24" iMac vs 20" iMac with external display

[fredk]

I'm going to purchase an iMac within the next month or so, and I'm trying to figure out if I should buy the 20" or 24". For the record, it stands between the 2.4 20" and the 2.4 24".

I currently have a Macbook which I use together with a 22" LG display.
The LG display is only two months old, so I could still sell for good money and put them in a 24" iMac, or i could keep it and buy 20" iMac and use them both together.

Obviously, keeping the LG display and going for the 20" iMac would give me more real estate. More Real estate would come in handy, but I don't really need it for anything special.
The deal breaker here is however that i get to save some money.

Having just the 24" would allow for a more clean desk, which would be nice since my desk would be pretty full with the LG display, 20" iMac, speakers, keyboard and mouse and the MacBook.

However I am leaning towards the 20" iMac + external display, simply because it would allow me to save a bit of money and give me more screen real estate.

So i guess my real question is, is there any disadvantages with having the iMac run an external display? Any other thoughts?

 

[PMR]

Having two displays will always help if you edit video or photo, as you'll have a much longer timeline or space to place tools. And you can compare how the video/photo looks in different monitors. But being two TN panels it's a pity. If you get the 24" and dispose of the 20"LG you'll get less screen but you'll get superior IQ. It's a tough call.

 

[hempcamp]

I went for the 20" iMac and it looks great next to my 24" Dell monitor. Much better choice for me than the 24" iMac (in which case I would have had to sell the Dell monitor). I browse and read and work on the 24" Dell monitor and keep the dock and iChat and iTunes and all the little gadgetries on the iMac screen.

--Chris

 

[CWallace]

At work I use twin 24" displays and love it. I bought the 24" iMac and used my Dell 20" widescreen with it, but since I don't need to monitor multiple apps at home like I do at work, I soon found the desk-space needed to be dedicated to support dual monitors to be more of a hassle then the benefits two monitors gave me so I now just use my 25" integrated display.