What Do You Value? Style vs Price
Apple March 27th, 2007
I’ve had a few discussions recently with some close friends on the topic of the Apple Cinema Display vs Dell Displays.
Before I get started, I want to make a statement that I totally agree with the fact that the Dell is a better display in the terms of ports, minor specs, and the ability to hook up a games console to it. The Dell is also the cheaper display, so in my eyes looking at its technical aspects, it’s the best.
However, if I was deciding between the two displays I would purchase an Apple Cinema Display. This is causing people to question me a little. One thing I value as an Apple customer (okay, fanboy) it their sense of style among their products, especially in the “Pro” line.
The Apple Cinema Display design is much superior to the Dell. Forget everything else for a minute and focus on which you would prefer - price aside. The black plastic casing of a Dell display, or the silver aluminum casing of the Apple display?
When you’re at the computer, I guarantee the thing you have your eyes locked on is the display. Which is why I would pay the price premium for Apple over Dell. I want to be happy with my display which would be made to last many years. Looking at it that way, the difference in price to pay is small if you factor it in over a three or four year period - whats $80 a year extra for the extra style?
Which display would you choose and why?
March 27th, 2007 at 1:13 am
Apple Cinema Display - style all the way.
March 27th, 2007 at 1:24 am
If price was not a factor, I would indeed choose the Apple display. However, when I needed a new monitor a couple years ago, price WAS a factor. And the Dell displays were even discounted (aren’t they always?). Given that I was told the actual display was the same in both monitors, but the Dell was: cheaper, had more connections and more adjustments both in terms of height/angel and brightness/contrast - it was the one I ended up with.
I don’t regret it for a second, it IS a really good monitor. But whenever the sunlight comes creeping in, and I realize it’s not even black, but dark dark blue… it pains me. I still think I might’ve taken the same path if I had to do it again though.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:48 am
I would choose and did choose the Dell. The fact that it has more features, is cheaper, and goes with my decor more than the Apple was a no-brainer for me.
March 27th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Well, I mean I love the design and everything but you have to look at it this way.
The 20 inch Apple display is $699 USD, the Dell 20 inch is $233 USD. So right there it is a $466 USD difference for a display with superior specs and just not a super fab design.
While the design is super, it’s not worth giving up slightly better specs in exchange for a design. I’ll save my monies. Maybe buy two more Dell monitors with the money I’m saving.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:43 am
When I bought my 23″ Cinema Display I considered the Dell alternative for about a second.
I knew I wanted the ACD– the fact that there was a (decent) rival didn’t concern me at all–I wanted the glorious shiny aluminium and tiny Apple logo.
My girlfriend tried to kill me, but I don’t regret it for a second.
(All being said, I did get a refurbished model from the Apple Store, to save the odd £100 or so.)
March 27th, 2007 at 4:35 am
I don’t think it has much to do with paying for more style. What makes Apple’s Design so unique is that every aspect of their design aids functionality. The fact that I can hook video game consoles to a Dell display doesn’t really help anyone in Apple’s target market. Their cinema displays are for creative professionals, not for geeky kids (nothing against geeky kids).
As for color rendering and brightness, I think the ACDs are more than superior. I can’t name it technically, but the finish of their displays makes things feel comfortable for the eye, even in the iMac. Dells and other displays have a sort of milky matte.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:08 am
I hate to say this, since it shows my inner sinner (that rhymes, and greed is a sin), but I’d definitely buy an ACD.
March 27th, 2007 at 5:31 am
I had this exact conversation when I was buying a display last year and the price advantage of the Dell vs. the superior design of the Apple Cinema Display simply couldn’t outweigh the aesthetic pleasure, even at a cost premium. The extra ports and pivot functionality of the Dell was of no interest to me. I’m a graphic designer, all I wanted was something to extend the functionality of my Powerbook and the Cinema Display would do that with the bonus of looking like it belonged with my existing hardware.
When I work with this stuff in front of me every day it does make a difference psychologically. I think I would have tired of a black plastic Dell screen before its time needed to be up. The design of the ACD adds to its longevity and therefore its value for money for me. I still shopped around extensively at the time before buying one and in the end I got a 20″ ACD from a European reseller for £488 almost £100 less than the best UK price.
p.s. great blog found you on Twitter
March 27th, 2007 at 6:22 am
http://flickr.com/photos/benadamson/370361128/
Dells look pretty nice to me.
