New monitor time, 24" is the sweet spot?

So I have been running my 215TW's for a couple years now, and although I love them, I'm ready for something a little bigger. With the prices I see on 24" monitors out there it appears to be a pretty good time to get one.

I'm not a color snob really, but I do notice how bad the cheap TN panels are. At work I have a 22" Hanns-G that, well it works great for my docs, spreadsheets, terminals, and development- the minute I try to do up a quick imagine or something in Photoshop it is garbage. So, I need something half way decent.

I've been noticing all the ASUS models popping up at Newegg. The prices seem amazing, even for the 26" models, but am I going to run into the same color issues as my bargain bin Hanns-G? If so, I want to stay away from them. The Samsung Rose series looks like it may be perfect for me, but is the price worth it? Is there someone less expensive with a similar panel?

Anyway- I game, watch movies, and do some simple image editing (but colors still matter). I'm looking specifically at 24" and 26" panels. Any recommendations?

Those monitors that you are currently considering all use TN panels.

Here is a list of 24" LCD monitors at Provantage.com on Page 2. Forget Page 1, those 24" monitors are all built around a TN panel.

http://www.provantage.com/scripts/search.dll/B-DMON/P2?SEC=~DMON&SORT=2&A1=312492&V1=24"

If you are unwilling to spend at least about $570, then *VA and IPS panel monitors are out of your budget. Anything less uses TN panels which may not provide the color accuracy you are looking for.

Additionally, if colors really matters then you need to buy a colorimeter to calibate your monitor. An inexpensive colorimeter probably cost around $50 for some decent colors. More expensive colorimeters (which generally does a higher precision of calibration) can cost $300+ and are more for graphics professionals.

An alternative is to manually adjust your monitor with some online help like:

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

The problem with manual adjustment is that colors can be very tricky especially for monitors using TN panels.

HP LP2475W (H-IPS panel) is $550 at eBay. These are NIB (new in the box) monitors, not used or refurbished. That's probably your best bet. I'm considering one myself, as these auctions also accept "Best Offer". One quick look at the seller's feedback will reveal how low they could go.

That is interesting to know that the new ASUS monitors and the Samsung Rose series have the same panel. Why is the image so superior in the Samsung from what I have seen? Better out of the box settings and that is it?

I am no professional graphic artist or anything, by the way, at best I edit simple images for clients websites. It's often done in advance and just needs a tweak or two (since I am no artist...!). Like most people, I am hoping for the best balance between budget and quality.

If everything sub $600 is crap TN panels, is there any reason I should not be ordering a 26" ASUS for $340 right now?

I am currently looking at this ASUS:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236047

As well as this LG:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005114

So, I am now thinking a TN panel is really not that big of deal to me. Several that I have used by Samsung are really nice and are perfectly fine for my simple image editing use.

With that in mind, I am hoping for thoughts on these three:

ASUS VW266H:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236047

LG W2600H-PF:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824005114

Acer X263Wbi:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009133

All 26" models and all about the same price. No reviews on the ASUS of course, some 'OK' reviews on the LG. The Acer doesn't seem to have very much support. Anyone here have any thoughts on them?

the asus has proven to be a really nice monitor, visit the thread in this forum and check it out.

Just a suggestion, and I see how you feel about your Hanns-G, but Newegg has the HG-281DPB on sale for less ($349 + FS) than any of the three you mentioned above. You won't gain any pixels over your 26" choices, but it is a 28" TN panel and has decent reviews.

Personally I never liked 24" LCDs... just a little too large overall given the resolution, so I waited... and waited... and waited, and I finally landed a great deal on a 23" HP L2335 from Geeks.com recently for $162 shipped (and mine doesn't suffer from the dreaded "pink hue" issues either, and has very low usage on the backlight). I got really lucky with this thing considering the extra inputs on it, no dead/stuck pixels, absolutely nothing "wrong" with it aside from some scratches on the base I could care less about.

And yep, 1920x1200 all the way... and it's an S-IPS panel also, one of the better ones from the past few years (same LCD panel as in the Apple 23" Cinema Displays, from LG). Love it love it love it... and it's considerably less space mongering than most of the 24" models I've measured directly.

There are other 23" models out there, same resolution, might be something to consider...

betweenthetines said:

Just a suggestion, and I see how you feel about your Hanns-G, but Newegg has the HG-281DPB on sale for less ($349 + FS) than any of the three you mentioned above. You won't gain any pixels over your 26" choices, but it is a 28" TN panel and has decent reviews.

Click to expand...

It has some mixed reviews but overall it's alright

I have the ASUS 25.5" and it is pretty amazing. I just got it yesterday, did some quick calibration (will do a more thorough job this weekend. . .but I tested my calibration with some games, text, etc), and watched hulu with the GF after dinner. We're using it as our TV/DVR and I'm VERY happy with it.

I finally decided on the ASUS 25.5". The deal just seems really good and the newegg reviews (though we all know how they can be...) are pretty good. Discussion of it here has been good too.

It will be here Monday, I'll report my findings in the ASUS thread.

betweenthetines said:

Just a suggestion, and I see how you feel about your Hanns-G, but Newegg has the HG-281DPB on sale for less ($349 + FS) than any of the three you mentioned above. You won't gain any pixels over your 26" choices, but it is a 28" TN panel and has decent reviews.

Click to expand...

I just got one and I like it. Been playing HL2 source based games and red alert 3 lately. Both look great.

I would have gone with the LG myself (see my sig) They make some of the best panels out there. I'm not of a fan of TN panels, but some people like them just the same. Good luck with taht Asus!

betweenthetines said:

Just a suggestion, and I see how you feel about your Hanns-G, but Newegg has the HG-281DPB on sale for less ($349 + FS) than any of the three you mentioned above. You won't gain any pixels over your 26" choices, but it is a 28" TN panel and has decent reviews.

Click to expand...

Would not buy a display from NewEgg or anyplace without an easy return policy...

accidentalsuccess said:

I have the ASUS 25.5" and it is pretty amazing. I just got it yesterday, did some quick calibration (will do a more thorough job this weekend. . .but I tested my calibration with some games, text, etc), and watched hulu with the GF after dinner. We're using it as our TV/DVR and I'm VERY happy with it.

Click to expand...

For use as a TV, how far away are you sitting from the monitor? Have you watched any HD content on it, and if so, does it do it justice?