If you're in the market for any Mac but an iMac, you will probably also be looking for an LCD display.
Buying a display isn't the toughest decision you'll ever make, but it's not the easiest, either. There are many sizes and types of displays to choose from, and an endless array of specs to sort through. It's helpful to familiarize yourself with the terminology before you go shopping, whether online or in a retail store. Arming yourself with information can also help prevent you from making an impulse purchase based on cost, size, or even looks.
What is Your Primary Use for the Display?
Your main daily use for an LCD display should drive the decision-making process.
Color professionals, that is, individuals who need accurate color representation, need displays that have wide viewing angles, good contrast, and accurate color rendering.
If you're an avid gamer, you'll be more inclined to favor a display that has a fast response time, to reduce blurring and lag in fast-action games.
If you use your Mac for typical applications, such as word processing, web browsing, and email, but you also like to watch (or even create) the occasional video, a middle-of-the-road display should be a good fit.
High-End Professionals
When accuracy is the primary concern, look for an LCD display that uses S-IPS panel technology. These displays are considered to have the best color accuracy and the widest color gamut, as well as wide viewing angles. They're also some of the most expensive LCD displays available.
Cost isn't the only down side. S-IPS panels generally have the slowest response times, although that specification is improving all the time.
Games, Games, and More Games
When everything comes second to a good, fast-action game, you need a display with a fast response time. Displays that use TN technology are just the ticket. They're fast and they're cheap.
Their biggest drawback is poor color accuracy. They also have a limited color gamut, and tend to have limited viewing angles, which can cause images to appear dark and distort colors when you view the display from anywhere outside of a narrow viewing angle. This last isn't usually a problem for gamers, who tend to sit glued to their screens rather than, for example, reviewing documents onscreen with colleagues.
A Little of Everything, Please
Perhaps you do a little bit of everything on your Mac: watch videos, play games, and edit home movies. You don't make your living as a graphics professional, though, so you want good performance but at a reasonable price.
A display that uses an S-PVA panel should be right up your alley. It offers good color rendering, a fairly wide color gamut range, good viewing angles, and reasonable response times for casual gamers.
S-PVA displays usually fall in the middle of the pack in price. They're more expensive than TN panels, but nowhere near as pricey as S-IPS panels. They're a great choice for most Mac users.
OK, How Do I Tell Which Type of Panel a Display Uses?
Most LCD display manufacturers don't talk much about panel types, but it's fairly easy to tell them apart by checking a display's specifications.
First, the easy one. Manufacturers of expensive S-IPS panels tend to list this information in their specs. You're paying a premium, and while they don't like to brag, they want to reassure you that you're getting the best.
You can identify an S-PVA display by a viewing angle specification of 170-178 degrees, and a response time of 8-16 ms.
You can also identify a TN panel by the viewing angle, which is usually less than 165 degrees, and a fast response time of 2-5 ms.
How Do I Select a Display Size?
Hey, you know my motto: bigger is better. That's certainly true of desktop displays.
One thing to note is resolution vs. display size. If two monitors have the same resolution specification, then they will display the same image. For example, 20" and 22" widescreen displays use the same resolution (1680x1050), so they will both show the same image. The 22" display doesn't have a larger viewing area than the 20" does, so don't expect to be able to see more of your desktop. The 22" monitor will display the same stuff, just a little larger, a plus for those of us with aging eyes.
What Types of Connections Do I Need?
If you're on the fence, a display's extras (or lack of) can nudge you in one direction or the other. I wouldn't base a choice primarily on USB ports or a built-in card reader, though. They're nice, but they're not primary to the display's function.
More important considerations are adjustability and control surface location. Some displays support rotation (landscape to portrait orientation), height, and/or tilt adjustments. The location of a display's controls can be more important than you might think. Some manufacturers put the controls on the side of a display, a location that many users find awkward at best.