March 27th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Dell might be similar, but you must also take into account resale value. Since Dell is a cheap plasticy brand, the resale value on eBay and any used market is going to be significantly lower. Apple Cinema Displays hold their value quite well as well as have an extremely beautiful style! Also, Apple Displays are more color accurate (from what i’ve heard).
March 27th, 2007 at 7:07 am
The nicer Dells are not cheap and plasticy at all. I just bought a 20″ widescreen and it has a very solid and sharp construction.
Supposedly they also use the same LCD panels as Apple.
Since I have more of a black color scheme, I prefer the Dell style-wise over Apple. Also, I believe that the Dell has some extra little features that I’m not aware of the Apples having like rotating.
The Dell is significantly lower-priced and more practical for me, so it was a very easy decision.
To take the topic to a broader look, I would say that I try to find the best style-to-price ratio. I won’t get the absolute cheapest stuff, but I won’t pay a whole lot more just for a small style upgrade. Give me the best bang for the buck.
March 27th, 2007 at 8:05 am
Apple Cinema Displays all the way! I have one of those Dell monitors and I feel dirty using it, next to my sexy mac. :)
And racketboy is right, Dell and Apple use the same LCD Panels.
-Go For Style :D
March 27th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Apple Cinema. If you’re gonna do it, you might as well do it right. And by right I mean more beautiful.
March 27th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Still a tough call, but I’d have to go with price. I use a Dell 23″ at work everyday and it’s nowhere near as crisp as my 20″ Intel iMac at home. That being said, I’ve blown too much money on too many gadgets recently and though I could get an ACD, I know better… Dell is really the smarter choice. Additionally, Dells have more connections and way better options for viewing angles (HUGE plus for me). Maybe you should add comfort to your question, Glenn.
March 27th, 2007 at 8:29 am
If money was not a concern, then I would go for the Apple Cinema Display. But for me, in the foreseeable future, money will always be a concern.
March 27th, 2007 at 8:59 am
urgh. dell all the way. i make nothing, and will continue to make nothing until fortune strikes me, so cheaper+more features? hells yeah.
March 27th, 2007 at 9:04 am
What? It’s not like the Dell display looks horrible. Sure, it may not fit in with your aluminum cased Mac, but if you have a Pro it’s under your desk - out of sight. All you see the good looking, black, Dell monitor.
A completely subjective aesthetic look is definitely not enough to warrant buying the Apple display.
March 27th, 2007 at 9:11 am
This is a tough decision. On one hand, you get more features with the same amount of pixels. On the other hand, you know you get the quality and design from Apple. Depending on how big your pocket book is, I’d say go with the Dell-but wait! Don’t shoot! I’d go with the Dell because it’s cheaper, has more connectivity, and did I mention it’s cheaper? Between the two of them, if money wasn’t the main issue, then I’d definitely go with the Apple Cinema Display.
March 27th, 2007 at 9:41 am
I think anyone who would prefer one ACD over 2 Dells is a rich idiot. Seriously, the Dells aren’t as nice as the ACDs but they’re not ugly or cheap. Twice the pixels and extra ports? Yes. I like to spend my money wisely.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I have to disagree with you Glenn, I would purchase (despite my love of Apple as well) a Dell LCD before an ACD, strictly because of the cheaper price, specs, and it’s almost (if not the same) panel that the Apple Displays use.
I’d absolutely love one of these.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:33 am
I bought a 20″ Samsung simply because it was half-price on Black Friday last year, and I don’t regret it in the least. The bezel is small and sleek and the monitor has a 360 degree swivel which makes it handy for watching movies as well as working. There is really no way I would spend the extra money to get an Apple Cinema Display. It provides no improved functionality. What’s important is what’s on the display, not what the case looks like.
In two years when Apple decides that silver is not cool anymore people will be chucking those things in the trash just because they need the new black Apple Cinema Displays (look at MacBooks). It’s madness.
March 27th, 2007 at 10:58 am
I use both Apple Cinema Displays and the Dell 3700 WFP. They aren’t the same quality of design and the Dell doesn’t necessarily have “more ports”, either.
My Apple Cinema Display has Firewire & USB 2 ports whereas the 3700 WFP only has USB. However, the Dell 3700 WFP does have a media-card reader built-in which might be useful for photographers.
