Some advice for a good "graphic design" monitor please. Max 600$.

[Fruitieloops]

Hi everybody, I'm new to the forums!
I'm thinking of starting a business of my own concerning graphical design. One step in doing this is to get a proper monitor.
So here I am, asking kindly for any advice that might help me to find the monitor I'm looking for.

Things that I'd like this monitor to do/have:

I'm using a standard PC so the monitor must ofcourse support this machine ;)
It must be good for working with 'prepress' stuff like in InDesign, have a 'true' color and a nice sharpness.
IF we're talking about TFT/LCD's the monitor must have a fast response time (atleast 4ms) since my hobby is PC gaming, mostly the shooter kind of games.
My economy ain't the best now I'm afraid so the monitor shouldn't cost more than 600$.
CRT or TFT/LCD? I don't know what to go with here... I'm still not sure that you'll get the things I need in a monitor, for a "low price" with a TFT monitor... CRT still seems to give you 'more for the money'. What do you guys think?I'm not looking for the 'best of the best', I'm looking for something that will suffice.

Someone gave me the advice to take a look at this monitor:
http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pi/25-556106/Monitors/Viewsonic-P227FB-Black-Product-Info
What do you guys think about it?

Please help.

/Cheers, F.

[Fruitieloops]

-:It's so coooold in here!

[SurfPark]

Wow, I think $600 is double the amount you need to spend. I recently purchased a nice 19" widescreen LCD for $240.

I think you need to do a little bit of homework. Check out Cnet. They review a lot of technology products and have written and video reviews.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Monitors/2001-3173_7-0.html?tag=cnetfd.dir

If you already have the cash set aside, why not get two LCD's and set up a dual monitor system? Fun, fun!

[mojoprime]

surf's right, but do a little searching around on this forum. this topic has been covered quite a bit.

if you've got 600 to spend, and you've either got two video cards or two open ports on your video card, i would recommend getting two monitors. for instance, you can get a dell 22" monitor right now for about 279 or so, and then a secondary 19" (or whatever else you can afford) for less than that. the extra monitor is worth it.

you'll be in there like swimwear with that.

[BJMRGTIVR6]

Here is a Good deal I was thinking of placing into its own thread but will just palce it here:

http://www.viewsonic.com/hdlife/viewdock/vx2245wm/specs.htm

Very good monitor. We have the normal version at work (no ipod hookups or other stuff) has teh same pixel specs and we all like themm. Especially to view Tabloid 100% or two letters side by side.

Good good monitor. Costco has them for $300!! instead of the MSRP of $450. and our work monitors cost us $330 3 weeks ago.

[mojoprime]

it's just my personal view, but i had problems with viewsonic CRTs i had some years back. i don't trust 'em, because their customer support was so awful back then. it may be better now, but macworld gives a dicey review of that monitor, but it's mostly due to its cranky interface:

http://www.macworld.com/2007/02/reviews/viewsonicvx2245/index.php

i'm a mac guy, but i gotta say that the dell monitors consistently get quality reviews, and they're pretty cheap.

i've got a 19" rosewood and a 19" benq at home that, once calibrated, are pretty accurate.

my .02.

[Patrick Shannon]

Many will certainly say that CRTs are still king, but they're becoming harder and harder to find.

Careful when considering the consumer level LCD monitors, while they make a game of Quake look pretty and the prices are attractive, they may not be suitable for color in design depending on the circumstances (even with calibration). My pair of Dells at work would be pretty nice to have under any other circumstances, but I can't get them to look decent for the life of me. But if color isn't too important on-screen (using pantone books or printed pieces to judge), then don't worry about it too much. Another consideration is if the color starts to become "off" when you're at a different angle.

Otherwise, I *think* the Apple 20'' is at $599 now and those are SWOP certified. Another certified brand is the Eizo monitors, but youuuch...they make Apple's prices look cheap.

[Navian]

:p surf's right, but do a little searching around on this forum. this topic has been covered quite a bit.

if you've got 600 to spend, and you've either got two video cards or two open ports on your video card, i would recommend getting two monitors. for instance, you can get a dell 22" monitor right now for about 279 or so, and then a secondary 19" (or whatever else you can afford) for less than that. the extra monitor is worth it.

you'll be in there like swimwear with that.

Just get two of those 22" dell monitor LCDs.. thats only $558.00 total, you might have to spend a little for shipping. I agree with Surf and Mojo, dual monitors pwn any one single wide screen. hell two wide screens are awsome. Tool buttons/email/other software windows on one, while work space on the other. 22" of tool bar free workspace. /drool

Dell LCDs are superior to any other lcd, with exception to the expensive 32" cinema apple monitor. OMG! I cant believe I said that! someone shoot me.

[Broacher]

Don't neglect the used CRT market. Great bargains as people are dumping practically new big monitors for next to nothing just to upgrade to panel models. (That's how I got my second 21 inch Trinitron).

