Best display?
KellyR (525 pencils) | Wed, 2007-12-19 01:53I'm currently looking for a mid-size (maybe 20") flat-screen display for my home computer. I have a 15" G4 laptop at home, and the little screen is starting to make me a little bonkers as I work on home freelance projects - getting correct ideas on color is especially a nightmare because of the LCD screen on it - if I have it tilted *just right*, it's sufficient, but that's never permanant.
I'm spoiled with the monitors we have at my job, they're nice 20" flatscreen Apple displays.
I don't have the kind of cash to throw down $600 on a 20" Apple-brand flatscreen display. I know there are many many other brands out there that could be comparable for a lot less money.
My concern is just ease of setup of the monitor with my laptop and good image quality. And price, of course, is what will be the deciding factor.
Does anyone here have some good recommendations?
I LOVE Apple and would prefer to use only Apple-branded hardware with my Apple laptop, but not until I'm raking in more dough (at which point, I'd probably go back to using a desktop/tower computer instead of a laptop.)
Thanks!!
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Not 100% but what about Dell monitors? Might find a deal there, or maybe eBay? $600 for a 20" apple display isn't all that much money. They used to be much more expensive...
Dell has 22" monitors in the 290-320 range:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=6198&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
I know - $600 is cheap compared to what they used to be - but when I look at other display brands on the market that are about the same size, they're going for less than half that amount.
I'll check out the Dell ones - thank you. :)
If anyone else has more suggestions, keep 'em coming.
Sounds like they work with apple vid cards; I'd recommend making sure, though, before you buy.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
Thanks for pointing out the vid cards issue - it's stuff like that I definitely need to know. Would hate to buy a third party brand and have it not work at all with my computer.
Wish I could eat cherry pie (yummy buttery crust), but appreciate the thought. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
No dairy? How about a good peach cobbler (no butter!) ;)
I'm no milk, but not by choice. :)
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
Sorry about that - milk isn't the best thing in the world for people anyhow, so you're being healthy by default. ;)
Hooray for going off-topic!
I still have to look at monitors.
the good thing with apple monitors is that they come out of the box calibrated.
I'm using a 24'' Dell monitor, but i still haven't been able to calibrate the colors correctly :/
Have you tried using apple's monitor system preference to calibrate your monitor? Should get it somewhat close.
Remember, nothing but a pantone book and a relationship with a good printer will really get your colors close. Though some swear by screen calibration devices, I'm not in that camp.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
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Dirt and Rust
Color calibration is a nightmare. Even if you know what your press's dot gain is and the stock it gets printed on, it's STILL a big guessing game between what you see on your monitor, what you print on your home color printer and what you get from the printing shop.
The way to get out of the 'guessing game' involves a bit of time and money.
Your monitor could be the best monitor in the world and calibrated to the highest standard available, but without an equally calibrated scanner AND printer AND light booth (yes, all three), it is impossible to judge what is 'right'.
Furthermore, you can't use a printers contract proof as an independent color measure as they are likely as non-calibrated as the next designer. If you send a color file to 10 different printers who request 'CMYK files, no profile embedded' then you will have 10 different color results. Serious. Finding an excellent printer is a tough thing to do.
Lastly, color calibration and management works and it works very well but it's only as strong as it's weakest link. Usually you can find a local color management consultant to give you a hand (calibrate monitor, inkjet printer, find a good color booth that is reasonably priced) and they can direct you on which local (or non-local) print shops to use.
As far as 'the best monitor' goes, I have seen excellent results on pretty low end LCD screens such as a SAMSUNG. Better in fact than some higher-end monitors. However, the best monitor of all time is the SONY Artisan, a CRT monitor. They can still be had but you have to pay a kings ransom to get one. Even today, the LCD has not beaten the CRT on color range or shadow detail. I personally use a 21" CRT myself and feel fortunate to have it.
Without my sense of direction, I don't know where I'd be.
I'd argue that until you print the job you never really have control of how it will turn out 100%. Even on press adjustments are made to get colors right that have nothing to do with how it looks on screen, so calibration is somewhat helpful, but not really a solution in the end.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
Depending on the job, too, you could have the best calibration settings around, yet if you take your ad to a newspaper, for example, I can guarantee you that your color ad might not come out the way you were expecting it. You can take into account the darker newsprint and the higher dot-gain, but you can't take into account what other color ads are running on the same page and what colors the press people are trying to match up the most.
We've had experience in the past where ads that were supposed to run a bright brilliant red came out more like a rose pink because the press people were trying to exactly match up some OTHER color on a different ad (why they didn't take all the ads into account I'll never know... but it's just proof that "shit happens" sometimes when it comes to your ads hitting the press).
If you're dead set on an Apple display (rightfully so), but you don't have the cash to get a brand new one, try eBay. You'd be surprised what's out there and what you could get for a lot less than buying brand new direct from Apple.
Not only that, I have found because of Apple's frequent changing of design, that many people HAVE to have the latest of everything, so they're willing to sell the "old" to get the new. You just never know.
Another option is trying Apple's refurbished products. Most of the time, they're not refurbished per se, just brand new but since the design is "old," they still need to get rid of it.
Just a suggestion if you really don't want to buy anything but Apple. I know I wouldn't.
suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com
I didn't even think about those options. I'll have to check them out as well. Thanks for the suggestion!
Check out Small Dog Electronics too, they have a great selection of new and refurb mac stuff. Based in Burlington, VT.
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Powerpoint is not a design application
My latest web design work
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Dirt and Rust
Agree with the rest of the comments, i would also recommend formac monitors, I have only tried the old huge ones, but the new ones look good and have a good reputation. Most importantly go and look at the monitor and if possible try it before you use it. If you have some space get a crt, they are pretty good and you could probably pick one up for next to nothing and save up for a flat screen.
it's dell. apple monitors may give you better color correction, but you'll pay nearly (or more than) double what you would for a similar dell.
i've been working on the 20" dells for 3+ years now (home and work, both 2005fpw and the current 2007fpw) and have been generally happy with them. cost/performance ratio is very much in dell's favor.
that's not knocking the apple displays at all, just noting that you often have to factor in the financial side.