to acknowledge the facts. Cheap does not equal bad.

[FallenFromTheTree]

http://img92.echo.cx/img92/1874/appl...eenshot4zv.jpg

[Luca]

I want one

Love the 8600/9600/G3 (which one?) in the background!

[cyrusmekon]

Koodari, could you post how things go with this monitor and an ibook. I myself am looking to get one (decided against the hassle of a cinema display).

Fallen, how does it perform now youve had it a play with it? Worth the bucks? Does the thing look like a beast on the table? I guess i should measure up my desk.

Thanks guys.

[FallenFromTheTree]

It's kinda funny that the system on the right,
(Sony 17" Multiscan200Es and the beige G3 tower)
Actually cost me more than my new G5 2.0 dually/Dell 24" system.

The Dell is 22" wide and about 18" tall ( off the desk) on it's lowest setting.
Of course the 24" screen size is measured diagonally.

This gives me well more than double the actual screen size of my 17" Sony

I'm totally content with this new combo.

[Koodari]

Originally Posted by cyrusmekon Koodari, could you post how things go with this monitor and an ibook. I myself am looking to get one (decided against the hassle of a cinema display).

Not only will I post the "with iBook" report, I'll also post the "with PS2 and Gran Turismo 4 at 1080i" report. :smokey:

Sadly (?), the display isn't even here yet and I already feel like I should return it because of the even better 20" deal Dell put out in the meanwhile - I could get two of those and a 28" TV for the same cash as the 24".

I'll test the 24" in any case.. and since when can I test a thing like that on my desk, already paid for, and send it away?

[FallenFromTheTree]

Just ran Pixel Test on mine and it's all looking perfect.
I think you'll be quite impressed when you receive yours.

[Beed]

Originally Posted by FallenFromTheTree I just ordered my Dell 2405FPW 24" HD display today. Outrageously good deals if you know how to shop. Education/Corporate discounts offers a HUGE savings. Thanks to Wednesdays' $600 reduction on the Rev B 2.0 PowerMacs and a very friendly Dell education store rep, I will now have a NEW Rev B 2.0 dually and a Dell 24" HD display for just over $2700. I'm happy!

I'm thinking of going the same route you did with the duel 2.0 ghz and the dell display but I was just wondering how good a display like that would be for color correction? Or should i get a CRT monitor for about the same price any reccomondations

[FallenFromTheTree]

I'm not sure on the color correcion issue.
I'm sure they'll be happy to send you a PDF
or further specific info

[FallenFromTheTree]

Just an added note that may or may not be of concern.

While I am still totally thrilled with my new 24" Dell display,
I should note that the passive cooling vents on the back of the Dell display may cause dust accumulation issues inside the display housing over time.
The Apple displays are clearly superior in this aspect with a virtually sealed system.

http://images.apple.com/displays/gal...ck20050427.jpg



Shrunk on request

[Luca]

I thought the vents for the Apple display were on the sides. Maybe I'm wrong.

Oh and that is an ass-ugly, poorly done 3D rendering of that Apple display. Why does Apple always use 3D renderings instead of real photographs for their stock photography? Photos look much, MUCH better.

I'm going to consider picking up a Dell 24" display at some point. I don't know how long it'll take, but I'm getting a second job that'll basically give me spending money (since my current single job is just barely enough to pay the bills). Once I save up enough money for one, they will have probably dropped in price.

Then I can connect an XBox 360 to it. If I remember correctly, they have AV inputs. I can't see Apple ever selling a display to me if they continue to charge a huge premium for them, while offering a single attached DVI cable instead of the plethora of inputs and outputs offered by the Dell.

[FallenFromTheTree]

There's more than a $600 price difference between the best available price on the Dell 24" and the Apple 23"

The problem is that not everyone qualifies for the best "up to 35% Off" Dell University discount. Others may simply pay too much by not doing their research.

I totally understand why many will still pay the high premium for the Apple's overall design, but for that price there should be NO quality issues and a standard 3 year warranty.

Both are great monitors, but it's up to you to decide which offers the better value.

[Koodari]

FFTT, *please* don't post pictures that wide!
(BTW, can it be done in CSS that any picture wider than X would be displayed
at X width, while the smaller ones were kept at normal size?)

Luca, no, Apple displays are sealed and passively cooled.
This would be better if everything else was the same, but now I think it's a
result for the Dell having an internal powersupply and the Apple an external
brick = different design criteria at work.

