30" ACD for $800 (used) vs 27" ACD $999 (new)

[MJ - Tides Ent.]

Hey folks.

I found a 30" ACD on Craigslist for $900, in great condition, but I think I can talk him down to $800.

Would you buy the 30" or wait a few weeks and get a new 27"


I do graphic design + video editing, color accuracy is important. I've been leaning towards the 30" due to matte for the accuracy + real estate.

 

[MacForScience]

Hey folks.

I found a 30" ACD on Craigslist for $900, in great condition, but I think I can talk him down to $800.

Would you buy the 30" or wait a few weeks and get a new 27"


I do graphic design + video editing, color accuracy is important. I've been leaning towards the 30" due to matte for the accuracy + real estate.

You do the design work professionally? If so I would avoid a used monitor and the 30" ACD is a bit on the dated end of LCD technology. I would go with an LED based monitor so between the two I would get the 27" ACD.

Cheers

 

[MJ - Tides Ent.]

Yes professional graphic/video. Im graduating from college and setting up my office.

Going with a new 2010 quad core and 24gb of ram as I cannot afford the Hex, ram, monitor, extra Hard drives, and not to mention Adobe Creative Suite.

I compared Apple's 30" vs 24" in store today, and the 30", although dated, still seems like a pretty nice option for the price/my needs. Maybe I can offer $600 cash? Try to get a real bargain.. if he doesn't have any other offers.

 

[MJ - Tides Ent.]

also, I'd love to purchase one of the NEC monitors with the spectra view, but I really can't afford anything more than $1000. Even the 24" is $1400.

Color is important, but there is almost always some sort of minor shifts from screen to print, as paper choice and printers always vary, so I'm ok without being 100% accurate.

I'd like to be somewhere around 95% accurate as designers always need to do test prints as it is.

 

[Frosties]

One more thing

Apple only have 3 year warranty on their screens and you can get 5 year with better service elsewhere.

 

[Hellhammer]

27" ACD is glossy which is, more or less, horrible for anything serious designing that needs color accuracy. To be honest, I wouldn't get an  monitor at all. Take a look at EIZO and NEC for example, much better quality

 

[vaderhater245]

While I could disagree with the glossy being an issue when your just starting out in design, i'll stay on topic...

If you've got a $1000 budget, i would HIGHLY recommend the Dell U2711. Using bing or ebay should be the price below the 1K mark. It's unfortunately 16:9 ratio but extremely accurate and " best bang for your buck" in it's price range. Just have to get used to the 2560x1440 res. Definitely the first item on my shopping list when i graduate next year.