Supercharge Your Mac with Great Gear
Posted 04/23/2010 at 2:32pm
| by Zack Stern
Displays
"I can see clearly now. I can see all icons on my display."
LaCie 730 LCD 30-inch

Your Mac is a creative powerhouse. Even your home-office hardware can be good enough to create box-office blockbusters, but you’ll need a high-end display to match. LaCie stakes its reputation on its 2560x1600 730 LCD and its superb color reproduction. The display includes a calibration tool so that you can be absolutely sure that what you see on the screen matches the final look of your movie, magazine, or other visual media. Sure, it’s overkill for most home users, but visual-media pros will see the difference.
LaCie · $3,599.99 · lacie.com
Apple LED Cinema Display 24-inch

Apple’s 1920x1200 LED Cinema Display (4 out of 5 stars, Apr/09) nails both crisp design and bright images. You can connect the Mini DisplayPort plug to any recent Mac Pro, iMac, Mac mini, or Mac laptop, but it won’t work with an older Mac that lacks a Mini DisplayPort connection using Apple’s adapters. Three USB 2.0 ports, built-in speakers, and an iSight camera pile on useful extras. The Cinema Display especially shines with a MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air because its built-in MagSafe power connector charges those laptops.
Apple · $899 · apple.com
Dell G2410H 24-inch

Don’t be ashamed, dude--Mac users have been using Dell displays for years. Take a proud stand for value. The G2410H lacks a Mini DisplayPort--Apple’s favorite connector of the moment. It doesn’t even have HDMI. But you do get VGA, DVI, and a great price for this 1920x1080 (1080p) screen. That might seem cheap, but its rich image quality outclasses some competitors with higher costs. And energy-conserving features, such as a light sensor that dims the brightness, can save even more.
Dell · $339 · dell.com