The 2405fpw has DVI, VGA, SVHS, composite, component inputs.

I think mine will be delivered tomorrow, but I'm really sweating over whether
I should keep it even if it turns out to be pixel/backlight perfect. I'm usually
very objective about spending but it's hard when you already got a thing like
this behind your door... I'm worried it might be excessive.

Even the futureproofing of 2405fpw is not certain - there is the unknown
factor of whether the still-unseen HDTV tuners here in Finland and next gen
game consoles are compatible with this display, and current consoles have so
precious few HD games, objectively speaking a TV should be equally good to
run the PS2.

A comparison to other LCD's is not a problem - this is the one I want
- but the comparison to getting the cheapest TV I can for use with the console
and pocketing the rest of the cash is hard. I used to think large displays are a
good investment almost regardless of circumstances, but now that I have
used laptops for a year I'm even used to the iBook screen.

Regarding the next gen consoles, I'd *really* like to see output directly to
computer displays, VGA or DVI, fitted in the same output port with the
regular TV output. The information is digital inside the console already, it
simply can't be that hard to output it. And what cheaper way to see HD than
a CRT computer monitor?

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Koodari FFTT, *please* don't post pictures that wide! (BTW, can it be done in CSS that any picture wider than X would be displayed at X width, while the smaller ones were kept at normal size?)

max-width?

(Not widely supported yet.)

[MCQ]

Originally Posted by Luca I'm going to consider picking up a Dell 24" display at some point. I don't know how long it'll take, but I'm getting a second job that'll basically give me spending money (since my current single job is just barely enough to pay the bills). Once I save up enough money for one, they will have probably dropped in price.

Is the marginal increase in display vs the 20" really worth it though? I mean, you could have gotten the 20" Widescreen 2005fpw for $397 + tax/shipping this weekend (heck, it could still be going on right now if the promo & coupon are still valid).

[Luca]

Perhaps a 20" would suit me better... it would certainly be a lot lighter on the wallet. Of course, I wanted to get one primarily for gaming (since I'm fine with using my 17" LCD with my mini). But maybe then I'd be better off just buying a large, high-def TV. The problem is I think a large enough HDTV would cost even more than one of the Dell LCDs.

But yeah, my (realistic, possible) dream setup would be a 24" widescreen LCD with an XBox 360 and my mini hooked up to it. I could go with a 20" instead, or I could keep the 17" for the mini and get a TV for the console. I don't know, and I have a long time to decide since right now I have basically no money. I'm planning on using my extra time over summer to work a second job so I can save up.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by MCQ Is the marginal increase in display vs the 20" really worth it though? I mean, you could have gotten the 20" Widescreen 2005fpw for $397 + tax/shipping this weekend (heck, it could still be going on right now if the promo & coupon are still valid).

It's still valid, I got one (through a friend from Boston) just a few hours ago.

[FallenFromTheTree]

The Apple 20" may be prettier than the Dell 20", but that extra $300
could buy you a pair of 1 GB RAM sticks for some serious performance gains.

If my Dell 24" holds up for at least the 3 year warranty period, then something way cooler will be out that everyone wants anyway.

I'm just trying to be somewhat practical.

If I bring my G5 2.0 dually system up to 2 GB's of RAM, add a 2nd internal 250 GB SATA HD, M-Audio 1814, ProTools M-Powered, Logic Pro 7.1 and a new Keyboard controller, a new mixer and all the sound loops and plugins, I'm going to have plenty to keep me busy for a while after I learn how to use it.

I'm replacing almost an entire analog home studio, so I have to watch my budget.

I've spent wisely on the heart of my system, so the rest of what I need is still
an affordable reality. Ok so it might take a few months! <">

[Koodari]

2405fpw arrived 30mins ago and OMG IS IT HUGE OR WHAT!

When I started it up, I had not figured out how to rotate it back to horizontal. Thus, the behemoth stood vertical next to my 12" iBook which powers it.
When I got a background picture, it was a very "Space Odyssey 2001" moment. A monolith standing over 3x as high as my iBook screen...

Now, how to test for defective pixels the easiest way?

I have to step out for a while, hopefully I'll return with a PS2 component cable and then it's time for GT4 high definition testing...

[cyrusmekon]

Kood, how does it look with an ibook??

I am very very intrested in what you have to say about this piece of equipment. Are you using the screen spanning hack??

Do tell do tell

[torifile]

Isn't this purchasing advice?

[Brad]

I pity the fool that doubts Mr. T.

Moving!