Too much information

[inxilpro]

Hello everyone. I've been browsing through these forums for the last couple of days and have been really impressed with the amount of expertise shown throughout. My problem is that there's just so much information that I can't quite figure out what I actually want/need.

I use my computer for mostly web design/development, and absolutely no gaming. I'm looking for a monitor in the 24" and up range. Price isn't a huge issue, but I also don't feel like spending $1200 when a $600 monitor will suit my needs. I keep reading about IPS/MVA, input lag, 6 bit/8 bit, etc, and it's getting to the point that I know just enough to know I don't know enough.

So my question is, what would y'all recommend as a good monitor when color is important, but doesn't have to be ABSOLUTELY perfect, and when gaming doesn't come into play? Right now I have a several years-old Dell 2001FP that I'm pretty happy with. I was looking at the Samsung 245T or 275T, but just as I was about to make a decision I found all sorts of new information. Now I'm just lost.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[spam281]

For IPS, search for the 26" DoubleSight and Planar threads. I'm sure someone else can list a few good MVA panels. I sympathize with your plight. I've been lurking for months but still sitting on the fence between NEC LCD2490 and LCD2690. Without being able to see them in person it gets to be a far too emotional decision.

 

[inxilpro]

Oh, the monitor will only be attached to a computer... no DVD or Blueray or anything.

 

[Snowdog]

Suggesting monitors is like suggesting ice cream flavors. In the end only you know what works for you. I can only tell you what works for me. Also reading the old guides is almost meaningless since things have evolved quite a bit. All technologys have improved in black/contrast/color.

Personally for serious imaging work, I would only use an IPS (like your 2001 FP) because it has the best viewing angle stability and different details on different areas of the screen is unacceptable.

*VA tech has a horizontal gamma/tone shift. TN has a vertical gamma/tone shift. IPS is stable in both directions.

If I am not doing serious imaging work, I would go for a cheap TN panel, because horizontal shift bothers me more than vertical shift and TN panels are cheaper/faster/less laggy.

Wide vs Normal gamut screens. Personally I would stick with normal gamut screen because support for wide gamut is terrible and most of your software will probably be running in the wrong gamut.

I am oddly considering two screens at the opposite end of the price spectrum. (I am apt hunting right now so actual purchase is back burner till I move).

Benq G2400W (TN screen under $400)
or
NEC 2490UXI Spectra View (over $1200).

Both are standard sRGB panels. The Benq has some of the most accurate colors of any sub $1000 LCD, straight out of the box and I wouldn't bother to calibrate. If I want to get serious about calibration, I want a monitor that you can calibrate the monitor itself. Which you can do with the NEC. The NEC is the cadillac of IPS panels and excels in nearly every area.

What I will probably do, is get the Benq and if I don't like it, I will go straight for the NEC.