View Full Version : Monitor Advice Please
Hello all...
I have a Dell desktop PC which I have owned for a couple of years - and is still great, and runs photoshop etc no problem.
Unfortunately I only got a standard 15 inch flat screen monitor with it. Now that I have converted to digital I am finding it not at all helpful when having several boxes or images open and could do with an upgrade.
As usual, there are too many options to choose from... Can anybody help me!
Thank you, Gary
I only have a single monitor set up to albeit 17in but I have seen others here with dual monitor set up that allows for different windows to be open on different screens if that helps :thinking:
nutter426
18-01-2008, 23:46
double screen is brilliant.
I have PS on one and bridge on the other, and i just find it so much easier... but then i do normally have a lot open at once!
Yes certainly.Buy youself an Apple Mac and you will see mor on the screen and have less problems overall
Depends on what you're looking for really and the budget you have. I recently upgraded to the 20" widescreen Samsung 2032BW pebble and it's nice. Looks aren't everyone's cup of tea and it lacks some movement adjustments but good value in my opinion. Great colour and contrast, no ghosting either.
Yes certainly.Buy youself an Apple Mac and you will see mor on the screen and have less problems overall
Not really sure why you'd see more on an Apple than you would on a PC screen of the same size and res??
I'd agree with getting a Samsing, I too have a 20", though there's lots of other good makes. You can buy the 2032bw for £189.99 or a 22" 2232bw for £209.99 from pcworld.
Chappers
19-01-2008, 11:07
Go for a wide screen monitor. It does make a lot of difference. And there are some bargains out there. After the 15" a 20 " or 22" will seem huge. Give it a few weeks and it'll seem normal. I got my 24" Gateway from Tesco direct of all places. bargain at £299
boxman2000
19-01-2008, 17:25
Depending on budget I'd go for:-
19" - £100
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138535
19" Widescreen - £117
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/117300
24" - £200
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130842/show_product_reviews
Everything inbetween:- http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Sound-&-Vision/cat/Monitors
This sort of stuff is in my line of work and I've found it amusing over the years how people will dismiss certain brands because they've never heard of them before. Makes like Hanspree (Hanns-G), Acer, Benq, Viewsonic are all excellent.
Have a search around the net - you'll save yourself £££ over highstreet prices!
boxman2000
19-01-2008, 17:29
I got my 24" Gateway from Tesco direct of all places. bargain at £299
Sounds like quite alot to me m8. Glad you like it though. 24" is the way forward :thumbs:
Chappers
19-01-2008, 17:53
One of the problems with bigger monitors is the overall evenness of illumination and colour. Some of the cheaper monitors whilst OK for general viewing, don't always measure up where you need them to. Hence sometimes a cheaper monitor isn't always the best option. That's not to say there aren't some good monitors at bargain prices.
Watch out for games reviews of monitors, they don't have the same criteria as photographers do.
Personal recommendations are always best. It's better sometimes to pay a little more and know you've got a good monitor than opt for something very cheap, only to find it doesn't
measure up to you needs. Looks like the Samsung gets a lot of votes here
boxman2000
19-01-2008, 23:01
Well Dell is the way forward but as was commented above, if running a 15" TFT now anything is going to be better.
I can personally vouch for Samsung, Viewsonic, Hanspree (it is budget so...)
A friend runs a photo and video editing service in the evenings and weekends and has a 24" Dell UltraSharp to do his work on and the colours are absolutely stunning - comes in at £611 though! :love:
Thank you all for your help, looking at the 200 quid 24" acer that seems like a really good buy!
Gary
combat squirrel
20-01-2008, 12:11
eassyy ! dont get the acer, its aweful quality, and also a TN screen........this means its a 6bit screen and not so good for photo manipulation. You want an IPA tech screen which are 8bit and dont produce colour banding, im afraid there is no such thing as a cheap photo editing monitor, the only 2 id consider depending on budget is:
dell truecolour 24" at £293, its TN but good quality
or 24" 2407 at £422,
can be found here:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=703&catid=17&subid=510
also get a monitor colour calibrator, and only use DVI to connect to your pc, vga not so good
Les McLean
20-01-2008, 13:01
eassyy ! dont get the acer, its aweful quality, and also a TN screen........this means its a 6bit screen and not so good for photo manipulation. You want an IPA tech screen which are 8bit and dont produce colour banding, im afraid there is no such thing as a cheap photo editing monitor, the only 2 id consider depending on budget is:
dell truecolour 24" at £293, its TN but good quality
or 24" 2407 at £422,
can be found here:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=703&catid=17&subid=510
also get a monitor colour calibrator, and only use DVI to connect to your pc, vga not so good
I'll second the Dell 2407 24 inch, it's an excellent monitor, not cheap, but a dream to use, and has a card reader built in, which I find usefull.
You will get frustrated at viewing 800 pixel images at the recommended resolution of 1920x1200, otherwise brilliant.
I've been using an NEC 2090UXi (http://www.pcwb.com/catalogue/item/NECMO308) for the past two weeks and it's totally blown me away.
Bit pricey (£480) but is designed specifically for photo & CAD work.
cowasaki
20-01-2008, 19:52
24" 2407 at £422,
Yes the Dell 2407 really is the dogs! (Unless you can afford a 2707 or 3007)
If you don't want to spend that much the E248wfp from Dell is a good monitor too and just £283
Both also available from www.scan.co.uk
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.