Getting a new monitor for c4d and max...Apple widescreen 20" or dell 2001fp...

[MJV]

To me the aspect ratio of the Mac monitors doesn't make sense unless the monitor is big enough to be used alone. 20" is not big enough imo. At 20" you still need two monitors side by side, and in that configuration it's better if they are taller, since the two together will give you plenty of horizontal coverage. I'd go for the Dell or the Samsung 21"

[mjdowswell]

hmm, welll :)

that gets into refresh rates for the gaming side of it...as you'll be awear of though :)

We've got a 17" TFT *not a famous make*, and it seems to be fairly good gaming wise.

but for photoshop work ive found it to be pretty awfull, you cant see what you doing very well...BUT that might just be this one TFT -

however 20"... IS bigger, it might be better in that you head would be lined up to a bigger space in front of you and you wouldn't get the weird effect that our does.

[sebek27]

I just got a 17" dell LCD and it's awesome ! actually coming from a 17" Sony TFT which was great on it's own; the difference between a TFT and LCD is incredible ! last month's Digit magazine rated best 21" monitors and the Mac LCD is just not that great anymore when compared to the Dell/Samsung and Iiyama, plus i think it's cheaper to go the PC route.. my 2 cents..
even though the Dell I have has 25ms, games still play and look great; plus I picked it up brand new for $369/free shipping :)

[jorgevaldes]

get a LaCie CRT monitor... blows the cinema displays out of the water and is priced in the same range (at least here in mexico), we have 23" Cinema displays at the office, and I still preffer using the La cie 22" or 19"

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10037

[Per-Anders]

i have two dells 2001fp's, and they're great! i use them on a switched between my dual g4 and my p4.

you get more pixels of area with them being 1600x1200 as opposed to the macs 1680x1050 (in total) they're slightly larger than the mac screen (20.1 inch), they can be rotated to give vertical displace if you want, have a plethora of input ports, and they're several hundered bucks cheaper. i really don't even see the apple as an option here.

[imashination]

get a LaCie CRT monitor... blows the cinema displays out of the water and is priced in the same range (at least here in mexico), we have 23" Cinema displays at the office, and I still preffer using the La cie 22" or 19"

http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?id=10037

Crt?

"flintstones, meet the flintstones, there the modern stoneage family. From the, town of bedrock, they're a page right out of history...."

[tcastudios]

It might be a POV but, at location works I always end up using 20 to 23 inch Mac monitors because of space and travelling ussues. However in the studio I do prefere the 22 Lacie.
I have it hardware calibrated and can work many more hours in front of it compared to the Mac monitors. I have not tried any other LCD or TFT. It might be better, I don't know.

Cheers
Lennart

[lmederos]

i have two dells 2001fp's, and they're great! i use them on a switched between my dual g4 and my p4.

I have 2 2001FPs as well and they are awesome. I replaced a Samsung 21" and am very happy. Nothing wrong with the Samsung; gave it to someone else in the office, but the Dell's are top notch.

-- Luis

[neonghost]

I use a 20.1" formac gallery 2010 at work, and it is an excellent lcd (1600x1200). I do find after effects and cinema4d get a little cramped on it though, and the bezel is too large for another display.

I thought about buying two 20"ers for home, but ended up getting two samsung 19" 193T slim bezel panels instead (much, much cheaper). The split in the middle does annoy me a bit, I have to admit.

[alanmac]

Crt?

"flintstones, meet the flintstones, there the modern stoneage family. From the, town of bedrock, they're a page right out of history...."

Whilst TFT screens are improving all the time it really depends on what your company area of work is.

If its a studio with a mixed work environment whos work encompasses design for print,illustration etc as well as CG, colour fidelity is very important.

What you see on the screen must be from a colour point of view an accurate representation of the finished item. Colour calibration of your monitor, proofing equipment etc is very important. If a client corporate colour is PMS 072 then thats what he needs to see on his finished brochure.

To my knowledge and as I said TFT is improving all the time, they cannot match a quality (and cheap these days) CRT screen for colour fidelity. But if that's not an issue then no problem. Now Wilma where did I put my bowling ball.

[TRick]

Crt?

"flintstones, meet the flintstones, there the modern stoneage family. From the, town of bedrock, they're a page right out of history...."If you are doing work in which color is important (even if you have PAL/NTSC test-monitors) you surely need at least one CRT monitor and indeed the LaCie is the best, but I have/had Philips, Eizo, Mitsub.Diamondtron and they are perfect for what I need. I have/had TFT's from Philips, EIZO, Dell, Apple and I still have to see the first TFT that offers a perfect black screen. I have a Dell Lattitude D800 with a 1920x1200 pixel screen: a really huge screen...but the colors are awfull...but when connected to my Diamondtron it offers everything I want...

[imashination]

If its a studio with a mixed work environment whos work encompasses design for print,illustration etc as well as CG, colour fidelity is very important.

What you see on the screen must be from a colour point of view an accurate representation of the finished item. Colour calibration of your monitor, proofing equipment etc is very important. If a client corporate colour is PMS 072 then thats what he needs to see on his finished brochure.


http://www.apple.com/displays/technology.html

Yabba dabba doo!

