I currently have a Samsung Syncmaster 225BW that is approaching 6 years of age. Yes, 225BW, not the widespread 226BW, although the specs are similar: 22", matte TN panel, CCFL backlight, 1680x1050. It's definitely not great in any particular aspect, but it was the first one I ever bought on my own money, and it worked. But now the backlight is about to die, and I need something new.
- My usage profile is surfing, chatting, youtube, casual gaming, and rarely some poking around in MS Office.
- I am not unhappy with the size, format and resolution I have. In general, I like me some vertical pixels.
- Ideally, I want something that works adequately out of the box, so I don't have to bother adjusting it for hours on end. I will not be hardware calibrating, either.
- I am curious about uncoated displays, but I will be moving sometime in the next 12 months and I have no idea how my new dwelling will look, and if it will allow me to set up an uncoated display in a way that removes reflections. I hate reflections.
Based on this, it might seem like one of the often-cited 1200p IPS types would be a no-brainer for me, but here's the thing: At work, I am sitting in front of a modern IPS panel. A Dell U2311, to be exact. Only the 1080p variant, but probably really similar. And after doing some comparisons with websites I often visit, I found the experience to be shockingly bad.
Some websites, which display just fine on my cheap, 6 year old, failing TN panel are all but unreadable on the much-hyped IPS panel. One example is the webcomic "Prequel". Dark scenes like this one pretty much don't resolve at all; I have to lean in and press my face against the screen to even notice the transitions between the frames of the animation. On other pages, minor details (such as bloodspatters on the wall) are often impossible to pick up on, despite showing clearly on my home monitor. Now, that webcomic is a "worst case scenario", if you will, but the same thing carries over to for example youtube videos. It's like the IPS display doesn't even have half the contrast resolution that I have on this TN guy.
The settings on the Dell are factory default, except brightness lowered from 100% to 60%. No other adjustments made. Obviously this monitor just doesn't work properly out of the box. This is a perfect example of what I do not want to buy. And it has massively shaken my faith in IPS panels. So now I am coming here, to ask what the heck I should do
Your thoughts, my esteemed community?
- My usage profile is surfing, chatting, youtube, casual gaming, and rarely some poking around in MS Office.
- I am not unhappy with the size, format and resolution I have. In general, I like me some vertical pixels.
- Ideally, I want something that works adequately out of the box, so I don't have to bother adjusting it for hours on end. I will not be hardware calibrating, either.
- I am curious about uncoated displays, but I will be moving sometime in the next 12 months and I have no idea how my new dwelling will look, and if it will allow me to set up an uncoated display in a way that removes reflections. I hate reflections.
Based on this, it might seem like one of the often-cited 1200p IPS types would be a no-brainer for me, but here's the thing: At work, I am sitting in front of a modern IPS panel. A Dell U2311, to be exact. Only the 1080p variant, but probably really similar. And after doing some comparisons with websites I often visit, I found the experience to be shockingly bad.
Some websites, which display just fine on my cheap, 6 year old, failing TN panel are all but unreadable on the much-hyped IPS panel. One example is the webcomic "Prequel". Dark scenes like this one pretty much don't resolve at all; I have to lean in and press my face against the screen to even notice the transitions between the frames of the animation. On other pages, minor details (such as bloodspatters on the wall) are often impossible to pick up on, despite showing clearly on my home monitor. Now, that webcomic is a "worst case scenario", if you will, but the same thing carries over to for example youtube videos. It's like the IPS display doesn't even have half the contrast resolution that I have on this TN guy.
The settings on the Dell are factory default, except brightness lowered from 100% to 60%. No other adjustments made. Obviously this monitor just doesn't work properly out of the box. This is a perfect example of what I do not want to buy. And it has massively shaken my faith in IPS panels. So now I am coming here, to ask what the heck I should do
Your thoughts, my esteemed community?