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I have made up my mind on the computer, some time next month I will be ordering a Mac Pro. If allow myself to charge it, I could get the Dell 30" or dual 20" ultra sharp monitors. I use two monitors at work with Windows, a 15" and a 17" as an "extended desktop" option which I like. I have never used nor seen OS X in a dual screen setup. Which would be the best? The full tilt 30" of glory or dual 20" screens? The 30" is currently $1274 and the 20" monitors are $359 ($718 for 2). I could afford to pay cash for one 20" now and in a couple of months after buying the Mac Pro get another 20" instead of charging anything but just for arguments sake which is better?
Is a single big screen worth $500 more?
2 Monitors or 1 Big Monitor?
MultiQuote
#2
moose_n_squirrel 
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 01:06 PM
Multiple monitors have been supported on the Mac since the late 1980s. However, if you haven't used them on a Mac, if you can get to a store that sells Macs you should have them set one up and you should try it first. Some Windows users hate the fact that on the Mac, the menu bar is not connected to an application window, so it can only live on one monitor, so you have to run over to that monitor to get a command. Less so if you use shortcuts or right-click menus. This doesn't bother lifetime Mac users because they're used to it. On one 30", the menu bar is always on top of the screen you're using.
Also, you can do some calculations to see if the dual 20" or the dual 30" has more pixels, if that's important.
Another factor is if your work is more vertical or horizontal. If it's horizontal, dual 20s work great. If you need to edit long Word docs or do a lot of vertical photos, the widescreens become a liability because you just have this vertical strip with a lot of empty horizontal screen, so you might want the 30" because it is much taller.
Also, you can do some calculations to see if the dual 20" or the dual 30" has more pixels, if that's important.
Another factor is if your work is more vertical or horizontal. If it's horizontal, dual 20s work great. If you need to edit long Word docs or do a lot of vertical photos, the widescreens become a liability because you just have this vertical strip with a lot of empty horizontal screen, so you might want the 30" because it is much taller.
#3
macnuke
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 01:19 PM
beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
yeah.they are cheap and "look good" when they are sitting by themselves.
but every Dell that saves you money.....
looks like crap against the Apple, the Sony (yuck), the Samsung.
feel free to retread your shiny MacPro with a Dell display.
but after I have looked at 6 of them mirrored with an ACD, I will never pay for one.
you give me one for fee, I will be happy to use it for MS Word palette display, or greyscale text.
but never for photo work.
yeah.they are cheap and "look good" when they are sitting by themselves.
but every Dell that saves you money.....
looks like crap against the Apple, the Sony (yuck), the Samsung.
feel free to retread your shiny MacPro with a Dell display.
but after I have looked at 6 of them mirrored with an ACD, I will never pay for one.
you give me one for fee, I will be happy to use it for MS Word palette display, or greyscale text.
but never for photo work.
#4
Nobody
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 01:30 PM
Quote:
. . . but after I have looked at 6 of them mirrored with an ACD, I will never pay for one.
. . . but after I have looked at 6 of them mirrored with an ACD, I will never pay for one.
ACD? Did you mean ACD Systems or Apple Cinema Display? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Bjorn
#5
Nobody
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 01:41 PM
To add to moosensquirrel and macnuke . . .
. . . it is also about the cool factor of having the Cinema Displays (whether one or two) over a Dell brand connected to your beautiful Mac Pro. It's sort of like buying a Rolls Royce Phantom, but you only get it with a Hyundai badge glued on as a hood ornament instead of the original silver winged lady . . . because you got a "better" short term deal . . . you wouldn't do that . . . would you? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Bjorn
. . . it is also about the cool factor of having the Cinema Displays (whether one or two) over a Dell brand connected to your beautiful Mac Pro. It's sort of like buying a Rolls Royce Phantom, but you only get it with a Hyundai badge glued on as a hood ornament instead of the original silver winged lady . . . because you got a "better" short term deal . . . you wouldn't do that . . . would you? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Bjorn
#7
Nobody
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 01:56 PM
Right on.
. . . and as I was typing my last post . . . I was wondering if a 30" Cinema Display could actually fit as a cool entertainment display in the back seat of a Phantom . . . the vehicle does have a lot of room back there . . . hmmmmm /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Bjorn
. . . and as I was typing my last post . . . I was wondering if a 30" Cinema Display could actually fit as a cool entertainment display in the back seat of a Phantom . . . the vehicle does have a lot of room back there . . . hmmmmm /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Bjorn
#10
kerby74
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 02:25 PM
Wow... that bad? So at $649 student price, you would take a 20" Cinema Display over the Dell where you could almost get two for the money?
I have never seen them side by side but...
