Recommend a non Apple Monitor for Macbook Pro

[Bizon]

I have a new I7 Macbook Pro and am looking for a monitor that is NOT from Apple. I really rather not spend $1000 when I could spend half of that and get just as good of a monitor without the shitty gloss and lack of adjustability.

I am looking at the following monitors:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/P ... 4(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/P ... 3(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/P ... 7(ME).aspx
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/P ... 9(ME).aspx

Also, what size would you guys recommend? I know that the bigger the monitor the more that will fit but I am sure there is a limit to where it is too big. I was thinking around 24 inch would be optimal.

If there is anyother recommendations that would be much appreciated.

BTW, I do have a HDMI to Display Port connector.

[djsb]

I'm rolling with a Dell 24" with my MacBook Pro.

[jonesonyou]

Why not drop the cash on a lcd tv? I hook my macbook upto my 32" samsung all the time, Live looks much better on there than my 13" macbook screen. You can find a good 1080p for under $1,000.

[tigali]

Not sure if mine was faulty or they're all shite, but my Apple monitor to DVI adapter broke after two weeks. I'm replacing it with a generic one which is half the price on amazon.

+1 with the 24" Dell. Bluetooth keyboard and mouse and sweeeeeeeeeet...

[Bizon]

Why not drop the cash on a lcd tv? I hook my macbook upto my 32" samsung all the time, Live looks much better on there than my 13" macbook screen. You can find a good 1080p for under $1,000.

Your right, and I do currently do that but I am trying to set-up a dedicated workstation and proper monitor would be best.

[H20nly]

Why not drop the cash on a lcd tv? I hook my macbook upto my 32" samsung all the time, Live looks much better on there than my 13" macbook screen. You can find a good 1080p for under $1,000.

Your right, and I do currently do that but I am trying to set-up a dedicated workstation and proper monitor would be best.

http://newegg.com they had em for as low as 350 US $ recently - 32 inches... 32... that 3 10s and 2 1's

Otherwise, I'd roll with Samsung.

[Tarekith]

Another Dell monitor here, had a 2001FP for years now, works great. The Dell refurb site often has some amazing deals.

[muthafunka]

Dell 30" here, great monitor, 5 year warranty, half the price of Apple.

[Abterra]

apple displays are def the shit, but goddamn, the price is just way too much for a monitor...what were they thinking?

[xzusa8ky]

I just bought a 27" Samsung Syncmaster P2770H for my MacPro instead of an Apple monitor. The monitors from Apple are not bad but slow and expensive too and i am more than happy with my new Samsung 27". Its damn fast only 2 ms and got brilliant colours too, but take care you will be adiccted to it!...Love It!

You should check it....

[fishmonkey]

if you want a monitor with a panel that is as good as the Apple displays, look for one with an IPS LCD panel, e.g. the U2410 or U2711 from Dell.

also i'd go with a 16:10 rather than 16:9 monitor, more pixels.

compare resolutions too. there are some really cheap big monitors, but often the resolution is no better than a smaller monitor, they've just made the pixels bigger instead.

[fishmonkey]

The monitors from Apple are not bad but slow and expensive too and i am more than happy with my new Samsung 27". Its damn fast only 2 ms and got brilliant colours too, but take care you will be adiccted to it!...Love It!

IPS panels have better colour accuracy and viewing angles, and cost more to produce. the Apple displays also use LED backlights, which are more even and use less power.

TN panels are cheap and fast, and are used in the majority of LCD monitors.

[octopod]

It hasn't been updated in a while but http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=39226 has way more info than you probably want about flat screens.

I would say any Dell 24" or bigger from the last couple of years would be fine. I use a 2707WFP, it's the same rez as the 24" (1920x1200) but being bigger means I can put it farther away and have more space for kit directly in front of me.

[Zeddy]

Why not drop the cash on a lcd tv? I hook my macbook upto my 32" samsung all the time, Live looks much better on there than my 13" macbook screen. You can find a good 1080p for under $1,000.

You don't want to do this. HDTVs are only 1080p, which means 1920x1080 resolution max. So if you get a 32" HDTV, you are not going to get the 'proper' resolution for computer use. Everything is going to look way too big. That is why HDTVs are cheaper than monitors. Monitors have to be higher resolution.

[MarcAaron]

My Macbook Pro 13" looks pretty decent on my Samsung 42" HDTV. Unfortunately there is an issue with highest supported resolution. It's not BAD, but I can't go as high with the laptop as I can with the same TV driven by my iMac 24". The higher resolution settings simply are not available in the Macbook's display setup.

I am assuming this limitation is in the laptop's video hardware but it could possibly be a driver issue. I do regularly run Live on the laptop using the Samsung as a monitor. It's far better than the laptop's display -- just a little disappointing after getting stunning results with the TV attached to the iMac 24".