Apple Thunderbolt Display 27in monitor After Apple’s hoo-ha about the Thunderbolt port on its newest Macs and MacBook Pros, it’s great to finally have something to plug into it. But I began testing this monitor with tainted expectations: less ‘OK show me what you can do’ and more ‘oh lordy, yet another locked-in connectivity standard’. It ended with tainted love. …
Dell U2711.
It uses the same IPS panel, but with a proper backlight, so that it displays almost the whole AdobeRGB colourspace, as apposed to almost all of the sRGB colourspace.
Apart from DisplayPort, it also accepts inputs from HDMI (with HDCP), VGA, 2xDVI, component video, composite video. Oh you can also tilt the display with the Dell too, and adjust the height without needing a hacksaw to reduce it, or telephone directories to raise it :) Oh, and the Dell has a non-reflective screen, so you get to see what you want in all it's good-ness, instead of the hagged unshaven face that also looks at you in the bathroom mirror.
As for all the output ports? My MBP has them already, thanks so I don't really need them.
Oh, and sorry but it's not quite £750. More like £600 or less (and worth EVERY penny)
They put all the connectors on the back, I assume, so it can function as a docking station. So while you may not think you need the connectors because your MBP has them, it seems much more convenient to just plug in 1 cable and be switched to your big monitor, webcam, speakers, desktop keyboard/mouse, large external hard drive, maybe a wired network connection, etc. rather than plugging in 1000 cables every time you get back to your desk.
Got the Henge Dock. (Also reviewed on Reg recently). It's really good (although a touch expensive).
Also the MBP does not need to get out of the dock that much. It's a monstor brute and was bought for it's processing power, which at the time out did anything else from Apple (unless you bought the 12-core Mac Pro which cost about 4 times as much). I actually wanted the Mac Pro, but the MBP out performs a MAC Pro costing almost 2 times as much doing rendering so I'm just waiting for the new Xeons to get the Mac Pro.
I've used the high-end Dell monitors before and whilst the picture was very good the build quality was suspect, which is how I imagine they price much lower. Had multiple failures on the different input ports, flickering, sometimes working sometimes not, returned 3 times for replacements and then it failed outside of warranty. Fortunately the only working input was the DVI. It may be anecdotal and "statistically insignificant" but after multiple returns with screen issues on a Dell laptop as well I've concluded that I cannot be arsed with their sketchy manufacturing quality. It's also worth noting that Dell will often replace under warranty with reconditioned items and not new ones which I feel is taking the piss.
I'll second that, having got a Dell U2711 on my new 2011 mac mini server.
In comparison to the Apple TBolt display (which in fairness I haven't used, but have lusted after before getting this)...
cons:
Need separate displayport (or one of the other video interfaces, but i'm using displayport) and USB leads. Messy.
Doesn't have speakers. Dell speaker bar is good though, but it's extra. It clips onto the bottom of the screen, power plugs into the monitor, and audio plugs into the monitor's own line-out socket given audio goes into the monitor via displayport or hdmi. But the long speaker lead on the speakers still has to loop around somewhere back there. Messy.
Doesn't have a webcam/isight. I didn't want one so no loss to me (if I did, it might have tilted me to the apple). If you want one, you gotta clip it on somewhere. Messy.
No ethernet or firewire interfaces that the tbolt monitor has. Nor of course the ability to daisy-chain that tbolt itself offers. So you'd still need separate interfaces/hubs etc. scattered around your desk to give you that. Messy.
No power-out for a laptop. Doesn't bother me as mine's a mac mini and you can't plug those into a magsafe (another thing that might have swayed me to the apple monitor if you could). So if you *are* using it with a recent apple laptop, there'll be an extra lead trailing around. Messy
I think there's a theme there.
pros:
Cheaper. I paid £589.00 from aria.co.uk, which was persuasive.
Stand is more flexible. Apple stands can only tilt (no swivel contra the review, although that may have changed in a way the picture doesn't reveal). Dell stand tilts *and* swivels and has height adjustment too, and is in fact basically a vesa stand, and monitor easily vesa-mountable. (Apple's is with an extra kit.)
More inputs. You can only plug the Apple into a machine with a displayport or a thunderbolt port. At the moment that's only recent macs. This has a plethora of inputs as recited above, although you'll need displayport or Dual-Link DVI to take full advantage of the resolution. HDMI doesn't go that far. VGA would be such a waste of a monitor, though useful to have for emergencies I guess.
