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looking to get a monitor for a new MAC mini

K

kd2777

Golden Member
Well I was just going to stick a cheap monitor on this MAC mini I have ordered, but silly me went to CompUSA yesterday and fell in love with the 20" Apple widescreen. However it is 999 (899 w/student discount), so I was wondering, would the much cheaper Dell 2005FPW 20" widescreen be about the same monitor? Has anyone seen them both or can speak on the Dell? I have only seen the Apple and it is the best looking monitor I have ever seen.

kd
 
As far as I know, the Apple LCDs only work with an Apple computer. So unless you plan on sticking with Mac for a long time, it's not worth the $1000. Just FYI. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Michael D
As far as I know, the Apple LCDs only work with an Apple computer. So unless you plan on sticking with Mac for a long time, it's not worth the $1000. Just FYI. 🙂
Click to expand...
That was true for the plastic bezeled Apple LCDs, but the current Aluminum bezeled Apple LCDs are just generic monitors. They have a USB hub on the back and OSD controls on the side. There is one cable that comes off, but about 5 feet down the line it splits into generic DVI, USB, and Power. You can use these monitors on a Mac or PC... or Sun or SGI or.... Their new monitors are very impressive, but very overpriced.

If you want a good deal on an LCD, consider that 20" Dell, it uses the same panel as the 20" Apple. You could also check the HotDeals section right here on the forums for a $200 17". DVI would be best, but the Mini puts out a very clean analog VGA signal too.
 
Originally posted by: ribbon13
Leave it to apple to deviate from the DVI standard.
Click to expand...

This is somewhat the case, but not quite the full story.

In the early days of LCD, Apple came up with their own connector called "ADC" for Apple Display Connector. It was a single connector slightly larger than DVI and it carried video, power, and usb to their monitors. Very quick and handy to use, if you had a modern Mac. This connector wasn't actually fully proprietary, it actually came from an early VESA spec for a DVI derrivative, but it never took off.

Last year Apple updated their monitors, dropping the 17" model and adding a 30" model. They also replaced the plastic bezel with an aluminum bezel and changed the stand. But the biggest change is that they got rid of the ADC. There is still one cable coming out of their new monitors, but at the end of the cable it branches into 3 cables: generic DVI, generic USB, and Power. You don't need a Mac to make adjustments to the picture either, as there are now buttons on the side of the monitor to access and control the on screen display.
 
Originally posted by: halfadder
That was true for the plastic bezeled Apple LCDs, but the current Aluminum bezeled Apple LCDs are just generic monitors. They have a USB hub on the back and OSD controls on the side. There is one cable that comes off, but about 5 feet down the line it splits into generic DVI, USB, and Power. You can use these monitors on a Mac or PC... or Sun or SGI or.... Their new monitors are very impressive, but very overpriced.

If you want a good deal on an LCD, consider that 20" Dell, it uses the same panel as the 20" Apple. You could also check the HotDeals section right here on the forums for a $200 17". DVI would be best, but the Mini puts out a very clean analog VGA signal too.
Click to expand...

Ahh, I haven't heard of the aluminum LCDs. Thanks for the info; I sure would love one, but they're out of my price range (as with most Mac products 😛).

Mercenary: That's the second time someone here has mentioned my name as being close to another's, yet I have no idea who the other guy is...
 
the dell 2005fpw have the same panel as the apple 20''. the dell 2005fpw and the apple 20'' cinema display are the same monitor 🙂 same thing different price go with what is cheaper i would say but since u own a mac go with the mac because it fits.
 
Originally posted by: Michael D
As far as I know, the Apple LCDs only work with an Apple computer. So unless you plan on sticking with Mac for a long time, it's not worth the $1000. Just FYI. 🙂
Click to expand...

Holy crap...an evil(er) twin!

/waves at the guy w/the cool name

Did you try to get MichaelD as your username? 😀 It's taken, as I'm sure you found out. 😉 Welcome to the AT Forums. Try not to give me a bad name, OK? 😉
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: Michael D
As far as I know, the Apple LCDs only work with an Apple computer. So unless you plan on sticking with Mac for a long time, it's not worth the $1000. Just FYI. 🙂
Click to expand...

Holy crap...an evil(er) twin!

/waves at the guy w/the cool name

Did you try to get MichaelD as your username? 😀 It's taken, as I'm sure you found out. 😉 Welcome to the AT Forums. Try not to give me a bad name, OK? 😉
Click to expand...

I think you gave him a bad name. 😛 😉
 
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