Filed under: Accessories, Peripherals, iMac
TUAW Holiday Gift Guide: Displays
A display, whether it's a primary, extra display for a portable, or a desktop secondary, is something that's very useful, and makes a great gift. Here's a few gift ideas for displays to use with your Mac.
Dell ST2210
This display offers a 1920x1080 resolution, a 21.5 inch viewing area, and is available for only $189. It has a DVI and VGA port, which means that you might need an adapter to connect it. There's also a 24 inch model of this display, the Dell ST2410, if you're looking for something a little bit bigger.
Samsung XL2370
If you're wanting another option, there's the Samsung XL2370. It's LED backlit, like the Apple LED Cinema Display, and can be purchased for around $399. It has a display resolution of 1920x1080, and it features a DVI and HDMI port, so you'll need an adapter to hook it up to a Mac with a Mini-DVI or Mini DisplayPort.
Apple LED Cinema Display
The Apple LED Cinema Display offers unique features that make it easy to connect to a Mac, like the MagSafe connector that charges a MacBook. The display is measured at 24 inches, and can display a 1900x1200 resolution. It also features a built-in iSight camera, a mic, speakers, and a three-port USB hub. You can purchase it for $899, though refurbished models have shown up for $599 from Apple.
27 inch iMac
The 27-inch iMac, can be used in Target Display Mode as a monitor for another Mac with a Mini DisplayPort. It offers a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, and it's LED backlit. You'll just need a cable to do so, and you can purchase a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable from Apple or Monoprice. Of course, the iMac is a computer, so we aren't suggesting using it primarily as an external display.
Do you have any suggestions for displays? Leave a comment and let us know!
Dell ST2210
This display offers a 1920x1080 resolution, a 21.5 inch viewing area, and is available for only $189. It has a DVI and VGA port, which means that you might need an adapter to connect it. There's also a 24 inch model of this display, the Dell ST2410, if you're looking for something a little bit bigger.
Samsung XL2370
If you're wanting another option, there's the Samsung XL2370. It's LED backlit, like the Apple LED Cinema Display, and can be purchased for around $399. It has a display resolution of 1920x1080, and it features a DVI and HDMI port, so you'll need an adapter to hook it up to a Mac with a Mini-DVI or Mini DisplayPort.
Apple LED Cinema Display
The Apple LED Cinema Display offers unique features that make it easy to connect to a Mac, like the MagSafe connector that charges a MacBook. The display is measured at 24 inches, and can display a 1900x1200 resolution. It also features a built-in iSight camera, a mic, speakers, and a three-port USB hub. You can purchase it for $899, though refurbished models have shown up for $599 from Apple.
27 inch iMac
The 27-inch iMac, can be used in Target Display Mode as a monitor for another Mac with a Mini DisplayPort. It offers a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, and it's LED backlit. You'll just need a cable to do so, and you can purchase a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable from Apple or Monoprice. Of course, the iMac is a computer, so we aren't suggesting using it primarily as an external display.
Do you have any suggestions for displays? Leave a comment and let us know!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Tom said 1:51PM on 12-07-2009
I am really tempted to buy a 27 inch iMac once they hit the refurb store, to use as a standalone monitor. Not sure what I'd do with the computer part, but already the entire iMac is $100 less then a 30 inch Cinema Display. For $100 less, I get a slightly smaller resolution due to the 16:9 aspect ratio, LED backlighting, and entire computer that I'm sure I could find a use for.
Apple really needs to rev or kill off the 30 inch display. It's now ridiculous in the current product lineup.
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balls said 1:58PM on 12-07-2009
Just buy a 30" LCD and save yourself the money.
Matt said 2:40PM on 12-07-2009
@balls
Buying the 30" costs $100 more.
Joseph said 3:11PM on 12-07-2009
I think he meant Dell uses the same panel. get the dell for $600.
Tom said 6:38PM on 12-07-2009
The Dell 30 inch panels are $1400 or $1700, and they don't sell refurb models on the Dell outlet (been checking for 2 months now). They do offer coupon codes from time to time, but it's still a big investment, and CCFL lighting.
Thats why the iMac is tempting, it's LED lit, and has higher then 1920x1080 resolution at a comparable price.
Rob47 said 1:59PM on 12-07-2009
Could you guys do a gift guide for iPhone headsets? Mine just broke im looking for some good new ones. Any recommendations?
