what do you think the best 20 to 24" lcd is for the money these days?
I kinda like the samsung 215TW, at 550 it is a pretty good price for the resolution and contrast of the monitor. Addtionally i like that it has composite, dvi, and analog inputs so it could be used as a console gaming screen as well.
I also really like the dell 24" but i think is probably to exspensive for me
I have a couple of Dell 2001FP 20". They were nice, cheap. Been really happy with them. Supposedly they are pretty much the same thing as a Apple 20" Cinema but in a different case, i.e. same panel.
If you shop small business and use a coupon code they are an outright steal.
The (Some?) 2001FP had what they call a "screendoor effect", which doesn't bother some people, but it bothered me. It's like looking through a screen at the panel, and when your eyes move you get a little shimmer.
Also, I thought it had trouble with color gradients, a lot of banding.
Some people love 'em though. Just a google on "screendoor effect 2001FP" should probably give you quite a bit of info and let you decide if it would bug you.
Couple dead pixels in mine, which surely isn't anything peculiar to the 2001.
I bought my 2001FP when they first came out, so maybe revisions have remedied the problems. I had it for about 2 weeks before I shipped it back.
I have had none of these problems with the 2005, which I think is cheaper? Not sure. Having owned both I would say I'm much more impressed with the 2005, besides the very slight loss in res, 1680x1050 as opposed to 1600x1200, it is in my opinion a better display.
i looked on dells site and could only find 2007's which i assume is just an updated version of the 2005.
I am buying this monitor as a second monitor for my laptop, and then eventually it will be the main monitor for my next desktop. ( i am thinking about a mac mini being in my future).
the contrast on the dell's seems low compared to some other monitors, the dells seem to be about 600:1 while many other makes have 1000:1 or greater
"the contrast on the dell's seems low compared to some other monitors, the dells seem to be about 600:1 while many other makes have 1000:1 or greater"
Honestly dunno there, like I said the 2005 is virtually the same thing as a 20" Cinema. I think the Apple actually lists a contrast ration of 400:1 as opposed to the Dell's 600:1. I thought 600:1 was pretty good, but I shopped for mine almost a year ago now, so maybe 1000:1 is the new high standard.
I know LaCie's 321, which to me represents a kind of gold standard for graphics pros, the one's I've seen and used are indeed wicked, list a ratio of 500:1.
My experience tells me never to buy electronics on numbers or measurements alone. I used to work for a high end stereo installation company and learned a lot of electronics makers do things to exaggerate their numbers. Best bet is to find what your interested in and give it a test run in order to gauge performance. I know Dell has those kiosks in most malls now.
32" Acer here. imho prolly the most important thing you're going to want to look for is light bleeding from your backlight once you start getting into bigger panels.
