Best LCD >24" for the $$$

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djlenoir

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 15, 2002
Messages
373
I am in the market for a new large widescreen monitor. I was seriously considering getting one of the new 30" models from Dell, Gateway, etc. but they all seem to have problems that make me wary considering the cost involved. So I am curious if there is a consensus out there on what the best monitor(s) currently exist for the cost. I have a hard limit of about $2k to spend, so please keep that in mind when making recommendations. :)

I will use this as my primary display and will hook up my XBOX360, my gaming rig and my server rig. I am not a professional graphics designer but I am picky about how my monitor 'looks' to me. I will likely play the occasional movie on it as well.
 
the apple cinema is only good for apple mac computers not for windows vista.
 
Draziom said:
the apple cinema is only good for apple mac computers not for windows vista.
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Excuse me? They come with a regular DVI connector and they are PC compatible.

The only thing that's incompatible about the ACD's are them and my wallet.
 
tim-bit said:
Excuse me? They come with a regular DVI connector and they are PC compatible.

The only thing that's incompatible about the ACD's are them and my wallet.
Click to expand...

oh my mistake, i thought apple cinema was only for a MAC PC. are they better than the NEC 2490WUXi?
 
Bucken said:
I have heard good things about the Planar 26 inch.
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I'll second that. The Planar is the only IPS monitor 24" or more that has low input lag and also has a scaler. (at least the only one I know of)
 
I'm not 100% sure but I thought I remember reading somewhere that with the Apple Cinema displays if you're not running a MAC OS then you don't have all of the display setting functions such as gamma, color balance, etc.
 
Draziom said:
oh my mistake, i thought apple cinema was only for a MAC PC. are they better than the NEC 2490WUXi?
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I'm not going to say yes or no, as I've only barely used an ACD and never laid eyes on the NEC, but I can tell you that Apple makes wonderful displays, with their only real big negative point being their price point.

KingDiamond said:
I'm not 100% sure but I thought I remember reading somewhere that with the Apple Cinema displays if you're not running a MAC OS then you don't have all of the display setting functions such as gamma, color balance, etc.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't know about this, sorry :(
 
The Apple displays are nice, yes, but there are currently falling a bit behind the times. They have an older panel in them, and they are overpriced for what you are getting.

The Apple 30" display has a DVI Dual Link Connector. No mention of HDCP.
It also has 2 downstream Firewire and USB ports.

It currently costs 1799 from the Apple website.

Compare that to the dell 3007.

DVI with HDCP, 9 in 2 media reader and 2 usb ports.

Currently on Dells Website for 1399

I am a mac user, have been all my life, and I would say don't get a cinema display,
At least not until they get a good refresh. The price/quality/features ratio is too low now.

The current line of Cinema Displays came out in June of 2004, and refeshes since then have been in the form of price drops.

The panels in these monitors are 3-4 years old now.


The dell 3007 came out in Jan. 2006, and it's 400 cheaper than the Apple, whuch came out 3 years earlier. Some might say that the case on the apple is more attractive. I agree. However, for 400, I want more.

If you want a high quality display, you are probably going to pay more. If you want a 30", dell, HP and Samsung all sell their 30"s for less than Apple, and they have newer panels.

-ST-
 
The Apple displays use S-IPS panels which justify the price premium imho. Having a newer panel does not even come close to meaning it has a better picture.
As for the OP question, if you have money to spare check out the NEC monitors and you wont be disappointed. Their new 30" is truly unreal.
 
The Planar monitors seem to be highly favored on this site. They lack the incredible array of inputs that the Dell monitors have. I really like the new 2408 and 3008 Dell monitors but the bleeding problems scare me. Will the next generation of LED backlit monitors have this problem also?? Maybe I should wait it out with my 20.1" 2007WFP. :confused:
 
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