New LCD Options??
- Started
- Last post
- 40 Responses
- mg33
Alright folks, buying myself a new monitor(s) for Christmas and have a few options to explore:
1) Buy one nice 19" LCD, and one cheaper refurb 15" to use on the side for dual monitors, putting PS palletes and such on the smaller one. This would likely mean that I'd need a new dual graphics card.
2) Buy a larger 20" + widescreen and just go with that one monitor. Might be cheaper in the end instead of 2 LCDS and a new graphics card.
What do you think? And any suggestions on monitors under $300? http://www.tigerdirect.com is running great deals right now after Christmas.
- heavyt0
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pr…
this one seems nice.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pr…
or this one with another to go witih it. Looks like 15 inchers are about the same price as 17 or 19.
Anyway, newegg has been a million times better to deal with than tigerdirect in my experience. They ship faster and have a lot fewer customer service issues.
Once you know, you newegg.
- Nairn0
Go with the 20" widescreen.
2 monitors are great, but I find that whilst I put my less important palettes on the smaller second screen (17" lcd) I still tend to find it more efficient keeping the more frequently used palettes (toolbar, info, navigator etc) on my 20" widescreen, within the document view. The extra width makes it more worthwhile and now, after 6 or so months of use, I honestly find older 4:3 ratio screen odd-looking and square - the extra peripheral screen estate feels much more natural and proper.
Ideally, save up and get both (!) - having Outlook or Notes etc take up 70% of the 2ndry monitor and PS/AI palettes take up the remaining 30% is sweet - it's led to at least a 105.98% increase in productivity for me. Nearly.
- mg330
Thanks heavyt. Never ordered from newegg before but finding that researching monitors is kind of like researching digital cameras.
If you're familiar with them, how do the specs compare, in your opinion, between these two Acers:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/appli…
And
- mg330
BTW - This is what I have at work
http://www.planar.com/products/f…
Our entire office got those earlier this year. Excellent quality so I'm basing a new one for home off of the specs on this one.
- version30
mg stop being cheap
i went from 1 19" crt to this and never looked back (though i do contemplate 2 more)
- mg330
pretty sweet version4.
- version30
the link nairm posted is what i use, the previous model version though, and really whats 700-800 bucks for something you spend more time looking at than pretty much anything else?
i find the dual monitor is nice because of the write, drag, drop, test usability of the area .
the portrait monitor is great for print work and portrait editing as well
- mg330
One more question, thanks for the info so far.
Who has used a 19" CRT for a while but switched to a 20"+ widescreen?
How did you like the difference, and did you dislike a lack in screen height?
Thing is, at home I use a 19" Viewsonic CRT, so 18" diagonal viewing area.
I'm seriously considering this 22" Acer widescreen because the specs are very close to the Planar 19" I have at work.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/appli…
(Planar LCDs, btw, are fantastic. I just assume get the 20" version of what I have at work, but it's nearly $400.)Anyhow, if you went from a 19" CRT at 1280x1024 to a widescreen at something like 1680 x 1050 did you just totally love it or did you miss the more square shape of a non-widescreen for things like Photoshop, Illustrator, etc?
Sorry for the long post but just want some general opinions on that kind of change.
Not going to get two monitors right now because don't want to spend that much on a new graphic card as well.
Thanks!
- Nairn0
imo, as long as you're not 'upgrading to a lower height' resolution, you'll be fine (even if it is just an extra 26 pixels :).
i've used a variety of monitors over the years and my 20" ws Dell is my favourite so far. As i mentioned beforehand, oldschool 4:3 monitors look plain wrong to me now.
with ps/ai, your portrait documents sit as they would normally, in the middle, but now with your toolbars on each side, not interfering.
honestly - the most confident thing i'll ever say on NT is that widescreen is worth it.
- mg330
honestly - the most confident thing i'll ever say on NT is that widescreen is worth it.
Nairn
(Dec 28 06, 09:25)So 22" widescreen is probably pretty sweet? What do you think of the specs on that Acer?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/appli…
With the dvi connection, and 1680 x 1050. Should be pretty sweet?
- Nairn0
Bloody Hell! $299 for a 22" ws lcd monitor?! That's only £150!
nnnnghh - sometimes being on this side of the atlantic is really annoying!!
looks good though nice response time, good contrast ratio - no idea if it is, of course - but you can only tell by reading through reviews.
happy shopping!
- mg330
Nairn,
That sucks! I went with the Acer, so we shall see how it is sometime next week.
And it's way too hard to avoid buying misc. crap for my computer when buying one large thing.
Was looking at better graphics cards since I currently have a 64MB AGP card, but either:
1) Need a 500 watt power supply to run a really nice dual dvi 256 MB APG card ( I figure at least upgrade to dual capability if upgrading the card at all), or,
2) Hold out for Vista and newer PCI-Express cards that have that new graphics engine for Vista.
- nocomply0
dual monitors gives me a headache...maybe that's just me though.
I am spoiled in monitors. I have the dell 23" widescreen LCD at home and at work and i LOVE IT!
go for one big one by dell. they are coming down in price anyway.
- ********0
I've got to say, 30" monitors are unbelievably great for print production. You can look at a full 2 page spread with enough magnification to edit without ever zooming... a huge time saver!
- k0na_an0k0
2) Buy a larger 20" + widescreen and just go with that one monitor. Might be cheaper in the end instead of 2 LCDS and a new graphics card.
That.
Also. Check Dell. Lowering your warranty from 3 years to a year or two will save you some money, also not getting the built in usb hub will also save you some cash.
Good luck.
- mg330
Why the hell would you need a USB port in a monitor???
- k0na_an0k0
The extra USB slots are under the monitor in back. On the MacBook Pro there is only 1 USB port coming out of the puter. Having two more on the back of the monitor comes in handy. Trust me.
:/
- mg330
I don't have no macbook.
Kona btw!!! What are you doing on Friday January 5th??
- k0na_an0k0
Packing for vacation!!!
YAY!