Despite that, I wouldn’t recommend the 3700 WFP to a professional. The Apple display is nearly perfectly flat neutral grey surrounding your image. It was immediately obvious to me that the 3700 WFP has a very deep bezel around the display area that casts a nasty reflection onto the screen surface while simultaneously reflecting the screen image onto the inside facets of the display’s bezel. Compounding the problem is the fact that the bezel itself is beveled, reflecting the room’s light sources, followed by black, except at the bottom-right where there’s an always-on electric blue power light, followed by grey faux-metal plastic on the top and bottom.
The result is a thin, hazy vignette surrounding the display area surrounded by a thin light line, usually surrounded by another line on the bottom, and splattered with other color changes depending on where the focus of your eye is. Visually, it’s tacky… ugly, even.
As with all things of this nature, if you’re a creative professional (or aspiring creative professional), you should spend the difference and get the Apple product. You, and your clients, will be better off for it.
If you don’t notice how the Dell design causes your display to scream “I’m cheap, and don’t notice detail” then Dell is for you.
http://www.michaelcritz.com
March 27th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Definately Dell, so I could play my 360 and use my Mac with it.
March 27th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
my 12 inch cathode display… that baby hasn’t let me down in over 15 years, and the intense radiation emitting from it glowing aura keeps my skin firm and burned, my eyes glazed over with cataracts, have left me feeling good about all that money i’ve saved
March 27th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I’m afraid I’d go with Dell as well. The price difference is just way too big. You, Glenn, have a pretty sexy and clean setup (or at least that what your *photos* tell us — it’s probably really messy :P), but my setup looks like crap already, so I’d probably save a few hundred bucks and go with Dell.
March 27th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I find that the casing of the display doesn’t really matter to me because I’m generally focused on the display itself. The only time I’d pay the premium were if I were the type of person to keep my work area clean, but, like shadownight, I’m not and the casing of my display wouldn’t change that much.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:48 am
Buying the cinema display off the Apple education store- HK$5600. Buying a dell display off the Dell store with discount- HK$2300.
If I had the choice now, I would definitely go for two 20″ dell monitors (plus spare change) over one cinema display. However, when I bought my Cinema Display two years ago, I had the cash on hand and the dell was not discounted (HK$3500). Looking back, I still do not regret my decision as my ACD is still holding strong and its sleek aluminium casing never gets old.
So Glenn, if you have the cash for it- get the Cinema Display. Once it’s sitting on your desk, you’ll be in pure bliss, and I guarantee that you will have zero regrets.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:45 am
This is an almost silly discussion. If want to pay SIGNIFICANTLY more for the ACD because you like the aesthetics, feel free. It’s nice. However, the newer Dell displays (I have a shiny new 24incher) also have a a great form factor. It’s very sleek and modern with an almost ’stealth bomber’ look to it. And it’s not just black; it’s a great blend of silver AND black. Also, the Dells use the same LCD panels found in the 20″ and 24″ iMacs… Which are both brighter and have better contrast than the 23″ LCD panel in the ACD. The Dell is better monitor in almost every area other than style. I would submit that even in terms of style, the Dell is not very far behind.
March 28th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Maybe it’s just that I don’t have an Apple store in my neighborhood and online I couldn’t see all sides of the displays, but the user interface on their web site doesn’t help. Want silver? Want black? I get to choose with Dell. The new Apple displays all demand attention. They say, “Look at me, aren’t I what you want to talk about?” Well, it’s not what I want to talk about. As neither a technology expert nor a self-satisfied designer (no offence, of course), I want to have money left over for the important things in life, like objets d’art, trips to Normandy, Girl Scout cookies and regular trips to the masseuse. The Dell displays do me the favor of making these things possible without compromise to quality. And by the way, it should never be a choice between price and style, as they are equal partners in achieving democratic access to quality. Dell delivers an extraordinary value, which means it provides functional design with elegant aesthetics. So, no, I haven’t drunk the Apple Kool-Aid and am pleased to say I can still think for myself in making consumer decisions. Check this out: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=222-7315
March 28th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Definitely Dell. The new design is fine, actually the new design looks pretty good (thinner bezel than the Apple). The panels are not the same. The specs are different and the Dell ones are better. The 24inch bigger (vs 23) is brighter and better contrast ratio, has a card reader, USB ports, (located so that you can reach them) ability to mount speakers. It also has height adjust and pivot to portrait. (My ACD would not even swivel). The 20inch specs and design is better on the Dell. I use to have an Apple display on my G5, now it is the 24inch Dell one. I could get a 24inch Dell for the cost of a 20inch Apple.