So long as you look at the professional screens, colour matching simply isn't an issue. Flat panels have only reached this level in the past few months though.

[squidinc]

http://www.apple.com/displays/technology.html

Yabba dabba doo!

So long as you look at the professional screens, colour matching simply isn't an issue. Flat panels have only reached this level in the past few months though.


ouch those are expensive :eek:

we've had a few tft monitors over the years in work.. put me right off em, we were never paying as much as those apple ones though

[mattin]

i've got a 23" cinema display and i love it to have only one cable for power, signal and usb.

[alanmac]

ouch those are expensive :eek:



Yes, more than competitive screens, but maybe that's why, add in the calibration software and print proofing software on top of that and you'll need very deep pockets. But if it's important to your business then it's what you need to do the job properly.

Yeah, look at the "professional range" of TFT's but if priced against CRT and image quality the old CRT still comes out top in both areas.

You pay an whole lot more to get anywhere near the quality just to reduce the depth on your desk by 500 mm.

Still life in the old CRT screens yet and for the image quality, the cost they where a few years ago, they are a bargain, and if you only need one the casing size is not an issue.

If you are not worried about colour mangement for your work then yes TFT is fine, (even with the odd dead pixel here and their), but still a price premuim for the technology.

From what I've read the Dell at the moment represents a good buy, so that would be my choice based on the review I read also. I would like to see it "in the flesh" so too speak before I brought one but of course Dell are mail order with no shops. Can't even do the old "lets look at it in PC World then get it cheaper on the net" that some naughty people do.

Got to go Dino wants his walkies.

[AdamT]

500mm on the desktop makes a huge difference in my case--not to mention the heat/energy conservation--but it's still worth having one off to the side for color matching. As for Dell, I wouldn't recommend'em. AFAIK they use several different manufacturers and you never know exactly what you'll get when you order. I'm quite happy with my Samsung 191T and I'll probably get another to replace my 15" KDS LCD.

[Other3DMaster]

Apple Cinema Display...22 inch...best buy i ever made...

[Per-Anders]

hmm... sorry but the whole argument about tft v crt for color management and it's price doesn't make a lot of sense. a fully color calibrated crt costs just as much as a color calibrated tft. and then there's distortion on crt's etc.

and as for dead pixels? maybe 5 or more years ago. i have no dead pixels on these screens here.

then the idea that it's only for space. it's also for your eyes and general health. they flicker less, don't emit as much radiation heat or otherwise, and are in general easier on the eyes. the space and power consumptions are just side benefits (and also help to justify the initial expense seeing as it's a saving in the long run).

now what you will need a crt for is as a power monitor if your'e doing any video work. for the exactly the same reason you have a cheapnnasty radio in every audio studio. you have to see the worst case scenario and keep your color videosafe, and crts are the only way to go there.

btw adam, the dell 2001fp's use LG Phillips LCD LM201U04 screens.

[alanmac]

hmm... sorry but the whole argument about tft v crt for color management and it's price doesn't make a lot of sense. a fully color calibrated crt costs just as much as a color calibrated tft. and then there's distortion on crt's etc.

they flicker less, don't emit as much radiation heat or otherwise, and are in general easier on the eyes. the space and power consumptions are just side benefits (and also help to justify the initial expense seeing as it's a saving in the long run).


Hi

after this posting I started to look again at what was said and did some current research.

Whilst my comments would have been true some time ago, things have moved on and it appears I was talking rubbish.

My apologises, never one not to admit when he's made a mistake, but if you ever mention it again I'll send the boys round, okay !! ;~)

There are only a few small areas that the latest screens cannot match CRT's. I also note that it is recommended to use digital connectivity as it provides more accurate colour output than analog connections, which is worth bearing in mind.

I see the Dell mentioned has several connection capabilities including digital, and of course the Apple has this as well. If you can get sight of the review article in Digit magazine, Issue 76 it's worth reading.

Now just see if barney is in next door to give me a hand carry this thing to the dustbin(trashcan for you lot across the pond). Now were did I put that Dell leaflet.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Alan

[rgwarren]

I just purchased two Samsung 213T 21.3" LCD monitors (one for each workstation). I think they were ~$1100 US each. At first I was suspect at the low price but have been quite happy with the clarity and the backlight intensity (very bright if needed).

I have a cheap 15" LCD monitor to use as a second monitor for pulling up the TP window or documentation.

If anything the 213T seems to be accurate in not trying to oversaturate the heck out of everything. Most LCD's I've used have all had wacky color profiles. So far I'm quite pleased with the price/performance of these panels.

[imashination]

Just a small note, every lacie electron blue screen I have seen (20+) has never been calibrated, the people using them just dont know why they have such an expensive screen.

"Its just what the IT guys bought for us to use"

Its a bit of a crime to see 1 inch black borders around the edge, bowed, tapered and curved images all with muddy or washed out colours, when you could give them a cheap £50 screen and they wouldn't care less.

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