Apple: 20-inch (viewable) / Dell: 20.1-inch
1680 x 1050 optimal resolution / 1680 x 1050
DVI Display Connector / DVI, VGA, Composite, S-Video
2 port USB 2.0 Hub / 4 USB 2.0 Hub
2 FireWire 400 ports / 0 FireWire
700:1 / 800:1 Contrast Ratio
The resolution, same. The connections available, Dell (I could use with my iBook too) or with my PS2. USB ports, Dell. FireWire, Apple. Contrast, Dell.
Being an Apple elitist myself and not actually a fan of Dell at all, I still don't see what makes the Apple Cinema Display that much better, for the money.
What is the difference that makes it so much better?
Edit, crap, I made a nice little side by side chart and the spacing didn't stick. Sorry that is hard to read.
I have never seen them side by side but...
Apple: 20-inch (viewable) / Dell: 20.1-inch
1680 x 1050 optimal resolution / 1680 x 1050
DVI Display Connector / DVI, VGA, Composite, S-Video
2 port USB 2.0 Hub / 4 USB 2.0 Hub
2 FireWire 400 ports / 0 FireWire
700:1 / 800:1 Contrast Ratio
The resolution, same. The connections available, Dell (I could use with my iBook too) or with my PS2. USB ports, Dell. FireWire, Apple. Contrast, Dell.
Being an Apple elitist myself and not actually a fan of Dell at all, I still don't see what makes the Apple Cinema Display that much better, for the money.
What is the difference that makes it so much better?
Edit, crap, I made a nice little side by side chart and the spacing didn't stick. Sorry that is hard to read.
#11
Nobody
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 02:57 PM
How about this as a guide. A little old, but may help your decisions.
http://www.anandtech...doc.aspx?i=2400
Bjorn
http://www.anandtech...doc.aspx?i=2400
Bjorn
#12
macnuke
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 03:05 PM
it's old.
here is another experience of mine..
12 month old dells agains 2 year old Apple displays.
the dells reall start to look like crap with age.
the apple holds up over time much better.
so OK.. buy the Dell, live with it for a year, toss it out and buy a new one.
but you're still ahead with the Apple as far as visual quality.. even over time.
I pay for the long run.
another reason i use a Mac
here is another experience of mine..
12 month old dells agains 2 year old Apple displays.
the dells reall start to look like crap with age.
the apple holds up over time much better.
so OK.. buy the Dell, live with it for a year, toss it out and buy a new one.
but you're still ahead with the Apple as far as visual quality.. even over time.
I pay for the long run.
another reason i use a Mac
#13
moose_n_squirrel
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 03:20 PM
Quote:
How about this as a guide. A little old, but may help your decisions.
http://www.anandtech...doc.aspx?i=2400
How about this as a guide. A little old, but may help your decisions.
http://www.anandtech...doc.aspx?i=2400
Here is another point of view if you care about calibration.
I bought an Apple 20", but if someone is not concerned about calibration, I would tell them to buy the Dell and save a mountain of cash you can use to buy another Apple gadget.
#14
DarthMac
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Posted 12 January 2007 - 03:46 PM
Quote:
Wow... that bad? So at $649 student price, you would take a 20" Cinema Display over the Dell where you could almost get two for the money?
I have never seen them side by side but...
Apple: 20-inch (viewable) / Dell: 20.1-inch
1680 x 1050 optimal resolution / 1680 x 1050
DVI Display Connector / DVI, VGA, Composite, S-Video
2 port USB 2.0 Hub / 4 USB 2.0 Hub
2 FireWire 400 ports / 0 FireWire
700:1 / 800:1 Contrast Ratio
The resolution, same. The connections available, Dell (I could use with my iBook too) or with my PS2. USB ports, Dell. FireWire, Apple. Contrast, Dell.
Being an Apple elitist myself and not actually a fan of Dell at all, I still don't see what makes the Apple Cinema Display that much better, for the money.
What is the difference that makes it so much better?
Edit, crap, I made a nice little side by side chart and the spacing didn't stick. Sorry that is hard to read.
Wow... that bad? So at $649 student price, you would take a 20" Cinema Display over the Dell where you could almost get two for the money?
I have never seen them side by side but...
Apple: 20-inch (viewable) / Dell: 20.1-inch
1680 x 1050 optimal resolution / 1680 x 1050
DVI Display Connector / DVI, VGA, Composite, S-Video
2 port USB 2.0 Hub / 4 USB 2.0 Hub
2 FireWire 400 ports / 0 FireWire
700:1 / 800:1 Contrast Ratio
The resolution, same. The connections available, Dell (I could use with my iBook too) or with my PS2. USB ports, Dell. FireWire, Apple. Contrast, Dell.
Being an Apple elitist myself and not actually a fan of Dell at all, I still don't see what makes the Apple Cinema Display that much better, for the money.
What is the difference that makes it so much better?
Edit, crap, I made a nice little side by side chart and the spacing didn't stick. Sorry that is hard to read.
I know at least 3 pro photographers using ACDs with their windows boxes.
