2014 Mac Mini monitor advice resolved thanks

[kazmac]

Hi everyone,

I need some help with monitors for the 2014 Mac Mini (which I will be buying in the next few days), but I am confused by the choices. I've done research but this is all new to me since I've been an iMac gal for over 15 years.

My computer needs are getting lighter (Word, screenwriting program, pixelmator usage, online classes, watching movies and occassionally burning movies.) Monitor-wise I need something that is equivalent to the text on the 2010 21.5" iMac or better, no blurry text please (I am near sighted.)

I've read many threads about monitors and even Apple's support page. But I am a loss.

My budget is $450 max and nothing larger than 24", if it can connect via HDMI, great. If not, please let me know what adapter to get.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MRrainer]

I would suggest you go somewhere where you can actually try out various display-sizes and resolutions.
24" pretty much limits your resolution to 1920x1200 - and I wouldn't go below that, given that even Yosemite already is sort of optimized for Retina Displays...
Dell U2415, HP z24i would be primary candidates. Though, with your budget you can already get 27" displays with 2560x1440 resolution.
I've got an old 30" with 2560x1600 (after using nothing more than 1920x1200 for probably a decade) and it's great.
I would spend as much on the display as possible. Relaxed eyes are really priceless.

 

[kazmac]

@MRrainer Thank you very much. You made an excellent point I did not even consider (the higher resolutions with retina / current OS.) Based on your post, it seems it would not be smart to go with several monitors I was considering simply because of the OS and resolution.

I could be wrong about monitors, but comfortable long term viewing is paramount.

Thank you again.

*sigh* Back to the waiting game and constant fixes on this 2010.

 

[MRrainer]

It can make sense to go Dual Display.
At work, I've got 2x24" (HP zr2440). But the trouble is that either you place one display in the middle of your view and the other one becomes a sort of "aside"-display - or you place the gap between the two displays in the middle of your view, which is kind of silly.
At home, I've got my old 24" display to the right of my 30" display, which is in the center of my view.

I would get a decent 27" display at first (you'll need a Mini Display Port to Display Port cable) and pick up a 24" display at a later point (either via eBay, craigslist or a good deal online). The 24" display can be connected via HDMI.

 

[s0nicpr0s]

Sometimes the monitors actually come with every cable you could need too, which is a fantastic benefit. I had bought a Dell UZ2215H for the Windows machine I had built and was surprised to need absolutely no cables to hook my machine or my fiancées MBP to it. It came with a DisplayPort to DisplayPort, a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort, and a regular HDMI cable. I don't remember if it had a VGA cable with it too, but I feel that it might've...

In any case, I'd recommend doing a little research before possibly buying an extra cable that you won't actually need to hook up your Mac Mini.

 

[kazmac]

Again, thanks for the responses, some solid recommendations.

And my bad MRrainer, I saw that you mentioned dual displays. I was looking at several different monitors trying to pick the right one, running two is out of the realm of possibility right now. Sorry for the confusion.