Dual 21.5" Screens or 27"

I'm switching from an old P4 windows machine with dual 19" monitors. My budget will allow me to either get the 27" imac with the 3.2GHz Core i3 or I can get the 21.5" 3.2 Core i3 and an addition Samsung 21.5 TrueHD LED backlit LCD monitor.

So what would you do? 21.5" iMac with an additional 21.5" screen or a 27" iMac?

Thanks,
RR

2x21" screens.

27" iMac. You can get 21"-22" displays anywhere...the 27" display is just awesome to look at.

Also...consider value. The 27" Apple Cinema Display sells for $999 by itself:

Apple LED Cinema Display (27" flat panel) - Apple Store (U.S.)

If you get the 27" iMac i3 3.2ghz for $1699...that's like getting the iMac computer hardware for $700. Later on when you save more funds...you can always buy a 2nd monitor (I would suggest a 24")...and plug it into the 27" iMac.

Hope this helps,

- Nick

p.s. In the short term. If you get a 27" iMac...you can plug one of your existing 19" displays to it.

If you're going to get the Core i3 on either the 21.5" or 27" iMac, then it makes sense (price wise) to go for the 21.5" with an additional monitor. I opted for the 27" i7..and got this scree is just awesome..but with 2 screens you'll have similar screen real estate..

Regards

bump - anyone else have an opinion?

I personally hate having dual monitors - having that gap between the monitors really bugs me. Plus you will have 2 different monitors now - have you compared them side by side? One of the most annoying things I am dealing with right now is I have a MBP with an awesome LED display, next to an older larger LCD display. The LCD looks like junk next to the LED. I know you are talking Samsung LED backlit - but if your monitors don't match it may be annoying - it is for me.

Personally I would get the 27" - and save money - then get a 2nd monitor later. I could see running a second monitor in portrait mode - still annoying to me but then I would have a widescreen and a tallscreen work area.

I would go into the Apple store and have a look at the screens in person. There's little difference in the standard models of the high end 21.5 and low end 27 apart from the screen size. Some people find the 27 too big. And it makes their font and other things too small for them.

So my opinion if the 27 is not too big for you, then just get that. Dual screens is awesome in theory. But in practice most people do not effectively use a dual screen set up. If you want the dual screen set up I would really think "how can I effectively use the 2nd screen?" And "do I have enough desk space for the 2nd screen?"

My recommendation would be go for the 27 inch. But check them out in person please first.