Mac Pro and non apple displays

Question

hello all.
I used to have a dell display (really cheap TN non ultrasharp) and i was not happy with it at all. when connected to my mac i would get visible diagonal rippling lines through the display especially when viewing dark colours. however this was fine when i used boot camp windows. many from the discussion suggested that it was because mac likes IPS panels where the cheap brands use TN. so i got me a 20 in apple cinema display and i love it!. after three years i would love to upgrade to bigger display thats flexible, (HDCP and more connections) and not break my bank. at the moment im looking at dell again (sigh) the new ultra-sharp u2311h (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=e n&cs=19&sku=320-9270) this panel features IPS panel similar to previous ultra sharp models that had exact panels as the apple cinema displays. i would love to hear some opinions and tips.
and i would especially love to hear form ultra sharp users and their thoughts / experience. please please let me know.

Answer 1

When I said that NEC displays were much better than Dell's I was referring to the former's Multisync "LCD" range, which use different panels to their "EA" models.
"EA" models are classified as "office monitors" by NEC, whereas "LCD" models are "high end", and consequently are more expensive.
I have no idea how the NEC Multisync EA231WMi compares against the Dell Ultrasharp U2311H, but there is a lot more to a display than sharing the same panel. Although their displays are built around the same panel, NEC and Dell would be using different technology inside, and that is where the former has the advantage, because Dell does not "manufacture" high end/professional monitors.
Although Dell Ultrasharp monitors have received several good reviews, particularly with regard to value for money, they are not in the same league as NEC, EIZO, or LaCie, particularly where colour accuracy is paramount, and that is one of the reasons why they are usually much cheaper.
Some time before I purchased my NEC 30" display, Macworld UK published a review covering several 24" to 27" displays, including models from NEC, EIZO, LaCie, Dell and Samsung. The 26" LaCie model used the same H-IPS panel as the 26"NEC, but it was the NEC which walked away with the 5 star "Best Buy" award. The Dell 27" was judged to be value for money, but fell down on colour accuracy.
For further endorsement of the quality of NEC's "LCD" range see:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/monitors/242010/nec-multisync-lcd3090wqxi
The point I am trying to make is that NEC have the expertise to produce the above exceptional quality display, whereas Dell do not. Doubtless, some of that expertise filters down to models in other NEC ranges. The panel might be the same, but the technology inside the display will most certainly be different between the two companies.
You pay your money, and you take your choice!
Regards,
Bill