Apple

Out of context: Reply #3231

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  • nb3

    Apple Studio Display vs Dell Ultrasharp

    I was using a 2.5K Dell Ultrasharp. Anyone could see the pixels. Photographs look incredible but I work in UI/UX design and typography matters to me. I send a lot of emails, work on a lot docs. Might as well have the best. Bought Apple Studio Display because I heard that 5K is better (“no scaling!”) on MacOS. Ended up returning it and buying a Dell U2723QE (new, top of the line Dell 4K 27”)

    Bottom line on sharpness: 2.5K to 4K is a massive difference. 4K to 5K is a very subtle difference.

    So here’s my take:

    Apple Studio Display
    PROS:
    5K is sharper than 4K for type and UI. You can see the difference but it is subtle. If your vision is corrected and you’re a designer you can see the difference, just barely.
    Industrial design is beaut.
    Sound is great, built in mic is useful for me. I work with a MBP 16” that I like to keep closed. So, the same as a Mac Studio or Mini.

    CONS:
    • Camera quality is garbage, I care about design details and that’s why I buy Apple stuff. This camera will never be good, software is the problem, but it won’t completely solve it.
    • As far as I could tell, Center Stage doesn’t work in Zoom or Google Meet
    • Removal of a power button is a terrible design decision. I use this in my bedroom. If Bluetooth wakes up my machine, this fucking giant bright-ass screen lights up the room. Only way to turn it off in the middle of the night is to: SIGN IN WITH MY PASSWORD or unplug it from the powersource. Solution? Shutdown my computer every single night? Throw a dark towel over it at night? This is the worst design decision I’ve seen from Apple since they removed MagSafe from laptops. No consideration for the user.

    But the biggest problem was that the Studio Display is too reflective, as I’ve said here. I was getting headaches from reading text because the glass reflects the natural light in my room. Made lots of typos (in Figma, no auto spellcheck) Don’t buy this if you work in natural light.

    In the end I got the Dell Ultrasharp U2723QE. Everything about it is better, unless you happen to have an office with very dim light. Plus you can connect it to two computers at once. Charges the MBP. Good hub on the back. Works with old-ass computers. No camera or mic. And it’s about $1000 less that the Apple Studio Display. (At this point I’m willing to pay top dollar for the right screen.)

    I really want Dell to make a 24” 4.5K. If not that, a 27” 5K. But for now, the U2723QE is very good!

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    • You should shutdown your computer as soon as you finish working. Continuously running electricity throw a machine while you sleep is not great for machine + ecoshapesalad
    • Sleep Mode is sufficient, no?nb
    • But if this is your real concern then you shouldn’t buy a Display that doesn’t have a power button either.nb
    • lol, I leave my office workstation on for weeks at a time. Our render machine had an uptime, before we *had* to shut it down, of nearly a year without restarts.face_melter
    • What did you get to replace speakers / mic / webcam ?shapesalad
    • Hey more importantly, if you want to save the environment you should just NOT BUY A NEW MONITORnb
    • I rotate between Air Pod Pros and Bose QC35 for sound and microphone. Use my old webcam. Any top end webcam is great. Check the Streamcam or Brionb
    • Matte screenz 4 lifenb
    • That Dell looks nice. Gonna look into one for myself, thanks!aliastime
    • Does the U2723QE have built in camera and speakers?utopian
    • nomonospaced
    • 4.5Kgrafician
    • just the right spot :Pgrafician
    • Glad you made the right choice with a Dell. Latest Apple displays were only for fanboysgrafician
    • In this case, Apple has better quality tech but a worse design!! It’s like bizzaro worldnb
    • appreciate the info nb. have been looking at getting a new monitor, and this is just the info i was looking for :)exador1
    • While I like the idea of a quality webcam and speakers integrated into a 5k display, I don't want to spend the extra $500 on a bionic chip it doesn't need.monospaced
    • I don't see the need for 5K even when I don't even run my 4K at full resolution. I also would not need 600 nits of brightness, wtf.monospaced
    • @mono If I remember correctl you had the window left side of your desk, but in direct sunlight you need a brighter screen...grafician
    • also non-reflective, those are a no-no before 5 o'clockgrafician
    • lol @ an old photo ... okay. finemonospaced
    • nahh i prefer shitty webcam. better excuse when the camera cuts out. nobody needs to see me naked at home.pango
    • Yep and a $20 webcam will look better than the Studio Dispaly cam looks todaynb
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