Monitor Recommendation: Money No Object

TechnoLawyer said:

Let's face it. Apple is no longer in the display business -- or at least the Cinema Display line is a verrrrrrry low priority (and who am I to argue with the company's success).

I need a monitor, but don't want to overpay for Apple's dated lineup. I also don't want cheap junk.

If money were not the primary consideration (this is a corporate purchase), which 24 inch LCD monitor would you recommend? And do any of you use the Digital Tiger Zenview monitors (2-3 monitors in a single stand)?

Thank you.

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The Dell, if you read cNet's review of displays, they still picked the cinema display despite the price. Those curved monitors are cool though..

The LG L245WP uses an S-IPS display as do the ACDs, so perhaps that one?

Dell or Samsung have good monitors

If price is no object then the NEC are usually highly praised by photo professionals as well as the ACD. If you are just watching dvd's and browsing the internet then Dell makes some very nice monitors as well as Samsung.

One thing to do is to check out various display forums on the internet to find out how each monitor stacks up in real world testing. Also some monitors come with different panels so you can get a high quality panel or sometimes a cheaper panel in your monitor.

My Samsung syncmaster 206BW is one of those. There are 3 panels that you can get with the monitor, one of which is high end (although hard to find), one of which provides the performance that the monitor promises, and another panel is cheaper than both and has major blue bias. It's sometimes like playing a lottery in that you'll never know what you are really getting. The manufactures don't make easier either because they often hide the type of panel that you are really getting.

The most important thing you can do before being a monitor is checking out all the reviews and all the comments on the forums, like that you will get something worthwhile.

We use a few Zenview quad setups, but personally for the way I work I prefer the flexibility of a 2 x 2 Dell-monitored (doesn't have to be Dell, but you get the idea) setup with stands from Ergomounts.

Personally I find the Dells / Apples quite acceptable for all uses. The Dells can have some unnatural colour as delivered, but if you have two neurons to rub together to adjust the controls or you have a hardware calibrator, then it is as good as the Apples in general. I have a few HP 30"s elsewhere but these also didn't jump out at me as notably different to the Dells/Apples.

I also have Eizo Coloredges kicking around, but in terms of everyday use performance it's not really worth the price premium for me since I'm not a print pro.

If your going with 24" I would consider the NEC LCD2490WUXi-BK and even better would be to get the LCD2490WUXi-BK-SV because that will have a Spectra View hardware calibration kit included. I ordered one from Provantage this week after reading many greeat reviews.
The Eizo CG241W is a nice monitor to consider but it's a lot more money and I doubt you will see any difference.
If you want something a little bigger NEC has the same monitor as above in a 26". (LCD2690WUXi-BK)

Silver-Fox said:

Dell or Samsung have good monitors

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I have the Samsung 245B 24" at work and the Apple 23" ACD at home. I use both with my 17" MBP. There is no comparison, the ACD is far superior to the Samsung, by a long shot. I keep thinking something is wrong with the Samsung, but it looks the same as the other two Samsungs in my work area.

While the Apple ACD models may be dated, the LCS panels aren't . These are first rate modern LCDs capable of excellent rendering.

EIZO. Specifically their ColorEdge CG graphics monitors.