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sporobolus said 2:21PM on 12-07-2009
strange selection with little useful information and some odd errors; Macs with mini-DVI come with a mini-DVI to DVI adapter; the Dell is 1920, not 1980, horizontal
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NutMac said 2:49PM on 12-07-2009
Disappointing article. Doesn't even mention the LCD panel type.
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Matt said 2:53PM on 12-07-2009
I have a Dell SP2309W. It's not got the world's best panel, but it has a high resolution, with a pixel density similar to the MacBook Pro 15", with a 2048⨉1152 resolution (more pixels than the Apple 24"). The best part is the diversity of inputs. It has VGA, DVI and HDMI. It also has audio in and out, so you can have HDMI sound coming out of your speakers when that input is selected, or analogue sound when VGA or DVI is selected. It also has a webcam It's fairly cheap too, only $229. The price in the UK has gone up since I bought it though.
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ianlive said 2:58PM on 12-07-2009
I've done a fair but of shopping for an external display for my MacBook Pro and have even taken it along to stores like Best Buy so I can plug them in to see the effect it has on my desktop image quality.
In all seriousness, I was not able to find a single display that looked anywhere near as good as Apple's (ACD's). I figured they just made great displays end of story.
Then I read that LG actually makes the ACD's and am at a loss as to why even LG displays don't reproduce colour and sharpness as well as ACD's.
Why wold LG hold back on their own manufacturing and not sell their very best tech to the market. They clearly know how.
Am I missing something?
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Jon Iverson said 3:36PM on 12-07-2009
Same situation with a new MBP and looked at several including the new Apple displays. Ended up buying an used ACD in perfect shape for under $500 since the new Apple is glossy only and as you say, color is all over the place with the others.
ianlive said 3:01PM on 12-07-2009
I've done a fair bit of shopping for an external display for my MacBook Pro and have even taken it along to stores like Best Buy so I can plug them in to see the effect it has on my desktop image quality.
In all seriousness, I was not able to find a single display that looked anywhere near as good as Apple's (ACD's). I figured they just made great displays, end of story.
Then I read that LG actually makes the ACD's and am at a loss as to why even LG displays don't reproduce colour and sharpness as well as ACD's.
Why wold LG hold back on their own manufacturing and not sell their very best tech to the market. They clearly know how.
Am I missing something?
Reply
ianlive said 3:04PM on 12-07-2009
Dammit, sorry for the double post. TUAW's comments seem to be buggy lately, Sometimes I add a comment, and it never shows up (even after multiple attempts) other times, double posts.
NutMac said 3:33PM on 12-07-2009
LG makes multiple panels. Were you comparing LG monitor with a panel identical to Apple's?
ianlive said 3:46PM on 12-07-2009
That's a good question, Nut Mac. I can't remember the model numbers but none of the LG's I tried were great. After reading your comment I went to their website and noticed that they sell a huge number of displays.
I'm not sure how to to a direct comparison with these since Apple's specs seem so conservative. Their refresh rate is way below other displays that don't look nearly as good so I figure that metric is useless. Resolution is standard nowadays. What is left to cross compare? Do you know?
And after all that if the model I am looking for is not sold in any major stores, it would be tough for me to just trust the web hype.
eric said 3:09PM on 12-07-2009
I'm contemplating the Samsung T260HD (25.5", 1920x1200 resolution), which also has a TV tuner, so I can use it as an HDTV as well. Anyone have any experience with these?
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fumble said 7:42PM on 12-07-2009
@eric: I just purchased the T240HD (24" version) and it is painfully loud. A high-pitched whine mixed with a loud buzz. Headache inducing. Samsung will repair it under warranty, but it takes 2-4 weeks. Um, what will I do without a monitor for a month? I'm not saying they're all like this, but my experience was not good.
iammac said 3:33PM on 12-07-2009
I think that true geeks already have 24 inch monitors and actually craving to 30 inch display (if they don't have it yet).
And there are many models with wide range in prices.
Looks like most of them are listed at http://30inchLCDs.com
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jwilliek said 3:48PM on 12-07-2009
has anyone looked into those Cinemaview displays that look like Apple's Cinema Display?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/first-non-apple-mini-displayport-monitors-look-suspiciously-fami/
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Dan said 4:19PM on 12-07-2009
The Dell and Samsung in the article have TN panels--in other words, are crap, and are in no way comparable to the quality of screen (IPS) you get with the iMacs or the ACD. It would be nice if TUAW took the time to choose decent quality alternate monitors like the HP LP2475w or even bother to acknowledge value for money.
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