Round 1: Connectivity and features

The Apple Cinema Display takes a unique approach to connectivity. Instead of the standard setup--a variety of ports arrayed on the back of the panel--you'll find just one thick cord permanently secured to the back of the monitor. At the opposite end, the cord splinters into four different connections: DVI-D for connecting to your PC, FireWire to plug into your computer to supply the two downstream FireWire ports, USB 2.0 to plug into your computer to supply the two downstream USB ports, and a power cord that plugs into the external power brick. We like the consolidation but worry that we'd have to replace the entire monitor if a single cord malfunctions, especially since Apple offers a skimpy one-year warranty.

Dell follows the standard approach to connectivity, with separate DVI-D, USB, power, and audio ports, each of which requires a separate cable. A small hole in the neck of the UltraSharp 3007WFP functions as a cable-management system, but it isn't nearly as sleek as Apple's one-cord design. That said, we prefer Dell's slightly messier cable system for the flexibility of replacing a single cord should one fail.

The one and only image adjustment control on both monitors is brightness. This may seem odd if you're used to a more in-depth onscreen menu and control panel, but with a digital connection, most image-adjustment tools aren't necessary--the picture is already optimized. For graphics professionals or others who need color-matching capabilities, third-party color-calibration devices are available for making more advanced adjustments.

Apple usually wins any aesthetic competition hands down, but in this case, it's not a knockout. The Apple's sleek silver design and molded silver neck and base are attractive, and its majestic appearance will give any desktop a face-lift. The one-cord approach also gives the Cinema Display's backside a more molded, finished appearance. The Dell looks slightly more utilitarian with a black-and-silver cabinet and a silver stand, and its overall look is appealing; its profile isn't as clean, however, as it is interrupted by media-card readers and an abundance of cords. To keep its molded, sleek appearance the Apple Cinema Display sacrifices adjustability. Where the UltraSharp 3007WFP offers height adjustment, swivel, and forward and backward tilt, the Cinema Display offers only a few degrees of forward and backward tilt.

Winner: For its more-plentiful features and flexibility, the Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP takes Round 1.