Oh ok, like there must be 1000's of monitors out there only he knows all about this one
I'm not beings sensitive
I happen to think that is a very lopsided opinion and far from the truth, from just another Dell fan boy
That's if I'm allowed an opinion
You are allowed an opinion, yes. I'm actually NOT giving opinion though. I'm just letting the OP know what I found when I put that screen through it's paces with 3 of most widely respected desktop colorimeters around.
We get stuff sent all the time on approval. Cameras, lenses, lighting, computer gear... we evaluate it independently and decide whether it's worth investing in. We get stuff sent direct from the main distributors... we get stuff sent from wholesalers and authorised re-sellers. We get people trying to tout for a large corporate orders all the time. Any time we feel we may want to obtain something, we just call, and stuff arrives. They know that if we like it, we'll probably buy it, and go with them if the price is good, and when it's an order for 50 or 60 items at a time, people tend to go to great lengths to ensure you buy from them. The next time we need to make a capital investment, we have a pretty comprehensive set of data to make judgements by as a result. Same with cameras and lenses. I could probably get test images we've taken with most Nikkor and Canon lenses you care to mention too.
The AOC screens in this price range are massively popular... because they're so cheap... and because they get hawked around by the likes of PC Word and Currys, so why are you amazed I've happened across them before?
We've been sent various derivatives of that screen, both badged as AOC, and re-badged by a couple of our main contractors who supply IT gear. I do not have experience of every screen, no... but I have of a great many.. far more than most. If I have not, I will say so. I am not a Dell fanboy. I do not own a Dell screen.. well I do... but it's a cheap 4:3 screen I use for as a secondary for toolbars etc... but may main screens are not Dell, nor have they ever been.
I recommend the U2412M because it represents the best value for money. If there's something out there to beat it at that price range, I've yet to see it.
I'm sorry you got upset because I don't like your monitor. I think you need some perspective though: I have not cast a slur upon your name, family, virtue or character. I merely said I tested your screen and found it wanting... badly. Had I any idea you had such a strong emotional bond with your electronic appliances I may have been more diplomatic.
CMC1
Right.. for £300.
I'm not bothering with number of inputs etc. I'll leave that to you to decide.. a quick Google will tell you that. I'm just going off image quality once calibrated and nothing more. Check if you need HDMI or if you need to play HD content from a blu-ray player, as you'll need a HDCP compliant monitor and graphics card.
Dell U2410 is an oldie, but a goodie. Can be had for around that price now. 1920x1200 16:10... wide gamut. Great screen, but had a fairly aggressive anti-glare coating... kind of shimmers when you move your head around when looking bright areas. You get used to it.. but if it sounds like something that may freak you out.. think carefully. True 8bit panel.
Dell U2412M. Under budget.... but a great screen in every respect. E-IPS panel works well (E does not stand for economy or indicate being inferior despite what nonsense you may read on the interwebz
) Turn off dynamic contrast if you get one though... it's horrible.... for all the same reasons I gave with my review of the AOC screen above. Dell's claims of 2,000,000: 1 are even more outrageous than AOC's... it's b****x... around 730:1 would be in the ball park once turned off and calibrated (for a new screen). The one thing that lets almost all monitors of this price range down though is the panels are nearly always 6bit +AFRC dithering... which basically means it isn't truly 24 million colours like a true 8 bit panel. This is the case for almost all screens in this price range though (including the AOC).
LG IPS231P-BN. The one to go for if you ARE on a really tight budget. Clean output... a bit cheaply made... but as with the AOC... stuff has to give at this price and ergonomics is always the first for the chopping block when building to a price. Much better back light control than the AOC though, and seemed to calibrate consistently whereas the AOC couldn't hit the same white point twice.
Asus VS24AHL Nice ergonomics, great panel.. true 8bit. 16:10. Again.. switch off the bloody dynamic contrast though. Nice, smooth anti-glare... probably the best I've seen at this price range. Later models may have a semi-glossy screen though... same panel.. different treatment is all.
Sub £300... that's pretty much all I would (or can) recommend. Others I've used at this price point are either poor, or just not worth the saving.
The best screen listed above is without doubt the Dell U2410, but it's right at the top end of your budget, and if you want a calibrator too (highly recommended) I'd seriously consider the U2412 and a Xrite colormunki.