What Mac Stuff We Like to Buy From Dell - Wait a Minute, Dell!?

Isn't Dell supposed to be Apple's new nemesis? Are we being traitors to Apple's cause? There's a dirty little secret out there among Mac owners: We buy Dell monitors.

Who hasn't walked into an Apple store and proclaimed how they would buy that 30" display if only you could afford it? They are glorious. Look at all that space! But at $1800 plus tax, that adds up to $1940 around here. Not the type of money I walk around with.

And of course the more sensible of us look to the Apple 23" and think that might be a good compromise. But still, it's $900 plus tax.

This points out the key reason to look to Dell: price. Their 30" goes for $1275 and their 24" goes for $569. And this is without the random Dell discounts that come and go like stray dogs. That's not to mention the 20" going for less than half the price of a 20" Apple display.

But is that it? Of course the Apple displays are the best, right? So are you paying for an inferior product? Not really. From the CNET review of the 2407WFP:

"Dell's 24-inch wide-screen LCD delivers excellent image quality and a ton of connectivity options, including video inputs and picture-in-picture settings. Add in a great price, and the Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP is the best value in its class."

Wait, what was that about connectivity options and video input? More from CNET

"Inputs include one upstream and two downstream USB 2.0 ports, DVI-D and VGA (analog) signal inputs, a 12-volt audio jack for connecting an optional Dell Sound Bar speaker, plus composite, component, and S-Video ports for connecting a VCR or DVD player. Along the left side of the monitor are two more USB 2.0 ports, and a 9-in-2 media card reader."

And wait a sec, let's back up. They have card readers and tv inputs? Plus they can do picture in picture and rotate the display? USB hub too? Lots of features that Apple could do well to emulate.

Well, what about the picture? There's an interesting sporadic conversation going on over at Macintouch on Dell monitors. Many people report that the screens are bright, some say too bright. But most people when shown a dim display next to a bright one will prefer the brighter one. The colors might not be as true, so if your work depends on super accurate color display, you may want to move along.

So what does this mean? I'm so confused.
I can tell you that I use a 20" Apple and a 24" Dell right next to each other hooked up to the same PowerMac and I prefer the Dell. Plus I am stoked to have a card reader built in for my digital camera.

In the bigger picture, I'm happy to have Mac users buy Dell displays to put market pressure on Apple to lower their prices and improve their products. These displays haven't been upgraded in too long. And with Apple canceling the FireWire iSight, Mac Pro and Mac Mini users are left without built in video iChats until Apple releases the next displays with (hopefully) built in iSights. Bad for them but good for me because I sold my iSight on eBay for above cost.

So am I a turncoat? Does the idea that you can get a 30" AND a 24" Dell display for the price of Apple's 30" display get you thinking? Know other products that are good buys from Dell (not PCs, smart aleck). Let us know in the Comments section below.

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Your Comments:

Many Mac people I know use Dell monitors. I do. They are fine. I use a 20 inch with my Macbook Pro and it's great.

 Paul
 10/14/2007  at  03:48 PM

I manage 50+ Macs in an Advertising/PR firm, and I've bought a fleet of Dell monitors with no complaints from users. They're great, and NOT overpriced like Apple's displays. Oh, and I used to work for Apple

 Mac IT Guy
 10/14/2007  at  03:57 PM

The top-end Dell monitors outperform the Apple displays in the following categories:
1) Anti-aliasing
2) Color (sometimes)
3) Warranty (I know this one from experience...Dell has amazing warranty coverage. @MB_switcher: After being a Dell customer for 4 years, I have to say that you're just wrong.

The Apple displays, on the other hand, are better for the following things:
1) Color (sometimes)
2) Grayscale (sometimes)

In my opinion, buying an overpriced Apple product could be worth it if you feel like matching the off-whites of the Mac with your pretty desktop box, or if you truly feel that the color is better, but otherwise, why not buy a Dell and save yourself a good chunk of cash?

 LZ
 10/14/2007  at  04:07 PM

Only problem is that Dell is Notorious for changing their Monitor components including the Panel to cheaper or lower quality components after the good reviews have come out. Google it and see for yourself. There is a reason why they can be cheaper. What they do is sell the first batch at a loss, get good reviews, then switch to cheaper components so they can make money after all the press is out...

 stingerster
 10/14/2007  at  04:09 PM

Don't forget to include an extra $20 for an angle grinder at Home Depot to get that DeLL logo off.

 mark
 10/14/2007  at  04:15 PM

Dell's flat panels don't even come close to Apple's for quality. I've used both and for me I will pay extra for Apple displays. Dell's were blurry and the color quality wasn't even close. CNETs reviews are also notoriously unbalanced in my experience. Just my two cents

 Brian
 10/14/2007  at  04:24 PM

Samsung panels are great, and better yet, they are more money firendly than the Dell, and needles to say, the apple iScreen or whatever.

Dell and Apple are stealing your money and selling
you mediocre products. Sure, some of their monitors
are great, but quality vs price.. they fail always.

 mordi
 10/14/2007  at  04:36 PM

Unlike every single reply here I own a 30inch Apple Display.

Sure I paid 500 bucks more for the screen, but what I get for that is a world class case with a fantastic one cord to my desktop and no clutter.

Also.. I get amazing color matching and really 'out of the box' color correction.

All I have to say is that once you are on the Apple Disply after looking at a blurry off color Dell display (they produce crap quality after the first run to get higher ratings) and also that horrible crap black case with a HUGE white logo... who wants to stare at super contrasted black and white branding all day.


My 2c is that if you want the best, get the Apple Display hands down.

If you are so poor you cant afford 4-500 bucks to upgrade to all the above reasons then get another job.

 Cali
 10/14/2007  at  04:48 PM

I also use a MacBook Pro with a Dell 20" widescreen. I think I got it for about $300. Design is definitely a plus since the silver base matches the MBP.

 John
 10/14/2007  at  05:01 PM

@Rob H. - The last time Apple brought down their prices they got sued and blasted on the internet by their elitist fanboys. (See: iPhone)

 Heffer
 10/14/2007  at  05:07 PM

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