My Hanns-G 19″ monitor had served me well over the years as a secondary display on my Mac Pro, but the small form factor just wasn’t cutting it anymore. I needed more screen real estate. So I started to shop around for a larger display. I wanted another HPZR24w, but that model now commands insanely high prices because it is discontinued. So, I was back to doing more research. Months later, I pulled the trigger on a Dell U2412M 24″. (It’s an early 40th b-day present to myself.)
This is my first ever Dell product. And it’s running on my Mac. I ordered the monitor from Amazon and it arrived within 2 days (thanks to an Amazon Prime trial). It’s a great monitor for the price. But I’m getting ahead of myself…
What’s in the Box?
Dell does a really nice job packing their displays. Two thick, moulded styrofoam inserts tightly held both the display and the stand. The build quality is impressive.
Also included in the box: one power cord, a VGA cable, a DVI cable, and a USB cable. And, yes, there’s even a CD with a set-up manual.
The base of the Dell U2412M is very sturdy. The display itself snaps directly into the base. I used my existing DVI and power cords and plugged them into the underside of the display. The U2412M includes DVI, VGA and 4 USB ports (two on the underside of the display, and two on the left side). It’s very easy to adjust the tilt of the display.
Below are photos of both the front and back of my display setup:
In Actual Use
Out of the box, the Dell display is BRIGHT. Thankfully the display controls (located on the lower right side of the unit) are easily adjustable. The display controls even include the option to use Mac gamma settings. For what it’s worth, I also rely on Mac OS X’s built-in color calibrator to fine tune my display settings.
Going from 19″ to 24″ was noticeable. It’s like moving from a cardboard box into a house. There’s simply more room for applications and windows to “breathe”, without feeling cluttered or claustrophobic.
Bang for the Buck?
The U2412M retails for $369, but savvy shoppers can find it for around $269 + change (it routinely comes on sale – check sites like DealMac or Tech Bargains periodically). I paid $255, with free shipping, thanks to an Amazon gift card.
Outside of the larger real estate, I’m really impressed with the overall color fidelity of this monitor. Images are sharp and vivid, as they should be – but best of all – no dead pixels! Thus far (just a few hours in), I’m very impressed with the Dell U2412M – and I’m saying that as a Mac user. (Please don’t judge me.)
-Krishna
