Flat panel monitor for new computer

[Bob Chapman]

Wife says, "Time to get a new computer for the home office."

Bob says, "OK, but I'll want to use it whenever I'm working at home." (note: I now do all my work on my Qosmio laptop - - I haven't even turned on the home computer during the past 18 months)

Wife says, "OK, figure out what you need, but no Mac." (note: Don't even bother suggesting a Mac; it's a waste of your key strokes)

Now, my question: What are your recommendations for a flat-panel monitor 19"-21"? At the $1,000 price point? At the $500 price point? Are there $500 flat-panel monitors that can meet the critical needs of a photographer in terms of brightness, contrast, and color accuracy?

Any other things I should ensure that the PC has in its config?

FWIW, my Qosmio monitor is capable of 600 Cd/m2 and contrast of 450:1. So, at least on paper, it's a fairly stout performer.

The only caveat to my "no Mac" clause is that I'm aware that a Mac monitor can be used with a PC. Do any of you employ this sort of config? Any issues?

TIA

[Jim Sykes]

Bob, you can get the 23" Apple Cinema Displays for $999 right now and they are awesome. You will love the quality and you will love the size.

A slightly less expsnsive alternative is the Dell 24" monitor, I think they are about 700-800 and are supposedly using the same panel that is inside the Apple. I know it has also gotten great reviews.

Just make sure your new computer has a DVI output for the monitor for the best quality.

If you want to stay around a 20" both Apple and Dell make 20" versions for around $700 and $400-500 respectively.

But trust me, its great working on something as big as a 23" and since you seem to have the budget, go for it.

BTW, I ran an Appple ACD on my PC for some time, as long as the PC has the DVI input it just connects like any other brand of monitor.

[Zerin Dube]

I have dual Dell 2407s, and love them. Sharp, fast enough to game on if you so choose, and wonderful colors. And, you can almost buy two of them for the price of one Apple. I paid 580 each for the 2407s during one of Dell's sale. I have a single Dell 20% coupon for the 2407 that's good through the end of the month, and makes the price about $575.

[John Thawley]

FYI, I just replaced my Apple 23 Studio Display (acrylic) with a new aluminum frame one... just for asthetics. I just haven't gotten around to selling the other one yet.

JT

[John Waugh]

Bob,
I've been using the apple cimema 20" (two of them in tandem) for a year.
You might not like the look of your lap top screeen afterward.
They are great.
John

[Todd Corzett]

I love my Apple Cinema 23" (aluminum) display. I had been working off my 15" TiBook (Powerbook) for a few years, and the brightness of the cinema display is awesome. I was (and still am) totally impressed with how bright this screen is. Like John said, I don't like the laptop screen anymore.

I have dual Dell 19" displays at work (UltraSharp 1905FP I believe), and like them as well. I prefer the single large monitor for photo work though. Looking at multiple documents, etc. dual displays are great, but having your photos broken-up by the bezel (or limited to the size of a single display) just doesn't work well for me. If I had to go with two monitors for photo work... I'd get one larger wide-screen display for the photos, and a smaller display for tools/pallets.

-Todd...

PS - I'm just curious why you're not interested in a Mac (yes, I have lots of keystrokes to spare)?

[John Thawley]

Todd... one of the things I like about my new setup is the aluminu 23 matches up pretty close with the screen on my MacBook Pro. I run them in the dual montior setup when I'm home. The other thing nice on the Macs are the added USB (and FireWire on the new ones) ports on the back. I have everything running of the back of the monitor... so docking my laptop is simply a mater of connecting the monitor.

JT

[Todd Corzett]

Todd... one of the things I like about my new setup is the aluminu 23 matches up pretty close with the screen on my MacBook Pro. I run them in the dual montior setup when I'm home.
Do you span? or just use the MacBook for other stuff?

The other thing nice on the Macs are the added USB (and FireWire on the new ones) ports on the back. I have everything running of the back of the monitor... so docking my laptop is simply a mater of connecting the monitor.
Very true! I forgot about this... I find it really handy to attach my laptop (which sits on the desk) to my desktop (which is under the desk on the opposite side) through the monitor. Same deal with mice, card readers, etc... there are ports on the front of my G5, but I don't want to have wires running all over the place (especially at the front of my desk). They are also "powered" ports, so you can run portable FW hard drives, charge PDAs, etc. from them (unlike some other devices that only act as an un-powered hub). Very nice feature!

-Todd...

[John Thawley]

I run accross both for a continuous desktop... but typically just keep other things open on the side (laptop) like email... etc. If I'm in Photoshop, InDesign or Aperture... working with large stuff, I might get a tool box out of my way or something... but typically, I contain everything to a workspace on the 23".

I run my G5 Desktop as a shared file server... iTunes, a 250GB external... just for things the whole house needs to access. I run the G5 headless and use VNC to access it when needed. Off the laptop, as I said, I dock it through the 23, with a wireless keyboard and mouse and run 4 firewire 500GB externals of the firewire port on the monitor.

JT

[Daniel Buck]

as far as color accuracy goes, just make sure you can calibrate the monitor (I'm not sure if all LCD monitors can be calibrated?) and get a calibrator.

[Doug DeVetter]

Todd,

Do you do final photo processing on the Dell UltraSharp 1905FP's, specifically sharpening? I have an old NEC 21" CRT that I do everything on. When I tried switching to a 1905FP, I just couldn't get comfortable performing sharpening on it. The CRT was easier to see fine detail and to know when I had gone too far. The colors are bright and beautiful on the 1905FP, and I have no doubt that it can be calibrated. I have the 1905FP hooked up with a DVI connection on a modern graphics card. I've also briefly used the 2405FP (connected via standard VGA) and it seemed the same as my 1905FP with regards to the detail.

Does anyone else find the Dell UltraSharp FP's just not quite good enough?

Does your Apple Cinema 23" blow away the 1905FP? While I'm not in the mood to spend $1k on a monitor, it may be time.

Thanks, Doug

[Todd Corzett]

Do you do final photo processing on the Dell UltraSharp 1905FP's, specifically sharpening? Does your Apple Cinema 23" blow away the 1905FP?
I actually don't do any serious photo work on the 1905FP's. When I look at photos they seem to be a bit darker than others, but some of that could be the gamma and profile/calibration (it's not calibrated). I've never done a side-by-side of the two monitors, so can't answer your question. I must also say that I hardly ever have to deal (from a $$ standpoint) with getting colors accurate. I've yet to calibrate my monitors with anything more than my eye... but for my work, I've yet to have a problem (my bigger issue is getting local printers to give me a profile so I can proof things).

-Todd...