Help me find a monitor...

There are many many threads about this, many of them quite recent.

I've had a similar problem with the LG 23" external monitor I currently use in conjunction with my MBP, and just got used to the blurry font. I have no idea how the blur on mine compares to other people's.

Apple's way of "simplifying" is to lock users in and other providers out.

The fix that could be made through preferences was apparently taken out after Snow Leopard. An ASUS PA248Q user reported success switching from Mini DisplayPort to DVI cable to Mini-Display Port to DisplayPort cable.

I was getting very close to choosing between an ASUS PA248Q and a Dell U2413, but this is another wrench in the decision. (Also, the Dell doesn't yet come with Mac-OS software for hardware calibration, and I simply have no idea about whether it will work under Parallels).
 
patrickjames said:
Asus is releasing a new monitor soon (I think) that has the same GB-LED panel (IIRC) as the Dell U2413. If the Dell monitor appeals to you it may be worth it to you to explore the Asus. (That could have very easily been a very bad typo!)

Skip the Apply displays. They are fine for normal people but if you are demanding there are better options.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'd like to be demanding, but there are demand$ on me in how demanding I can be lol!

If the upcoming Asus will have the Dell U2413's GB-LED panel, what is the benefit of waiting for the ASUS? Greater compatibility with Mac OS and Apple MBP? (I really don't know, so this is a straightforward query).
 
wintoid said:
I got a NEC Spectraview 231 from Warehouse Express for about £550 a few months ago. Works well with my Mac. I specifically didn't want wide gamut. I'm not a calibration believer, and the NEC didn't change that. I'd have been just as happy with the NEC PA231W which is the same monitor without the calibration stuff.
Click to expand...

Not a calibration believer? You may be able to get away with that if you buy a high-quality monitor that is reasonably close when it ships from the factory. But even then, calibration makes a big difference if your goal is to match prints.

Anyway, here's a link that the OP may find useful.

http://shop.colourconfidence.com/section.php/10154/1/monitor-showroom
 
RObert Budding said:
Not a calibration believer? You may be able to get away with that if you buy a high-quality monitor that is reasonably close when it ships from the factory. But even then, calibration makes a big difference if your goal is to match prints.

Anyway, here's a link that the OP may find useful.

http://shop.colourconfidence.com/section.php/10154/1/monitor-showroom
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but I don't do colour, so perhaps that's part of it. I have an Eye One Display 2, and a Spyder Pro 3, and use those with the NEC Spectraview calibration software. I haven't seen any improvement in my results through calibration. I did, however, see a huge improvement when I got the NEC (before I calibrated it even).
 
RObert Budding said:
Anyway, here's a link that the OP may find useful.

http://shop.colourconfidence.com/section.php/10154/1/monitor-showroom
Click to expand...

I appreciate the link. The star-rating system apparently corresponds in the end to price difference--no surprise there, and since it is basically limited to Eizo and NEC is not very helpful when considering how to maximize price/performance ratio.

I'm likely to choose among "three star" monitors, yet am willing to research the market and see if I cannot get something better* (*defined through price/performance ratio) than either NEC or Eizo offer.
 
noimmunity said:
There are many many threads about this, many of them quite recent.

I've had a similar problem with the LG 23" external monitor I currently use in conjunction with my MBP, and just got used to the blurry font. I have no idea how the blur on mine compares to other people's.

Apple's way of "simplifying" is to lock users in and other providers out.

The fix that could be made through preferences was apparently taken out after Snow Leopard. An ASUS PA248Q user reported success switching from Mini DisplayPort to DVI cable to Mini-Display Port to DisplayPort cable.

I was getting very close to choosing between an ASUS PA248Q and a Dell U2413, but this is another wrench in the decision. (Also, the Dell doesn't yet come with Mac-OS software for hardware calibration, and I simply have no idea about whether it will work under Parallels).
Click to expand...

The ASUS will connect with not problems. I am the standard Apple Mini-Displayport to HDMI adapter and the ASUS HDMI input port. I may get a third party Mini-Displayport to standard Displayport connector though. I did not get the Dell for subjective, irrational, personal reasons.
 
willie_901 said:
The ASUS will connect with not problems. I am the standard Apple Mini-Displayport to HDMI adapter and the ASUS HDMI input port. I may get a third party Mini-Displayport to standard Displayport connector though. I did not get the Dell for subjective, irrational, personal reasons.
Click to expand...

Thanks for getting back on that one. I think I'll probably get whatever the new one is as mentioned above if I can get a model number confirmation.

Or maybe a ACD, lol!
 
I just took delivery of a new Apple Cinema Display and X-Rite i1 Display Pro today. During the time since this thread went up, the ACD went on sale 15% off on Amazon.fr

All I can say is, WOW! This will definitely make a difference...in a lot of different ways.

