Dell 2005FPW vs. Apple 20'' Cinema Display

Question

I know this is sacrilege, but it is my patriotic duty and right to save $300 on my consumer electronics (after education discount for Apple, and tax, ACD comes out to $756, and Dell comes out to $453; both are out the door prices).
Is there a difference in quality between the 20'' Apple Cinema Display and the Dell 2005FWP, or is the difference mainly superfical? What are the advantages disadvantages to either? Do these differences warrant $300I know there was a previous post, but if anyone cares to chime in, please do.
I am running a Powerbook 12'' G4 1.5 GHz, and am consider getting a new Mac Mini in the near future, but just generally speaking...

Answer 1

I've read of a lot of people saying that the 2405 is blindingly bright. To my eyes, that's true, but only if you turn up the brightness to max and change the color temperature setting to 9200K. At brightness around 50/100 and the standard 6500K color, everything's fine for me. Constrast is not adjustable using DVI (which is how it's suppose to be).
But to the question, the Dell 2405 uses a Samsung PVA panel, whereas all the Apple displays use LG-Philips S-IPS panels. Reviews, personal opinions, and your own eyes can tell you one is better over the other. In my experience, I don't consider the LG-Philips 20" and 23" panels (the same panels found in displays by Apple, Dell, HP, Viewsonic) to be anything spectacular. Colors are somewhat bland, black levels aren't as good, and the LCD or coating over the LCD has a grainy appearance that kind of gives off an annoying glittery look. The Samsung panel at 24" looks better to me. But with the 30" LG-Philips panel (shared by the Dell and Apple displays), it's amazing. The grainyness isn't noticable, viewing angles are good across the entire screen (though not with blacks which turn purple at an angle), and color/contrast are good.
Bottom line is that S-IPS panels like in the Apple 23" do have better viewing angles (in which colors don't shift as bad at an angle, and detail isn't lost as badly), but blacks don't look as deep and turn purple at an angle. It's also less bright, but perhaps also has not as good contrast. Color is probably subjective - some will say the 2405 is over-saturated, others will say it's vibrant. I'd try the Apple if the Dell doesn't satisfy you. Both are regarded as the best of the best.