help on upgrading from Dell 2001fp

[joehoc]

Hi all,

I’m looking for help on upgrading from Dell 2001fp.

I’m working on a Dell 2001fp since 2005 and was very happy, now I’m looking to upgrade and didn’t dream that this will be such a nightmare.

I started with Dell U2711 - returned it because the text was very fuzzy. Went on to U2410 - returned it for same reason. Then I got the HP ZR24w and HP ZR2440w and returned it. The main reason was because I couldn’t get the text to read as comfortable as my Dell 2001fp.

I did some more research and decided on a NEC ea241w, because it’s a TN panel. Could be it’s better than all the ones I had before, but still not as me Dell. I think it’s the AG coating, not sure. Also the viewing angle is slightly of a problem.

Let me give you my use. I’m mostly working on emails, browsing and office work. Also a lot of proof reading text in PDF files. No gaming or movies at all. However color is something I would do good use, since I’m a printer broker. I can work 5-10 hours without a break. What I’m enjoying in the Dell is the background in not sharp white, and the text reads extremely comfortable, also the tabs/text in all applications are very clear. The recommended resolution for the dell is 1600x1200; I’m running it at 1152x864 and just love it.

My question to you: will I ever be able to upgrade to something like 24” wide without having to compromise the issues I just mentioned?

Any good suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Joe

 

[tyranie909]

Were you running the monitors at their native resolutions? If you don't they will be very fuzzy and look horrible. I can tell you that if AG coating bothers you then the new dell IPS screens are not going to work for you. I hear that Samsung has new PLS screens out with less AG coat and has very good colors.

Just remember to run them at their native resolution and not anything less. I still have my old dell 2001fp as a server monitor. They are old IPS screens if I am not mistaking (later replaced by the 2007fp). One thing AG coat will do is make it so that the whites are not blinding. It has a tendency to muddy them up. You can also always teak other monitors colors to your liking.

 

[uunut]

Honestly, if your main task is looking at text, I doubt you will ever be as comfortable as with your 2001fp, except for maybe with the 20" 4:3 Viewsonic I have, was the competitor of that back in the day.
Whatever you do, don't sell your 2001fp, and if you do, sell it to me :/

 

[joehoc]

Were you running the monitors at their native resolutions? If you don't they will be very fuzzy and look horrible. I can tell you that if AG coating bothers you then the new dell IPS screens are not going to work for you. I hear that Samsung has new PLS screens out with less AG coat and has very good colors.

Just remember to run them at their native resolution and not anything less. I still have my old dell 2001fp as a server monitor. They are old IPS screens if I am not mistaking (later replaced by the 2007fp). One thing AG coat will do is make it so that the whites are not blinding. It has a tendency to muddy them up. You can also always teak other monitors colors to your liking.

Thanks for taking your time. I got the Samsung S24A850 and this still the best option from all the ones I tried. but still doesn’t compare to the old 2001fp. if the 2001fp is IPS panel, why are newer versions of IPS worse than this one?

 

[joehoc]

Honestly, if your main task is looking at text, I doubt you will ever be as comfortable as with your 2001fp, except for maybe with the 20" 4:3 Viewsonic I have, was the competitor of that back in the day.
Whatever you do, don't sell your 2001fp, and if you do, sell it to me :/

Can you explain why this is? Am I the only person that needs comfortable text? We are now 7 years later, and technology is just going backwards?

 

[SirMaster]

Hmm, I went from the 2001FP to the 2408WFP and it seems like an upgrade in every way. I'm a software engineer so I look at text all day too.

 

[joehoc]

The 2408WFP is also not available anymore. That’s my questions, what monitor would you get today?

 

[Piotrsama]

What I’m enjoying in the Dell is the background in not sharp white, and the text reads extremely comfortable, also the tabs/text in all applications are very clear. The recommended resolution for the dell is 1600x1200; I’m running it at 1152x864 and just love it.

Hmmmm.... when was the last time you went to a ophthalmologist and checked your sight?
I think your problem is reading small text.

How does the text look on your Dell at native res? Can you read it or it's also fuzzy?
Try your NEC at lower resolutions (always on the same AR, 16:10). Like 1680x1050.
Color calibration on your new monitor could help, also.

 

[joehoc]

I don’t think my eyesight is the problem. I can see the difference between native resolution and going with smaller resolution, but it doesn’t blur the text.

Also, I tried calibrating with Spyder 3 Pro, and didn’t help the text issue.

I actually returned the NEC, and am trying out the Samsung S24A850 right now, as I mentioned in previous posts, the Samsung is still the best compared to all other models I tried, but still doesn’t reach to the Dell.

 

[tbNB]

I have the new Dell U2412M (1920x1200) and a Dell 2001FP (1600x1200 IPS version) as the second display. Both are similar dot pitch and side by side about the same height too. Its a pretty nice setup. I think the AG coating is nearly identical.

However, given the OP's inclination to make the text bigger, perhaps going 27" and running the native resolution would provide the most clear and comfortable reading without using a compromised resolution. In other words use a monitor with higher dot pitch. Perhaps consider the 27" samsung (at the expense off off-angle color shifts).

 

[SirMaster]

If my 2408WFP broke today. I'm pretty sure I'd get a U2412M. I've seen one in person at the store and I didn't see any glaring issues.

You can still buy 2408WFPs at Dells business resale site when they get stock in at random times.

 

[joehoc]

If I didn’t like how the text appears on the U2410 there is a chance I'd like the U2412?

 

[blackhand1001]

^find a used 2408wfp (their pretty cheap now). Its an S-PVA panel with very little gamma shift compared to others and one of the best AG coatings out there. Great for text with its contrast ratio.

 

[joehoc]

Can someone compare the 2001fp to u2412m?
The main comparison I need to know is how text appears. Also the AG coating.
Thanks!

 

[tbNB]

At native resolution, the displays are equal with regards to text. AG coating is similar. I had no complaints with the 2001fp and the u2412m looks the same.

On the 2001fp, 1152x864 does look decent (with clear type on) Bad with it off. My nvidia 570 card does not have an equivalent resolution that matches 864 lines. Ideally that would be 1382x864 since the 1920x1200 ratio is 1.6.

On the u2412m, 1680x1050 looks ok but not great. 1280x800 looks good if you run the clear type tuner afterwards and choose the boldest text. Using it right now as I switch between displays and all these settings. Again, ideally you run these at native, run the clear type tuner and you'd be happy with either.

Since you like larger text, personally, I would consider running at native resolutions and increasing the windows text size because all of the cleartype anti-aliasing will still work properly with the native resolution.

I was able to calibrate both of my displays using the iDisplay1 Pro colorimeter and the colors are now the same on both. The measured contrast ratio on the U2412M is 1060 and the 2001FP was only 343, but you would not notice that difference in going back and forth between the 2 displays. The 2001FP IPS is actually a very good monitor (perhaps not the best for gaming though).