Thanks to Patrick James, Wintoid, Godfrey, Willie, Rogier and others who posted in this thread.
 
clayne said:
I use a Dell 3008WFP for years now and have seen no need to purchase anything different.
Click to expand...

The intent of short comments like this is impossible to decipher. Are you trying to convince yourself? Rain on somebody else's parade? Or would you like to advance certain values such as thrift and lower environmental impact, both of which I personally think are very important considerations?

Color accuracy on the Dell model you are using was rated only 2 stars by a French site. http://www.lesnumeriques.com/moniteur-ecran-lcd/dell-3008wfp-p3023/test.html

But "accuracy" doesn't necessarily translate into results, depending on how you use the monitor and what your final work is. If you specify why you don't "see a need", it will be easier for others to understand.

The previous monitor that I had been using was six years old--probably older than the Dell model you mention--and was actually noticeably dimmer than when new. The new monitor, which is also color calibrated, enables me to do so much more both with photo editing and with other work I do plus it gives a very accurate idea of final print. It is however hardly a fully professional model, and would not be ideal if I were aiming for a full 10-bit aRGB workflow.
 
I'm simply stating that the 3008WFP is more than capable and should be fairly affordable seeing as it's now older - just as the 2408WFP I owned before it.

Don't know where you get your reviews but the initial reviews I read of it were that color accuracy was more than usable. I have no problem using it (post-calibration) and producing adequate results from it, thanks - if anything color correction issues out there have more to do with the war-zone of various color space presentation standards as adhered to *or not* by various browsers.
 
noimmunity said:
I just took delivery of a new Apple Cinema Display and X-Rite i1 Display Pro today. During the time since this thread went up, the ACD went on sale 15% off on Amazon.fr

All I can say is, WOW! This will definitely make a difference...in a lot of different ways.

Thanks to Patrick James, Wintoid, Godfrey, Willie, Rogier and others who posted in this thread.
Click to expand...

New life to an old thread... after a time of use how do you find calibration and color reproduction of your ACD ? And reflections (I read you are in a reflection free environment, but maybe a few comments...).

robert
PS: I'm in the market for a new monitor...
 
robert blu said:
New life to an old thread... after a time of use how do you find calibration and color reproduction of your ACD ? And reflections (I read you are in a reflection free environment, but maybe a few comments...).

robert
PS: I'm in the market for a new monitor...
Click to expand...

I have had a Thunderbolt display for about three months now and love it; however, it does show reflections. When I am doing critical photo editing, I pull down the room darkening shades (which I would do anyway) and reflections are not a problem. I don't have a hardware calibration device, so cannot comment on that - but my prints PP in Apple Aperture and printed to an Epson R3000 are very close to what I see on the TBD screen. The most important thing to do (as with any monitor) is to make sure they brightness turned down.
 
robert blu said:
New life to an old thread... after a time of use how do you find calibration and color reproduction of your ACD ? And reflections (I read you are in a reflection free environment, but maybe a few comments...).

robert
PS: I'm in the market for a new monitor...
Click to expand...

Everything is working out very well for me.

The surface indeed is very reflective, but I take care to control light sources in the room in which it is used.

I use x-rite color calibration. It is easy to use and can make a difference, especially with reds.

One of the best thing about the ACD, as mentioned earlier in this thread, is the ease of integration and compatibility with a Mac system.

Overall just a really fine addition to my workflow that really enhances both process and the final output.
 
Comparing the latest iMac 27" with the current Thunderbolt display today in a friends studio.

Apple claims to have reduced reflections by 75% on the new iMac compared to the pre-2012 version (which is especially the current 27" Thunderbolt display).
I see it. It's for real. Even though the iMac has a glossy smooth glass surface it definitely is less reflective. The contrast seems higher and overall picture although very close is improved over the previous generation.

One stupid niggle is that the Thunderbolt Display is shorter than the full iMac so using the screens next to each other is visually out of sorts a bit.
Anyway... It seems the stand alone display is due for a refresh soon. If I was on the fence for one I would consider waiting for the next generation which should be along shortly I would guess.

That's the report :)
 
interesting infos, thanks everybody. It's a difficult process for me, I have a window behind my desk and cannot change the layout of the room :(
I'll ask the Apple dealer if I can try a TDB display (even used) for a few hours and see how it works in my environment. Actually with my i.mac (24 with matt screen) I shutdown the window when I have to do critical post processing. But I'm afraid that reflections can disturb even normal net-surfing...
I'm in the process to order the new Mac Pro and would not like to wait too much, the actual machine (3g ram) is making miracles and still processing huge files...but a new machine will make it easier...
I know in my area, probably due to the difficult economic moment there are pro photographers who are using BenQ monitor, very similar specs as Eizo and less expensive...anyone tried them?
robert
 
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