2 screens, 1 macbook pro

I was at bestbuy today looking at the new apple notebooks. They had a macbook pro set up next to an apple display. I was able to go from the screen on the laptop to the other screen. If i get a macbook pro, what do I need to get to be able to do this. Does the other monitor have to be an apple? Thanks

 

No, any monitor will work. It's really as simple as plugging it in. The MBP will come with the connector and everything.

 

the apple displays looked amazing... but are they really worth the big price tag?

 

They're ok, but you can get a bigger Samsung for much less: http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10086732&catid=22559

At school we have both Samsung and Apple displays, and personally I prefer the Samsung ones.

 

^it all depends if you like the OS or not.
if not get a PC for less ._.

 

I think he was talking about the external Cinema Display.

 

The Apple displays are touted as having the best color reproduction. They are pretty much the standard when doing professional video and imaging work.

I don't personally think they are worth the money, but if I was a professional in that field, and earning money based on my work, then yeah, absolutely. But for normal consumer level stuff, heck no!

 

Apple Cinema displays are quite overpriced. For the same price you could, for example, get a NEC MultiSync or an Eizo. Those are professional displays, and will match if not beat an Apple Cinema display in every way except the looks of the external design.

 

While I was shopping for a new monitor, I was comparing the actual differences in the monitors (not just looking at price), and I found the biggest cost increase was that the Apple displays use S-IPS panels, while all cheaper ones use TN panels. TN panels are only capable of "thousands of colours" with shading to imitate 16.2 million colours, while the S-IPS panels can actually produce 16.7 million real colours on it's own.
You also get less backlight bleed around the edges.

You won't find many IPS based displays for a whole lot cheaper than Apple's prices (They will be cheaper, but not by much).

The colours are more true, and it's easier to look at for extended periods of time.

But the short answer is; Buy what you are comfortable with, both financially and physically. If you can't look at it for a long time, you shouldn't use it.

Edit; and Budding; you can't get an Eizo in a similar size for less than an Apple. It's closer to twice the price.

 

The program is built right in, yes, however, it doesn't come with the MBP, it comes with the cinema display.

Also, as many people say, you're much better off getting a display somewhere else and getting the adapter cord from Apple to connect them.

 

Actually... the MBP comes with the connector already. I've done it with my Compaq monitor. You don't need a cinema display.

 

yup, I have yet to try mine but they do come with a dvi to vga adapter

 

gahh. I should have sprung for a MBP instead of a Black Macbook. -shrugs-

Too late now...