And finally, The display is to DIE for. Oh, and non-glossy, for those that are bothered by such things. (Wasn't a deal-breaker for me as I arrange my workspace accordingly anyway.) Some people have moaned about antiglare coating, but it all seems shiny to me, despite being non-glossy. ;-)
I've run my Dell u2711 at full resolution (2560x1440 same as the Apple display) via its HDMI connection from a ratty old AGP video card. The HDMI standard has been improved over the last few iterations and in the current version, V1.4, it can even cope with resolutions up to the 4096 x 2160 home-cinema format being pushed by Toshiba among others.
Yup. Got one. Great display..Only flaws are that the controls are a bit slow, and it does not rotate.
Also, that U2711 can do 10bpp on DisplayPort. Sadly, I don't have a video card that does that.
So I gather that the Mac version of the same panel cannot do that, as the specs in the article say it does only 16m colours?
Not for one moment suggesting this is a 'better' monitor - no thunderbolt, microphone, webcam, doesn't match your Mac blah blah. But if you don't want all those extras, it's got the same resolution and seemingly a display that I've not seen beaten by anything (not to say this monitor won't)
If you want to deal with delaminating glass, dust under the panel, a cheap-ass non-adjustable plastic stand, numerous dead/bright pixels, terrible support, loud buzzing/high-pitched whining from the power supply, DVI-only input, and a high propensity to go dead for no reason, sure, go for the Hazro.
So... you can get a completely different monitor for a different price, the only thing in common being the screen size?
The whole point of the monitor is the Thunderbolt expansion. Criticise if you think it's too expensive for that, but to compare it to something completely different is disingenuous at best.
I've had a couple of issues with this display connected to a MBP 15".
Firstly, the USB support is a bit flaky - sometimes after plugging in and waking from sleep a reboot of the laptop is required to get the mouse and keyboard working. There have been a number of firmware updates relating to Thunderbolt, but the issue still occurs about one time in four.
Secondly, there are only 3 USB ports. Printer, mouse, keyboard, headset, micro-USB for Android phone: that makes five. So I end up plugging two of those into the laptop which detracts from the dockiness of it all.
Belkin are apparently bringing out a Thunderbolt hub, but given the expense and amount of space on the back of the display I think the lack of ports is bad design.
...if the screen has a downstream port and the hub doesn't then whats to stop you putting the hub on the end of the chain after the monitor? The lack of a downstream port is surely only an issue if you have 2 devices without it? Here we're talking about only 2 devices, one of which has a pass-through port, so put it in the middle.
Alternatively if its just a lack of usb ports then I've got a feeling a standard USB hub that plugs into a USB port will be cheaper than a specialist USB hub that plugs into a thunderbolt port.
Intel co-created and are pushing Thunderbolt. It's supposed to turn up on all Ultrabooks in the near future because of its value as a break-out connector that requires minimal physical space, both externally and on the motherboard.
That said, so far I think only Sony have actually put out a Thunderbolt-supporting computer that isn't a Mac, so Thunderbolt's ascension to a proper standard is far from a done deal.
I love my alienware laptop, but the screen... WHY? Oh and then they bring out the next version with the same f'in issue.
I'm happy this screen is out though, even if I don't buy it - if only that it might indicate to the makers that I don't want an f'in 1080 tv you've decided to call a monitor. Looked at replacing my aged 1920x1200 Dell 24" a few months back, and was somewhat shocked that the market seems to have gone backwards.
Well, it's more like buying a Mondeo and a Fiesta as a second car for wife instead of buying single Cayenne... Far more practical. This analogy is IMNSHO better as there are not that many family cars for the top-end price.
From the productivity point of view the more monitors the better.
Is it groundhog day or something? I'm sure that we've been over this before; as you have already pointed out the 27" Iiyama (whilst I'm sure is a fine specimen of a monitor) has a lower resolution that the Apple monitor and an inferior panel technology, which is reflected in the price. It's probably made of plastic, doesn't have the same level of connectivity, an integrated HD web cam or reasonable integrated speakers (NB 'audiophiles'; not great, but better than most integrated speakers). The Dell model to which you refer is seemingly no longer available, had a lower resolution and wasn't IPS. It did't have what is basically an inbuilt docking station either. So neither of the devices that you offer are an equivalent to the Thunderbolt display thus rendering your rather trite point moot.
As someone else mentioned earlier the Dell 27" display is the u2711 model, still available from Dell. There are suppliers who will sell you an open-box zero-defective-pixel Dell return model for under 500 quid delivered in the UK. The IPS panel in the Dell is exactly the same as the one Apple use, a Philips product if I understand correctly with the drive electronics and backlight differing.