Next one for me is that high color gamut 27inch. By the way, it is aluminum with a glass base.
You get the feeling that if it were not for these Dells, Apple would still be charge $1,500 for a 20inch.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
I would choose Dell. For me, style/aesthetics are a bonus. If they were the same price and functionality I would obviously choose the Apple for its gorgeous design.
But I simpy can’t justify $80/year on a less-functional device.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Is it just me or did my comment (and the discussion that followed) get deleted. The main page says this page has 30+ comments, but I only see 10 here.
March 29th, 2007 at 9:47 am
As a Dell employee who works closely with our product design teams, I found this thread to be a great read. Most people don’t know that we listen to many conversations such as this to help identify what consumers really want. Case in point is the new Dell 2707 ultra sharp monitor, which customers tell us fills the bill for a great design. The 2707WFP is receiving international acclaim - most recently awarded the “Gold” Award from Singapore’s Hardware Magazine. Very popular with Mac users, the 2707WFP also features a Mac Mode for optimized performance when connected to a Mac.
March 29th, 2007 at 11:16 am
The comments appear to be showing fine for me, if they are still not showing properly for you, feel free to email me with a screenshot :-)
March 30th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
I think the Dell displays look great, and likewise the Apples look pretty good too. I own a 30″ Apple display and bought it here in Australia just after it was released for $6000. Thats right, nearly twice the price it is now!! If I had to buy a 30″ display today, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy an Apple again or even the Dell. In buying the Dell I would be saving money too and getting better specs (not that I can tell the differences that much, if at all). Either display is fine, I suppose I prefer to keep all Apple Hardware or all Dell if I were on a PC, not a mismatch - even if thats not economically wise!
Its sad to think, I could have 2×30″ displays for what I paid for one..
April 1st, 2007 at 10:07 am
With displays, I have one rule: Bigger = better. Anything under 23″ is too small, and 30″ feels just ok. I would think a 36-40″ display would be perfect for me.
There are so many reasons for getting the biggest display you can afford. I’ve written a longer post on this, with links to productivity reports etc.
http://brilliantdays.com/buy-a-bigger-display/
April 8th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Form over function…
Design: the ACD’s look nicer, of course.
The Cinema displays are also REALLY old now. So a new line is desperately needed. And itll probably show up later this year with the whole LED backlit thing.
But I think apple kinda dropped the ball here, with regards to functionality.
One of my favorite things about the Dell is the CF/SD reader at the side, and the usb ports. And of course the multiple inputs. Add in better brightness specs…
All of these are things I use on a daily basis. I could do without them, but I’d rather not. Especially while paying more.
Then again, I’m not an apple fanboy. I buy them because they’re good. And when/where they’re not, I don’t.. though being a loyal fan is cool.
June 4th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Forget Dell! Life is all about style.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I purchased a Dell 2707WFP and have mixed feelings about it, it’s excellent for video but the color gamut for motion graphics is tough to manage. It’s way too bright out of the box and even with the brightness turned all the way down to 7 it still makes me tired. Despite the Apples being old or outdated I’m not sure I would buy a 2707 wfp again if I had the chancge.
November 1st, 2007 at 8:48 am
STYLE all the way. If you’re not going to enjoy looking at it on your desk…
November 1st, 2007 at 10:28 am
I definitely agree here. I think Dell adding the card reader is just plain smart. Just because it’s aluminum and has an apple on the front does not mean it’s better.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:44 am
I think the 27″ Dell is quite attractive with a brushed metal housing and since it is the same LCD panel - lets be real here - these are just branded contract manufactured components from some factories in China. The ACDs were great and Dell was way behind, but Apple has let them pass them. So buy a Dell if you want the monitor NOW, but you’ll feel remorse in 6 months when Apple has the OLED display. Hierarchical primates like me always get gadget envy when the new MAC stuff first comes out - but man is it pricey when it does. The MAC stuff usually stays current a little longer than sushi on a hot day too - whereas Dell…?
December 25th, 2007 at 6:27 am
I bought a used 30 inch ACD, and it has been incredible. It gets a little warm on top, not much, though. I don’t think it’s an energy saver, but the image is absolutely astounding. I hope it will last me for many years.