Strid3r wrote:
I believe the Apple and Dell displays use the same LCD panel. You can't go wrong with either both are outstanding monitors and you will probably be using a calibration device either way.
The 20 and 30 do, but not the 24/23 (they are actually different sizes which most people forget).
That said there is much more that goes into designing an LCD than the panel. Its like an engine. Just because Cadilac's and the Corvette use the same engine, don't mean the Caddy will drive like a vette.
Etadam wrote:
Anyone experienced the Dell True-life monitors? They seem really good, and, provided with a computer, relatively cheap.
CTYankee wrote:
Those are probably the TN panel ones...cheap and good do not go together with LCDs.
Seems so.
The brand new Dell SP2x08WFP, x ∈ [0,2], (TN-panels) that I saw in Akihabara look good at first. But there is something wrong (besides their reflectivity!)... maybe the 2000:1 contrast ratio?
I couldn't find the right settings brightness/contrast to read a page on the Net without my eyes getting really tired. And the combination of "angle of view" TN panel is probably the reason why characters sometimes look dirty... the thing is, moving the head a inch right or left and the characters look a bit different ; thus, our two eyes sometimes don't actually see the same character(s) the same way! besides the contrast problem, this probably adds to the tireness.
I read good reviews for the previous Dell series, but the new TN panels are a no-buy imo.
I love how people make these judgements without even having seen or used the monitors.
I'd love to see some new monitors from Apple, but since they dropped the "Computer" from their name, consumer products seem to be their focus. I wouldn't hold your breath on new Apple
Studio Displays in a hurry. Maybe at MacWorld in Feb, but it is a very big maybe.
Since going to a 30" I could never go back to a 24".
I'm currently running a Dell 30" and a Dell 24" for palettes.
The Dell 30" is fine. Took a couple of weeks to get used to, but it takes me a couple of weeks to get used all new monitors.
I'm a fan of the Apple monitors, but it's difficult to justify the price considering how old the technology they run is.
Both the Dell and the Apple 30" have no controls except for a backlight brightness adjustment.
As to the Dell logo, after the first couple of hours you don't really see it.
I'm using a Mk 3 Spyder for calibrating. Works fine on the Dell 30".
People get so hung up on having massive contrast and gamut, but can you really get this onto paper anyway?
I'm much more interested in productivity than numbers on a spec sheet.
I read some reviews about the 07 series vs the new 08.
The new 08 "true-life" is back to TN panels and many people prefer the "old" ultrasharp 07 series, like yours.
I would agree on having 2 monitors rather than l....it is very useful to have the 2 to work with and less expensive as well. Good luck - and do look at refurbs...very good quality and a lot less money.
CTYankee wrote:
Dells are surronded by a certain level of criticism for the quality control and ability to accurately profile. Apple on the other hand is known for the best QC in the industry (though they are not without examples of mistakes). The Apple LCDs also profile much easier and more accurately than Dell.
Personally for that much money I'd get a 24" NEC with the best color and accuracy out there. Smaller, yes, but designed for full calibration and top notch performance.
RE Apple vs. Dell. Utter rubbish. How many Apple monitors vs. Dell monitors have you profiled? I've done lots, and your statement smacks of BS to put it bluntly. Must be a mac owner...
jamesf99 wrote:
RE Apple vs. Dell. Utter rubbish. How many Apple monitors vs. Dell monitors have you profiled? I've done lots, and your statement smacks of BS to put it bluntly. Must be a mac owner...
I own and use Dell LCDs actually, and they are a pain to profile at times. Far too bright.
Apple LCDs are just plain engineered to profile very accurately and easily. Much lower brightness levels to get the results needed for color work. Not BS, but the vast consensus of many users, reviewers, and just about everyone out there. Feel free to think otherwise, but your own personal experience is no replacement for the multitudes out there (like me) who have experience with both and know what they are doing.
CTYankee wrote:
I own and use Dell LCDs actually, and they are a pain to profile at times. Far too bright.
Apple LCDs are just plain engineered to profile very accurately and easily. Much lower brightness levels to get the results needed for color work. Not BS, but the vast consensus of many users, reviewers, and just about everyone out there. Feel free to think otherwise, but your own personal experience is no replacement for the multitudes out there (like me) who have experience with both and know what they are doing.
My experiences have been the same also. Takes just a little more work to get the Dells right.
First off, we're talking about the 30" versions. That means the Apple 30" Cinema Display or the Dell 3007WFP-HC (or I suppose the non-HC 3007WFP). I had an 30" ACD at my last place of full-time employment and I own a 3007WFP and a 3007WFP-HC at home. All three are/were hooked up to Mac Pros with their stock 7300GT video cards (in the case of my home machine, two 7300GTs, one for each screen).
The ACD and the 3007WFP are the same panel. Exact...same...panel. That, coupled with the fact that there is no signal processing hardware in a 30" display, means they should be either identical or nearly so. You heard me... there's no real signal processing hardware in the 30" screens. All the scaling for lower resolutions and anything else is done at the video card. Only controls on either is "brightness" which is the backlight control, actually. This is why there's only DVI on the Dell (Apple's stuff only has DVI across the line).
Now, the 3007WFP-HC is a different panel. I believe it's a 90+% NTSC color gamut display (I forget the actual number). That said, I've seen several HCs and all are stunningly beautiful, like mine. They're worlds better than the ACD panel in color rendition.
So, honestly, the Dell is the better display. It also comes with a better warranty which means you get a new monitor sent to you if yours dies as an advance exchange. Apple doesn't do that.
They'll most likely be the same to profile, since they're the same hardware. So, basically the choice is a cheaper, better screen with a USB Hub and Card Reader in it, or a better looking screen that's pricier and has both USB and Firewire in it.
I'd choose the Dell anyday... it's also available for under $1200 often. I'll probably be buying a third in a few weeks to put at my new office space.
BTW, 26" vs 30" at same price range, why not pick NEC LCD2690WUXi with 12bits built-in LUT and 16bits processing. IMHO, 4" size difference with same resolution is nothing comparing to other factors..
oh,sorry, I didn't realize that. but one thing in my mind, how does it look if you watch 1080p movie with full screen mode? the movie won't display its best native resolution...
and more importantly(maybe for me),u can only calibrate and profile ur monitor via video card.
The ACD and the 3007WFP are the same panel. Exact...same...panel. That, coupled with the fact that there is no signal processing hardware in a 30" display, means they should be either identical or nearly so.
The panel is just one part of the display equation. They don't use the same backlight afaik and how they are designed to work in the LCD seems to favor the Apple (more even color and brightness across the entire panel from what I've heard...but mostly anecdotal so not too reliable).
What really sets the Apple apart from Dell is the color accuracy. Apple tunes their displays at the factory. That means they adjust the RGB values so they produce accurate white points. Dell does not do this. Another big difference is Apple's has a color LUT (look up table) that is SWOP certified. Dell's are not SWOP certified...meaning the color is not regarded as being reliable for color critical work.
Both can be very good, both will look great, but what sets the Apple's apart is and has always been the attention given to make the whole package very accurate and reliable for color critical work.
Regarding the larger gamut panel...add the lesser degree of color accuracy built into the display with a larger gamut using the same number of colors and you get less reliable colors particularly those outside the 8 bit range. This has been covered in other posts...so I won't go into that here.
Edited by CTYankee on Dec 28, 2007 at 09:45 PM GMT
