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September 20, 2006

hardware

Help Dan through the maze of monitor specs

Posted Sep. 20, ’06, 9:51 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Hardware

Apple 23 in. Cinema DisplayOkay, I have a confession to make. My desktop monitor is still…a CRT. Unclean! Unclean! I’l understand if you don’t want to read my posts anymore—it might be catching.

I’m thinking about finally taking the plunge into the 21st century and buying an LCD monitor. My current monitor is a 17” Sony Trinitron, which is very nice, especially as I originally got it for free to replace my busted 17” Apple CRT. But, well, the future is now, right? LCD’s are cheap, but I want to make sure I’m getting a good deal.

So here are my questions for you, our enlightened readership. 1) Brand? Apple makes nice monitors, but they’re kind of out of my price range. I’ve had good luck in the past with both Samsung and Dell for LCDs. Thoughts? 2) To go widescreen or not? With all of Apple’s lineup gone to widescreen, it seems like that’s going to be the future. Samsung makes a couple of nice-looking widescreen models that I’ve been eyeing: the 940BW and the 204BW, for example. I plan to share this monitor between my PowerMac and my PC, which I use pretty exclusively for gaming. Perhaps, occasionally, I will hook it up to my MacBook, should the whim strike me.

Things like super-accurate color representation are not a big deal for me, as I only dabble in photography and video, but what other specs should I be paying attention to? Brightness? Contrast ratio? Response time? The mystical pixel pitch? I am unschooled in these matters, so let me know what you think. Help me drag myself, kicking and screaming, into this bright and beautiful new world.


5 Comments

Ward Author Profile Page said:

It would be a complete waste to buy a new monitor and not get a widescreen. It's a much more effecient use of monitor space.

September 20, 2006 9:59 AM
Matt Hoult said:

I'd recommend LaCie, Apple, Dell, Acer, LG, and Samsung.

LG and Samsung both make Apples panels although their surrounds aren't as elegant. Acer are incredible quality for the money,

Widescreen is a must, simple. I don't think this should be explained any further because nothing else should be an option. I'd like to see someone argue that fact.

In terms of specs, you probably won't mind too much except when gaming. Don't think that Apples displays are any good for design use however; color representation is in the setup and anti-aliasing doesn't seem to be Apples highest priority. Viewing angles are nice, but how often would you use those angles? I'd mainly pay attention to response time for gaming and depth of color. Make sure it looks nice if you can, it's the very best way.

Also, pay attention to reviews and info here, there is no way a spec can tell you what the word "cool" does from a real life user.

Good luck man, hope that helps.

September 20, 2006 11:19 AM
Rick Neil said:

DEFINITELY go widescreen. I have long been very skeptical of the need for a large (over 17"-diagonal) monitor, let alone a widescreen. But I replaced by 15" iMac G4 with a 17" widescreen iMac G5, and I loved it. So, I replaced my ancient 17" CRT Apple Display with a 23" Apple Cinema. WOW. I will never go back to a smaller monitor, and certainly not one with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

I love my Apple 23" Cinema Display, but to be honest, there are better values out there. Certainly the (admittedly less stylish) 24" Dell comes to mind.

And my Cinema Display is beginnning to show some slight discolorations (like stains) that appear to be "just behind the glass". Random "splotches" all over the screen. Since they are internal, they cannot be cleaned off, and appear to be permanent. Naturally, they appeared shortly after the 1-year warranty expired. Sigh... Fortunately, they are not very noticeable, and otherwise, I love the monitor.

September 20, 2006 2:07 PM
scott said:

I have a Dell 24FPW - 24 inch widescreen. Great monitor, comes with USB ports, multiple video inputs and built-in memory card reader. NOt as nice as the the Apple Cinema display, but $400 cheaper at the time. Any big screen is well worth the money. I found this one to be the right one for me.

September 20, 2006 2:08 PM
James said:

Make sure there is a digital connection to the monitor. Not all of the less expensive monitors have this connection.

If you are looking for color correction, consider the Pantone Huey

September 20, 2006 5:53 PM

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