It doesn’t feel like two-and-a-half years since I last purchased a new monitor. At the time I debated buying a TFT, but ultimately went for a CRT because it offered far better value. After two-and-a-half years, the picture quality on the CRT had degraded a bit, and I was really beginning to struggle for elbow room.
I work from a Powerbook at home, which being essentially a portable computer only has a single output for an additional monitor. I pretty quickly decided that if I was going to get a new monitor on the basis of screen real-estate, it needed to be the biggest thing I could get. Unlike the new 15inch models, my Powerbook doesn’t have support for the Apple 30inch Cinema Display and likewise, neither does my bank account, so I focused around the 23inch screen market.
My search naturally started with the Apple 23inch model. A couple of things bugged me about it though – it only has a single DVI input, and the stand doesn’t really adjust in any meaningful way. As someone who suffers from occasional back trouble, I need to make sure my posture is good and I’m sat comfortably, else I’m toast.
Enter the Dell 2405FPW
You can guess from the picture that I ended up buying the Dell 2405FPW. It’s actually a 24inch model, but reportedly uses the same Samsung componant display as Apple uses in their Cinema Display. So from a screen quality point of view, it essentially is as good as the Apple – at least for my purposes (writing code). What’s more it has five different inputs, including DVI and VGA (so I can hook it up to both my Powerbook and a bunch of servers lurking under the desk).
The Dell really pulls into the lead with its stand, however. I really don’t know what kind of mechanical wonders make this thing work, but it goes up and down and round and round and to and fro with the greatest of ease, and then stays there. It’s really solid and stable, too. I know that the Apple unit will take a VESA display adapter so it can be mounted on a big arm or whatever, but those things are really expensive and look like something you’d more likely find in a dentist’s surgery.
But here’s the deal clincher. The 23inch Apple retails at £1,049 here in the UK. The Dell, which has the same screen and more of the features I needed set me back just £734 from Overclockers (whom I’d recommend). That’s a price difference of £315 for those at the back.
When making IT purchases I think there are some which are head decisions, and some which are heart decisions. Buying the Powerbook was definitely a heart decision – I could have got a better spec’d PC for less money, but only because the spec sheet doesn’t include any measurement of enjoyment of use.
The screen, on the other hand, came down to a head decision. Literally to features against price – bang for the buck. £315 is a lot of money to spend for an aluminium surround and fewer features. I could buy myself a 60GB iPod Colour with the price difference, and still have enough change to put a couple of albums on it. Not that I will.
Comments
Very good quality, but very low prices. Apple needs to lower their display prices.
It’s a great setup – only thing i’d like extra is for apple to sell a dock for their powerbooks. It’s a pain unplugging everything sometimes if i’m in a hurry.
I would also recommend Overclockers, they’ve done well by me over the years (plus, they were just up the road from my house, which is nice because I didn’t pay delivery).
“Write HTML.”
:)
Got to agree with the swiveling and adjusting stuff though, the mechanics of the thing are great.
P.S. I’m, selling my iBook looking for a buyer:
http://www.domeafavorbuddy.com/beta/favorlist.asp?catid=8
Wow, Im completely jealous of you. I am stuck with my dual 19’s from 2000 which cost me more per peice back then 2 – 19” LCD’s would cost me now.
As far as design goes I don’t see myself switching over to LCD any time soon as the color still isn’t true yet on them. For now my CRT’s will do, but they take up my entire desk.
Been using dell 2001fp for some time now.
They are a BenQ screen.
Post March 2005 Benq changed an resistor.
The resistor change causes blanking every few seconds in many newer graphics cards eg firegl’s, quadro fx, some radeon.
If your screen is post march 2005 you will have a dodgy one.. good luck