So no one knows yet definitively what kind of display the 24" uses?
I went back to the apple store today there was no *dramatic* change in color when I moved windows around or looked looked at an image that occupied the entire height of the screen.
The apple store offered to let me exchange the 20" for a 24" and just pay the difference - no restocking fee.
I tend to sit up/slouch/recline my chair and I find myself constantly adjusting the angle of the 20" display - because either the dock at the bottom suddenly gets washed out or the menu at the top becomes dark.
Not afaik, but I haven't done any extensive searches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD#PVA
"MVA
MVA (multi-domain vertical alignment) was originally developed in 1998 by Fujitsu as a compromise between TN and IPS. It achieved fast pixel response (at the time), wide viewing angles, and high contrast at the cost of brightness and color reproduction. Modern MVA panels can offer wide viewing angles (second only to S-IPS technology), good black depth, good color reproduction and depth, and fast response times thanks to the use of RTC technologies. There are several "next generation" technologies based on MVA, including AU Optronics' P-MVA and A-MVA, as well as Chi Mei Optoelectronics' S-MVA.
Analysts predicted that MVA would corner the mainstream market, but instead, TN has risen to dominance. A contributing factor was the higher cost of MVA, along with its slower pixel response (which rises dramatically with small changes in brightness). Cheaper MVA panels can also use dithering/FRC.
PVA
PVA (patterned vertical alignment) and S-PVA (super patterned vertical alignment) are alternative versions of MVA technology offered by Samsung. Developed independently, it offers similar features to MVA, but boasts very high contrast ratios such as 3000:1. Value-oriented PVA panels also use dithering/FRC. S-PVA panels all use true 8-bit color electronics and do not use any color simulation methods. PVA and S-PVA can offer good black depth, wide viewing angles and S-PVA can offer additionally fast response times thanks to modern RTC technologies."
Even if it's MVA/PVA it's probably a decent panel, just not as good as IPS.
I think you test for it is weird, just look at the screen from the top and bottom and you will see how it gets washed out or dark depending on which way you look at it from, then watch it from the sides and it will probably turn yellow and the colors will get washed out.
Also if you open an image with smooth gradients over different colors over the whole display you will probably see splitted fields of colors in it.
But I don't know if the 24" is IPS, probably not since some review said it was worth than the old one, but I'm very sure it will be better than the 20" since 178 degrees viewing angles suggest it's not TN.
Another alternative is that you get the Dell 2007 WFP, Philips 200W7PES or whatever it's called or Nec 20WGX2Pro or similair and hook that up aswell since those often are IPS-panels (they are cheap but the Dell and Philips are PVA if you are unlucky, sort of lottery, the Nec is always IPS but more expensive, still cheaper than an ACD, and much faster, and glossy.)