[Navian]

Don't neglect the used CRT market. Great bargains as people are dumping practically new big monitors for next to nothing just to upgrade to panel models. (That's how I got my second 21 inch Trinitron).

Don't forget a 21" CRT weights between 60-90lbs, and is very big/bulky to move around.

[Fruitieloops]

Thanks for all the advice!

A guy in my local area sells this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GDM-FW900-Widescreen-Tr%20initron-Monitor/dp/tech-data/B00004YNSR/ref=de_a_s%20mtd/102-5370733-6484164?ie=UTF8&qid=1176828478&sr=%201-1
For about 300$

What do you think about that?

[Navian]

Thanks for all the advice!

A guy in my local area sells this:
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GDM-FW900-Widescreen-Tr%20initron-Monitor/dp/tech-data/B00004YNSR/ref=de_a_s%20mtd/102-5370733-6484164?ie=UTF8&qid=1176828478&sr=%201-1
For about 300$

What do you think about that?


Nice.. but..

Shipping Weight: 108 pounds
:( That sucks! ^

Are you getting one? or two? you may need two people to move it.

[Broacher]

Sure, but like I said-- there's a surprisingly huge surplus of used one floating around. Don't be surprised if you find one close enough to drive to. Mine was only a year old and used for data entry. It's like new!

[Fruitieloops]

"A guy in my local area sells this"

Erm guys, is my english really so bad that I can't even explain this simple little thing correctly? :D

Navian: I'm getting 1 monitor and I'm carrying stuff weighing twice that in my other work, several times a day, so no problem there ;)

Additional info about the USED monitor for 300$, sold by a guy that I have a bicicle distance to:
I talked with the guy, it's about 2 years old.
Link to the monitor: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GDM-FW900-Widescreen-Tr%20initron-Monitor/dp/tech-data/B00004YNSR/ref=de_a_s%20mtd/102-5370733-6484164?ie=UTF8&qid=1176828478&sr=%201-1

So, any ideas as to how this monitor will perform color/sharpness -wise concerning that I want to use it for graphical design?

[MD]

While i have not used that particular model - I used to use a similar Sony Trinitron CRT here at work. It was a very nice monitor - sounds like a pretty good buy for $300

[SurfPark]

"A guy in my local area sells this"

Erm guys, is my english really so bad that I can't even explain this simple little thing correctly? :D

Navian: I'm getting 1 monitor and I'm carrying stuff weighing twice that in my other work, several times a day, so no problem there ;)

Additional info about the USED monitor for 300$, sold by a guy that I have a bicicle distance to:
I talked with the guy, it's about 2 years old.
Link to the monitor: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-GDM-FW900-Widescreen-Tr%20initron-Monitor/dp/tech-data/B00004YNSR/ref=de_a_s%20mtd/102-5370733-6484164?ie=UTF8&qid=1176828478&sr=%201-1

So, any ideas as to how this monitor will perform color/sharpness -wise concerning that I want to use it for graphical design?

I understood your English. What I didn't understand is if you had made a decision as to a specific type of monitor or if you had a specific amount of cash to spend. Additionally, you didn't tell use where you are located or if purchasing your monitor online was an option. The dialect is fine, the information is missing.

Since you seem to have a monitor in mind, its in your best interest to research it. Here are a few links to product reviews of that monitor.

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=fw900&page=1&cookie%5Ftest=1

http://www.stormingmedia.us/65/6515/A651514.html

I'll be honest with you. Not many people here are hardcore gamers. Some are, but that's a shot in the dark. You'd be better off asking a gaming forum for their monitor suggestions since gaming requirements tend to exceed the needs of print and web designers.

[Ned]

I think the simple answer is what you're using the monitor for. Price is not the biggest issue, as the best monitors for graphic design (CRT) are a fraction of the price for the nice-looking LCD monitors that your receptionist uses.

CRT pros - sharp color definition. If you are doing photographic retouching work or anything where color is really key, you NEED a CRT. For general layout design, you may be able to get away with an LCD.

LCD pros - Practicality, reduced eyestrain and mental stress. LCD monitors are of course way more portable and fashionable looking. However, they also do not create anything near the eyestrain of a CRT monitor. If you're concerned about your health, get an LCD.

[Fruitieloops]

Ok, been looking around some... What do you guys think about this monitor, regarding the "wishes" I had in the first post of this thread:

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/pi/25-569901/Monitors/Viewsonic-VX2025wm-Silver-Black-Product-Info

I think I need to compromise some... This monitor seems not to be the BEST monitor concerning photo editing and not the FASTEST concerning response time, but avarage in both at least...

So, any thoughts?

[Ned]

I'd use it. :D

[Fruitieloops]

I think I've finally found my monitor:

The Samsung 206BW
http://www.futurelooks.com/446-Samsung-SyncMaster-206BW-Widescreen-20-Inch-LCD-Monitor-Review.html?page=1

For that price it just seems to good to be true...