I'm sitting in front of just such an open-box Dell u2711 display as I type this; it has two DVI-D ports, an HDMI port, a DisplayPort (HDMI with an Apple-specific connector so they don't have to pay licence fees apparently), a VGA port for old-skool types and even a couple of analogue ports if you've got some ancient video kit (like my laserdisc player) that can't talk proper digital. It also has a 4-port USB2.0 hub built-in plus an SD-card reader on the side of the frame.
The Dell's chassis can be bolted to a VESA mount if specialist fitting is required (wall mount or swivel-stand) unlike the Apple display although you can buy a VESA adaptor from Apple for about thirty quid extra.
Half right, but the Dell U2711 is still available, has the same resolution, the same IPS panel and costs £600 on Amazon. It also has a USB hub, so is a docking station, of sorts. That said, the Apple one is clearly prettier and I'm all for the move to making monitors a single-cable hub for a laptop.
Anyone know why DisplayPort monitors with USB hubs don't (in my experience) carry a USB signal on the DisplayPort cable? It's in the spec, right?
I hate glossy displays in laptops, which are likely to be used in environments where lighting cannot be controlled as easily. But the fact remains a glossy display provides a sharper and higher contrast image than matt displays (especially Dell, who apply their AG so thick the image ends up very dull and grainy). Rather than knee-jerking 'glossy = bad!' I've come to the epiphany that if I'm spending £900 on a desktop display, I might as well get one that provides the best image possible, and spend a few minutes rearranging the lighting.
It will work as a screen on a displayport machine (Mac or otherwise, if there are any others!), but you'll lose out on the extra functionality.
The USB, firewire, webcam, and mic will not be available. The speakers might well work, since DP carries audio - I can't find any evidence either way.
You will get to use the magsafe power cable!
This screen is clearly aimed at rich, cool people who live in quasi-industrial penthouse lofts in once-rough-but-now-quite-posh city quarters. Why, then, make it so shiny that it's only of real use in a nerd's windowless basement hermit cave?
Could it be because Tarqin Trustfundington and his artisinal yoghurt-eating chums on the top floor actually just use it as a mirror? The proof will be whether it tilts back 90 degrees so you can do a line off it.
no, you really don't, do you?
But hey, don't let that stop you from proclaiming your ignorance for the world to see.
What is it with the McDroid weenies in the comments boards all sounding like thirteen year-olds? Still bitter that mommy and 'uncle' Frank didn't get you the IOS device you wanted last christmas?
Get over it girls, get over it. Puberty is just around the corner.
What's wrong with a plastic monitor case? It's cheaper, a plain black monitor goes with just about anything, and it really shouldn't need to be moved all that often (especially one that's 27"). Do a lot of people have trouble with dropping their monitors? If so, I suspect the aluminum still wouldn't help much.
Evidently you haven't been educated in the ways of the barista, er, iAffictionado...
Aluminum GOOD. Every other substance BAD.
(Subject to change to a different 'GOOD' material when Apple decides to build their stuff from something else - See 'Titanium')
Ask an Apple fan and they'll blather on about how much stronger and less flexible it is or something equally of no use in the real world.
It's very nice but complete overkill for me. I'll probably go for one of the smaller Dell IPS displayed for my MacBook Air. As for Thunderbolt accessories, well other than the Thunderbolt display, these are as rare as rocking horse ---t at the moment (there's a portable HDD but its availability is questionable) but a Belkin dock that provides USB, Firewire and so on is on its way (soon, I pray).
So, unless you want display reviewed here, Thunderbolt is currently the ultimate in bleeding edge uselessness.
No Vesa mount, and a crappy non height adjustable stand.
Also why are all the ports on the back, surely it would be useful to have at least some on the edge to make plugging and unplugging easier.
£250 more than the equivalent Dell or HP with the same panel and a 3 year onsite warranty. It's a lot of money to pay for something that looks nice.
With non-consumer connectivity and price. And an Apple badge.
It's not as if Apple make the screens, they just make the case.
I'm still using my old 30" Cinema Display from 2006, which cost twice as much as this thing. Pros will pay nicely for sensible options (i.e. matte, calibration).
Shame HP Dreamcolors are so expensive. Still more tempting than one of these.
And what? Accurate? All of the big special effects houses still use CRT's! I've never seen a good LCD monitor and I've seen a great many. There are huge swathes of colours missing or boosted so they all look like cr*p glossy magazine pictures! All of the colours are ALWAYS wrong. I'll stick with my Lacie Electron Blue 22 with Lacie Blue Eye Pro till they make OLED's with some longevity or some other screen technology that doesn't completely SUCK.
Now if I was gonna spend some money I would go for the Dell Ultrasharp U3011 30"
2560x1600
As for the tit who said the dell was lower res than the ipoo, sorry, no your are both inept and wrong. Both panels have the same resolution. Um... try googling it next time if you have the skills.
