I ended up buying an LG 29UM65-P for just a bit over 1/3rd the price of an Apple Thunderbolt display. Got it yesterday. Worked well except could not get the split windows to work. Decided to download the software from the LG website and it turned out the software on the CD was not the most current. Split screen now works perfectly. Takes a bit of getting used to as I'm using the LG and the MB Pro and it took a while to decide how to position the windows for best cursor movement. At the moment I have the MB Pro above the LG. I also wondered if I should have been getting the larger until but now realize that perhaps it would have been too wide. The only thing I would like would be another inch or so of height - width is highly adequate. After using it for a day I feel I would recommend this monitor and one should be able to purchase it for about $350 (I paid $379 Cdn).
Purchasing was a nightmare. Earlier I indicated I was going to get a Dell. Well, my son thought the price at Walmart was so good he'd buy one as well. I was in FLA and would be returning to Canada a few weeks later and he would have them delivered to his home and bring it to our home at Xmas. Price was amazing - WAY under anything anything in the US and Canada - like over $500 less. Well, they were delivered within 2 days and the packing slip described these 27 inch 2560 .x 1440 monitors properly. In the boxes were 24 inch 1920 x 1080. Walmart had totally screwed up all Dell monitors. On unit that should sell for a bit over $200 had a price tag on it over $3000. They've now removed all Dell products until they can get it fixed.
Then, looked around FLA and saw the 29UM65 and concluded for the price it was good value so I'd buy one. Checked prices and Best Buy in Canada was as good or better than anything available at that time in the US or Canada. Then the fun started. After four days it showed order in progress. Then, suddenly the inventory shown on the web goes to ZERO for online and in store. But they would not cancel my order. First they said it is on the loading dock. Then they didn't know were it was. Then they put an investigation order out and said I'd have to wait at least 10 days. At that point I was really PO'd and said "look, you are telling people they should buy online now and get delivery in 2 days and you are telling me it is going to take 10 days to find you have no stock. Give me a break." Answer - have to wait 10 days. I then said NUTS to BB and started searching. Found the same monitor at Costco Canada for 5 bucks less - but they said they had them and took my order online. In a day I got a tracking number and found it arrived in our area late Friday. It was delivered Monday morning by UPS.
Today I got a nice email from BB Canada apologizing (and so they should) for their screwup which was due to errors in their inventory records. They gave me a $50 gift cert (that can only be used online). Nice of them and very warranted. We have purchased a fair number of items in Canada and in Florida - and I must say that ALL past orders had been delivered promptly and service was good.
NOW, APPLE, pay attention (assuming someone from Apple actually reads these forums). Your Thunderbolt Display is, based on the info in a review I found, an LG made product. SO, why can't you add a few more LG branded units such as the one I bought (and it connect with a Display Port cable to the TB port) and a few others at a much lower price point. If you don't take this advice you are simply going to lose business to other companies if Mac users feel they don't want a TB Display because of price of lack of certain features. BTW, you sure did take my advice in the late 1980s when I was on the Apple Advisory Council. I regularly met with people like Bill Campbell (Claris CEO at the time) and Larry Tessler and they were a delight to deal with and were always prepared to consider recommendations.
GR
