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30" Monitor Recommendations?

tamvly

tamvly

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 11, 2007
571
18
Just got a new octo 2.8 MacPro (wonderful machine for those considering the old vs. new MacPro decisioin) and am looking to upgrade monitors - I currently have an old 23" ACD, but would like to move up to a 30" display.

I'll suspect that some photo work will be involved eventually, so I'd like to get a monitor with good color gamut. But mostly I use the machine for program development, some music recording and the typical productivity apps. The more screen real estate, the better.

Any opinions on what I ought to be looking at: Dell, Eizo ... ?
 
apple or dell

get dell or apple
apple 30 would be my 1st choice if i were u.
if ur little short, go for the top of the line from dell.
dell and apple's 30 inch monitors used to have same panel from samsung.
i am a photographer so im little sensitive on colors.
for 30 inch, dell or apple is the right choice.
 
Well, I'm pretty sure there are some exceptions to the S-IPS rule - for example, Samsung makes a 30" SPVA panel. Always check the manufacturer's webpage before buying if IPS meanst that much to you. The only 30" monitor I would get (aside from LaCie and Eizo) is the NEC LCD3090WQXi. Good non-professional solutions (from what I've read and would buy personally) would be the Doublesight 305W, the HP LP3065, the 30" ACD, and the Dell 3007WFP. Calibrated properly, all of these monitors are good choices, but NEC is really good for print media.

Heck, I would have an NEC if it wasn't for my wallet. :D
 
Dr.Pants said:
Well, I'm pretty sure there are some exceptions to the S-IPS rule - for example, Samsung makes a 30" SPVA panel. Always check the manufacturer's webpage before buying if IPS meanst that much to you. The only 30" monitor I would get (aside from LaCie and Eizo) is the NEC LCD3090WQXi. Good non-professional solutions (from what I've read and would buy personally) would be the Doublesight 305W, the HP LP3065, the 30" ACD, and the Dell 3007WFP. Calibrated properly, all of these monitors are good choices, but NEC is really good for print media.

Heck, I would have an NEC if it wasn't for my wallet. :D
Click to expand...

Are NEC's good? My school was going to get 20inch apple displays but we all no what happened to those, so we are looking at NEC's. are they nice?
 
This might help.
 

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The NEC LCD3090WQXi got best of show at Macworld, I thought...

If I has more time on my hands, I would research on it some more - I skimmed the article and saw a mention of poor handling with HDCP content, but that's the only outstanding issue, as according to this article.
 
NEC is good but expensive

I'm also looking at 30 inch monitors and from my research the NEC has
had rave reviews e.g.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/displays/review/2008/06/09/NEC-MultiSync-LCD3090WQXi-30in-Monitor/p1

but it is a lot more expensive than Apple or Dell's offerings. As a student
in the UK the prices to me would be

Apple ACD £1050 approx (student price)
Dell 3008 £1035 (on special offer at the Dell site at present)
NEC 3090WQXi e.g. £1666 from overclockers (I've seen prices in the
range £1540 to £1800+)

So I'd like to get the NEC but it is hard to justify an extra £650 or so (65%)
 
iCheddar said:
You can pick up a Dell 3008WFP on Dell's refurb site for $1099.
Click to expand...

You can actually get the 3007WFP-HC for $1099 new at Dell SMB. I don't have either so I don't know the difference in the lines (other than the better contrast ration on the 3008). Can anyone elaborate?

Edit: The specs also list the 3008 as having a better sync rate (86Hz vs 60Hz for the 3007)
 
ab2650 said:
You can actually get the 3007WFP-HC for $1099 new at Dell SMB. I don't have either so I don't know the difference in the lines (other than the better contrast ration on the 3008). Can anyone elaborate?

Edit: The specs also list the 3008 as having a better sync rate (86Hz vs 60Hz for the 3007)
Click to expand...

One difference is that the 3008 has many more connection options than the 3007.
 
tamvly said:
Just got a new octo 2.8 MacPro (wonderful machine for those considering the old vs. new MacPro decisioin) and am looking to upgrade monitors - I currently have an old 23" ACD, but would like to move up to a 30" display.

I'll suspect that some photo work will be involved eventually, so I'd like to get a monitor with good color gamut. But mostly I use the machine for program development, some music recording and the typical productivity apps. The more screen real estate, the better.

Any opinions on what I ought to be looking at: Dell, Eizo ... ?
Click to expand...

It's actually really difficult to choose between the two, they're just so competitive. For photographic work, graphics, any type of DTP where colour acuracy is important, I'd recommend the Apple over the Dell, period. However if you'd like to utilise multiple inputs from verious devices (as preview panel for videographers) and perhaps play some Blu-rays through the display then I would have to recommend the Dell...

Some of the professional Eizo displays are good if money's no object and the hood is an absolute essential requirement - don't forget the pro eizo displays actually have a short life than the Apple or Dell and they cost more!!

Personally I've gone with dual 30" ACD's and one 24" Dell (though it's mainly for the PC) but for some reason it's one the Mac more!!
 
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