Apple Cinema Display vs Dell 2407WFP
I’m planning to purchase a new large LCD display since the prices of large LCD displays have dropped. I plan to connect the LCD display to my MacBook Pro. Working on a 15-inch laptop display is not big enough for my computing needs.
After reading reviews of many different LCD displays, I decided to choose between the 23-inch Apple Cinema Display and Dell 2407WFP. I still haven’t make my final decision because it’s difficult to make a decision between two great products. Both monitors share similar technical specifications and each product have its pros and cons.
Specifications
| Dell 2407WFP | 23-inch ACD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A$ 1199 | A$ 1599 |
| Screen Size | 24 inches | 23 inches |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 | 700:1 |
| Response Time | 16 ms | 14 ms |
| Viewing Angle | 178° vertical; 178° horizontal | 178° vertical; 178° horizontal |
| Brightness | 450 cd/m2 | 400 cd/m2 |
| Interface |
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| Warranty | 3 Years | 1 Year |
Why I like Dell 2407WFP
By looking at the above specification, the Dell 2407WFP offer more video input options than the Apple Cinema Display. Since Dell offers more input than Apple, it allows me to connect the monitor to more than one devices. I can connect my old PC to the VGA port, connect my MacBook Pro to the DVI port, and connect my DVD player to the S-Video/Composite and connect an Xbox 360 to the Component port. The Dell 2407WFP also have called PIP (Picture in Picture) and PBP (Picture by Picture) technologies features.
The Dell 2407WFP DVI port supports HDCP, a form of digital rights management (DRM) to control digital audio and video content as it travels across the DVI connections. The HDCP support will allow me to watch the next generation high-definition content. Buying a monitor with HDCP support will future-proof the monitor as we enter HD-DVD and Blu-Ray era.
Dell monitor is also cheaper by $400 than 23-inch Cinema Display. Let’s move on to why I like the 23-inch cinema display.
Pros: Cheaper price, more video input options, HDCP support, Picture in Picture, Picture by Picture, Media card readers, More adjustable.
Cons: Design doesn’t match aluminium enclosure of MacBook Pro, Doesn’t look as good as Apple’s Cinema Display.
Why I like the Apple
I personally like the design of the Apple Cinema Display better. The Apple Cinema Display is designed to match the aluminium enclosure of my MacBook Pro. In a comparison test between the Apple Cinema Display and Dell LCD (30-inch) done by CNet, the Apple Cinema Display won by a slight margin.
According to the test, the Apple Cinema Display won in the DVD-playback test, displaying less digital noise, and more-realistic skin tones. It also won the more technical rounds providing a more-vivid colors and better grayscale differentiation.
Pros: Better design, match with aluminium enclosure of MacBook Pro, slightly faster response time, better video playback, more vivid-colors, and better grayscale differentiation.
Cons: A$ 400 more expensive, smaller screen size (by 1-inch), lack of video input, lower contrast ratio and brightness, no HDCP support and 1-year warranty.
I have the whole weekend to decide which display to get because orders placed on the weekend will be processed on the next business day. If you have any comment/suggestion feel free use the comment form.