Apple Cinema HD Display (30-inch, DVI) vs Dell UltraSharp U2711
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleCinema HD Display (30-inch, DVI) | DellUltraSharp U2711 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2004 | 2010 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 29.7″ | 27″ |
| Resolution | 2560 × 1600 (WQXGA) (better) | 2560 × 1440 (QHD) |
| Sharpness | 102 pixels per inch | 109 pixels per inch (better) |
| Panel | IPS (TFT active-matrix LCD (Apple June 2004 Technology Overview); S-IPS identification from PRAD’s exact aluminium 30-inch datasheet. Main brightness and contrast describe the original published generation.) | IPS (CCFL-backlit wide-gamut IPS.) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Response time (grey to grey) | – | 6 ms |
| Brightness (typical) | 270 nits | 350 nits (better) |
| Contrast ratio | 400:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Colour range | – | 100% sRGB; 96% Adobe RGB |
| Colour accuracy (Delta E) | – | Below 5 |
| Screen finish | Matte | Matte |
| Shape | Flat | Flat |
| Colour depth | Up to 16.7 million colours; Apple does not specify panel bit depth | Up to 1.07 billion colours with 12-bit internal processing, according to Dell. |
| sRGB coverage | – | 100% typical, according to Dell. |
| Adobe RGB coverage | – | 96% typical, according to Dell. |
| Colour accuracy | – | Factory-calibrated sRGB and Adobe RGB presets to average Delta E below 5 on a new unit, according to Dell. |
| Colour modes | – | Includes sRGB, Adobe RGB and a six-axis Custom Color mode. |
| Response time detail | Original June 2004 Apple Technology Overview specifies typical 16 ms without identifying grey-to-grey transitions, so main grey-to-grey response is omitted. Original brightness is 270 cd/m² and contrast 400:1. Archived support table later gives 400 cd/m² and 400:1; Japanese specifications give 400 cd/m², 700:1 and 14 ms. These later figures are not substituted into the original main fields. | 6 ms grey-to-grey or 12 ms black-to-white, typical. |
| Viewing angles | Original archived Apple specifications give 170° horizontally and vertically; a later Japanese sheet gives 178°. | 178° horizontal and vertical, typical. |
| Pixel pitch | 0.250 mm | 0.2331 mm. |
| Connections | ||
| Video inputs | DVI | HDMI, DisplayPort |
| USB-C charging | None | None |
| USB ports | 2 × USB-A | 4 × USB-A |
| Speakers | – | No |
| HDMI detail | – | One HDMI input; Dell lists up to 1080p video modes in its manual. |
| DisplayPort detail | – | One DisplayPort input; also two dual-link DVI-D inputs, VGA, composite and component video. |
| Other connections | Captive DVI, USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and DC power cables; two downstream FireWire 400 ports and Kensington security slot | – |
| USB hub detail | Two-port self-powered USB 2.0 hub; upstream USB cable must connect to computer | Four downstream USB 2.0 ports and one upstream port; integrated multi-format card reader. |
| Picture by picture | – | Picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture modes with a second video source. |
| Audio out | – | Audio line out for external speakers; optional Dell soundbar support. |
| Design | ||
| Stand adjusts | Tilt | Height, tilt, swivel (better) |
| VESA mount | Yes | Yes |
| Weight with stand | 12.5 kg | 7.72 kg |
| Height adjustment | – | 90 mm vertical extension, according to Dell. |
| VESA pattern | Optional Cinema Display VESA Mount Adapter Kit; VESA FDMI MIS-D 100 C | 100 × 100 mm. |
| Size with stand | 688 × 543 × 215 mm (width × height × depth), from Apple's archived technical specifications | 646.71 × 199.95 × 427.83–517.83 mm (width × depth × height). |
| Size without stand | – | 646.71 × 93 × 385.67 mm (width × depth × height). |
| Weight without stand | – | 7.72 kg without cables. |
| Controls | Side power and brightness buttons; resolution and colour settings through Mac OS X Displays preferences | Capacitive touch controls at the front right. |
| Colours | Aluminium enclosure | – |
| Power and support | ||
| Power use | Maximum 150 W; energy saver mode 3 W or less | 113 W typical, according to Dell's manual. |
| Power supply | External A1098 150 W adaptor; 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz; 24.5 V DC output | 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz. |
| Software | Apple's June 2004 UK press release promised August sale, but delivery slipped into autumn (Computerworld/Macworld). Main release month follows MacRumors' October 2004 shipping report. At launch Apple specified Power Mac G5 with NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL for native resolution; a dual-link DVI graphics connection is required. Original manual explicitly specifies 2560 × 1600 at 60 Hz and 29.7-inch viewable diagonal. Main weight follows June 2004 maker Technology Overview (12.5 kg); original manual gives 12.31 kg and archived support table 12.47 kg. No basis for the discrepancies is stated. | – |
| In the box | Display with captive connection cables, power adaptor, AC cord and cleaning cloth | Monitor and stand, power, VGA, DVI, DisplayPort and USB upstream cables, documentation and factory colour report. |
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