With the number of higher-quality 23" and 24" S-IPS and H-IPS panel based LCD screens that have come onto the market over the last 5 years since the Apple Cinema Display has been released, and at considerably better prices, I fail to see a compelling reason to purchase the Apple displays.
It's not nearly as aesthetically-pleasing as the Apple (it's pretty subdued with black and silver plastic), but the HP LP2475W is a fantastic H-IPS monitor that offers up great image quality (after calibration, of course) for around $750 with a lot more flexibility as far as ergonomics and video inputs go.
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/...475w.htm#intro