The 30" dell screen is in the same price bracket as the crapple. Price: £948.00inc vat.. u can probably get it cheaper too.
Personally, the extra vertical resolution is appealing, I use the 24" dell and have 1920x1200, I wouldn't bother with the 27's, go for 30, its all about the size you know!
As for the monkey with the budget brand 27" TN panel. I'm glad you are happy with your purchase, DO PLEASE ENJOY THOSE EXTRA BIG PIXLES YOU WILL BE STARING AT! LMFAO. What a waste of screen/realestate. Do you drive one of those Toyota MR2's with the Ferrari kit on it too? :-p
Just to finish, why oh why oh why oh why does almost every bloody 24" panel now come with the DOWNGRADED 1080p resolution!!!
E.G. They are mostly all now 1920x1080... the NATIVE resolution for a 24" screen is 1920x1200.... we're all being robbed of pixles....(well you are, I have my 1200 :p)
native to the screen size and ASPECT ratio.
my current 24" are both 1920x1200 but most are now at a lower aspect ratio.
my next one will be 1920x1080 so i can dual monitor with my TV. its a pain in the arse to keep swapping around i want my games etc to work on both screens and have them duplicated and not extended. the new one will also be nvidia 3d vision 2.0 when they come out at 24" with IPS panels.
i guess they are just using industry standard resolutions, who can blame them?
As a 2-decade Apple 'investor' I appreciate the fine products, with the exception of the move to 'gloss' monitor screens. My glossy MBPro 13 is 'O.K.' as I can maneuver the screen to fit most lighting. On the desktops I 'suffer' with the matte screened 'old' Apple displays. I tried the 24" iMac, but could not find a placement in the office that did not result in a light-show going on in peripheral vision while trying to work.
It's truly ashamed that Apple has not offered the matte option (even at a premium) on their lovely new IPS displays.
Last time I looked, Dell were asking over a grand for their 30" display. OK, that's higher resolution, but it doesn't do half what this one does. And I suppose the other side of the coin is a wide range of 24" full HD displays for £150-200. But still, it seems to me to be quite reasonably price, unusually for an Apple computing product.
Paris, of course, because she knows the value of a big appliance (sometimes these comments just write themselves).
GJC
I've got an iMac 27. I imagine it does depend on your home lighting, but really I've never noticed any glare.
And you're talking to a bloke who took back his MBP17 for a matte version because the glossy one was unusable.
The difference from a laptop is it is in one place - and in that regard it's no different from the CRT monitor that used to sit on the top of yer PC - you placed it in the room with reflections in mind.
Apple still claims to be the preferred solution for photographers and video editors yet it still hasn't released a high-colour gamut screen to rival HP's DreamColor displays.
And I'm with the folks above, those high gloss screens are a nightmare to work with in most offices.
A question to the reviewer: do you need to open your macbook in order to wake it up? Or simply plugging the thunderbolt cable is enough?
I want to be able to come to the office, plug 2 cables, press something on the screen or move my mouse and have my computer wake up. If not, it's hardly a "docking station"...
KeyPi
Did you fall out of the stall and into the stack of horse poo, coz you seem to be talking like someone who has swallowed some....
There are actually some pretty good LCD panels that professionals use, they are NOT for sale to the general public on major websites and you won't be finding them in dixons....
There are also tools that calibrate monitors, and these professional panels employ minimal post processing and have the functionality to be tuned accordingly.
I think you have spent too much time in dixons.
Whilst not a professional spec panel, even my 24" dell (think I paid £435 for it back when) is capable of decent callibration and has the colour depth, range and contrast control to reproduce damm fine imagery.
I think you have spent too much time in dixons, you need to get out more.
We have a few of those LED cinema displays on Mac Pros for video editing, and a similar IMac, and the main thing I notice is that I hate hate hate hate HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE the glossy coating.
Sure, it gives you an appearance of more saturated colours, but unless you're dressed like a ninja and sitting in the dark, the reflections are hell. The widgets on final cut pro are quite tiny, and the browse window so fiddly, that it's really horrid to use for editing in a shared office where it's not safe to turn the lights off.
Thank Bob that the two older displays on my Linux box have matte finish screens, really. I just don't get it, I'd actually pay a little extra not to have those bloody reflective finishes.
The good old square screen did the job fine. Most websites have 2 big blank borders on the side with widescreen so thats a waste. Apart from the odd widescreen film whats the point as you move your eyes miles to look at anything on the other side of the screen. My 24 led widescreen monitor has all these faults and more but it was cheap and uses 20w. Meanwhile in apple world its 250w.
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