LCD Monitor ??

[fitzperry]

I'd like to get a new widescreen LCD monitor. My resident geek (a/k/a dh--incidentally, I remember that someone on this board despises the term geek, but I mean no offense) is generally my consultant on these types of purchases, but since his knowledge of cameras and photo editing is practically nil, I thought I'd ask you guys what I should be looking for. I'm not sure which specs are most important for viewing and editing photos. Unfortunately, my budget is pretty limited--I'd prefer not to spend much more than $300, which I know will limit substantially limit my choices. 22" is probably big enough, but I wouldn't mind something a little larger.

If it matters, I'll be using it to connect to a Macbook Air. I'd love to have one one the Apple cinema displays, but can't justify the expense. Used 23" ones are going for well over $400 on eBay.

Thanks!

 

[abbingtonmatt]

Personally I like Samsung and Dell monitor. I recommend Dell E228WFP 22 inch Widescreen Monitor..It is arond $220 .

 

[fitzperry]

Personally I like Samsung and Dell monitor. I recommend Dell E228WFP 22 inch Widescreen Monitor..It is arond $220 .

Thanks. I'll take a look. I currently have a 19" Samsung, but it is not widescreen, and I'd like to pair it with my kids' computer and get myself a new one.

 

[boBQuincy]

The S-IPS panel displays are generally considered the best for photo editing. They are often either hard to find or expensive, and have relatively slow response rates (~8 ms compared to the others 2 ms).

The better displays also have true 8 bit color (or better), many panels use 6 bit dithering to approximate 8 bits, which is not quite the same.

Most Eizo displays are probably of this type, I am sure there are others. Is that nerdy enough for you?

 

[handicap18]

I have the HP w2207h. 22" widescreen. I LOVE IT!! I wasn't planning on getting this particular monitor when I bought the computer. I was actually looking at one of the Acer's (IIRC). Same 22" size. But I kept going back to this monitor. The colors looked better and the overall images it produced looked more pleasant to look at. It was $90 more than I wanted, but I'm VERY happy with it.

It also has an HDMI imput for HiDef. I do have a HiDef output on my computer, but I send that signal to the 32" HDtv in the living room.

 

[annnewjerz]

I have the HP w2207h. 22" widescreen. I LOVE IT!! I wasn't planning on getting this particular monitor when I bought the computer. I was actually looking at one of the Acer's (IIRC). Same 22" size. But I kept going back to this monitor. The colors looked better and the overall images it produced looked more pleasant to look at. It was $90 more than I wanted, but I'm VERY happy with it.

It also has an HDMI imput for HiDef. I do have a HiDef output on my computer, but I send that signal to the 32" HDtv in the living room.

Just an FYI to the OP, I was looking at this monitor as well recently and just thought I would post the link to Amazon.com. It is $245 with free shipping and an instant rebate. I haven't looked many other places, but that seems like a deal too good to pass up

 

[handicap18]

Just an FYI to the OP, I was looking at this monitor as well recently and just thought I would post the link to Amazon.com. It is $245 with free shipping and an instant rebate. I haven't looked many other places, but that seems like a deal too good to pass up

That is an excellent price!!! I paid $329 back in February for mine.

 

[annnewjerz]

That is an excellent price!!! I paid $329 back in February for mine.

I know, and the best part is I just got offered $200 to do an odd-job for a co-worker, so I basically just bought the monitor and don't even have to explain the missing funds to DH. I LOVE the fact that you can rotate the monitor from landscape to portraint, just seems like it would come in handy.

 

[fitzperry]

Just an FYI to the OP, I was looking at this monitor as well recently and just thought I would post the link to Amazon.com. It is $245 with free shipping and an instant rebate. I haven't looked many other places, but that seems like a deal too good to pass up

I was looking at that one last night--I'm pleased to see a favorable review, as well as a better price than I saw!

Fry's has a Viewsonic that looks pretty nice on sale in the store for $199 (after a mail in rebate though, IIRC), and I'm also looking at a Samsung on buy.com (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209316327).

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[jann1033]

I was looking at that one last night--I'm pleased to see a favorable review, as well as a better price than I saw!

Fry's has a Viewsonic that looks pretty nice on sale in the store for $199 (after a mail in rebate though, IIRC), and I'm also looking at a Samsung on buy.com (http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=209316327).

Thanks for the suggestions!

i got an asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236028 which i really like except for one thing..it has presets and i can't find out what k the standard preset is so it's hard to calibrate without another calibration software( the manual is basically a 2 page installation guide and tech support didn't know )...other than that i love the monitor and it was around 200 for a 22" widescreen. the presets would be nice for the other stuff though like movies games etc, just not for what i use. oh and the speakers are really bad but i had other speakers i wanted to use anyway. i got it on newegg.

 

[webshark3]

FYI, all 22" LCDs use the cheaper TN panels. Just so you know....

http://www.pureoverclock.com/article641.html

 

[Groucho]

If you're after photo editing, you'll want to invest in a color calibrator, too. The Spyder2Express is cheap and effective, and can be used for dual monitors with a little bit of tweaking.

I'm not convinced that widescreen is the way to go, either. I still prefer 4:3 for PC work - widescreen is for movies. You could argue that some newer apps like Lightroom are designed for widescreen use, though, as they have large side panels. For surfing the web, email, word processing, etc - widescreen is not a benefit and may even be a detriment. (Average 19" 4:3 - 1280x1024 resolution, average 19" 16:9 - 1400x900, less vertical space than the 4:3 monitor.)

A pair of 19" 4:3 LCD monitors is pretty close to ideal IMHO.

 

[fitzperry]

If you're after photo editing, you'll want to invest in a color calibrator, too. The Spyder2Express is cheap and effective, and can be used for dual monitors with a little bit of tweaking.

I'm not convinced that widescreen is the way to go, either. I still prefer 4:3 for PC work - widescreen is for movies. You could argue that some newer apps like Lightroom are designed for widescreen use, though, as they have large side panels. For surfing the web, email, word processing, etc - widescreen is not a benefit and may even be a detriment. (Average 19" 4:3 - 1280x1024 resolution, average 19" 16:9 - 1400x900, less vertical space than the 4:3 monitor.)

A pair of 19" 4:3 LCD monitors is pretty close to ideal IMHO.

I already have the Spyder2Express and have worked out how to calibrate both monitors on it. I really wanted the widescreen for things like LR and because my Macbook is a widescreen so I was always resizing things when I dragged them onto my 19" external LCD. Then dh built a new pc for the kids and was going to use one of our several old CRT monitors for it, but the best location for it was going to be kind of cramped with that thing in it, so I decided to give them my old LCD.

Anyway, I ended up buying a Samsung 2253bw at Fry's, and I think I like it pretty well.