Any alternatives to ACD 23"/30" now that prices have been lowered?

[Kolind]

Hey there all you wise and all-knowing people!

First of all I don't want this to be another DELL vs. ACD thread

I am looking for a new monitor to do professional video and graphics work on, and obviously the ACD is very tempting. The EIZO monitors is out of my price-range, and so far I have not been able to find any alternatives to the ACD. With the recent price drops the ACD and DELL monitors are pretty much identical in price (at least in Denmark where I am), so I see no reason as to why I would choose the DELL. However, maybe I'm missing out on other alternatives, NEC/SAMSUNG/LaCie? Equal in price to the ACD's but maybe better somehow? (The ACDs are a bit dated now...)

I will either be getting two 23" or one 30" - any thoughts on what to choose?
I'm hoping that they'll update the displays at WWDC, but I need at least one 23" ASAP, so can't wait for updated ACDs.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[miniConvert]

On two 23" vs one 30"...

I had dual 20"ers for a long time and thought having two workspaces was fantastic. Then I got the 30"...

Having all that space on one screen is just fantastic - much better than having the screen borders cutting down the middle of your workspace. I highly recommend the 30". Then, one day, you can always add a second

 

[Kolind]

I'll drop by an Apple store and try a bit with both 2x23" and 1x30" - I'm tempted by the two 23" though, as I can use one for my MacBook Pro when it's being used in the office and the other for the Mac Pro which I'll invest in soon. And when the MacBook Pro is out of office or we're just working on one project, then I can connect both 23" to the Mac Pro. It gives a bit more flexibility it seems, and I get more pixels for the same price (even though I do get the screen border problem that I wouldn't have on the 30"). Hmm... will have to go try it out at the store I guess...

Thanks for your feedback though. It seems as if buying an ACD is a pretty good deal with the new prices (even though they are a bit dated in some areas).

 

[Pressure]

Thanks for your feedback though. It seems as if buying an ACD is a pretty good deal with the new prices (even though they are a bit dated in some areas).

Dated? Care to elaborate on any of these specific areas?

 

[Kolind]

As far as I know the panels have not been updated for quite some time, whereas a lot of the other companies have more recent panels (faster response time, higher contrast and so on). Again - I am by no means an expert on these things, but it seems that a lot of people think that the ACD lineup could use an update.

There are other posts on these forums that go more in detail about the technicalities of the displays. I still think the ACD is a great monitor, but there has been made improvements in the LCD technology which has not yet shown up in the ACDs. But now that the price has dropped, it seems as if the ACD suddenly is very good value for money, but that's just my take on things

EDIT/UPDATE: It seems as if the last time they were updated were in June 2004 (link) (except the 30", which had the panel updated a year ago (link)).

 

[netnothing]

EDIT/UPDATE: It seems as if the last time they were updated were in June 2004 (link) (except the 30", which had the panel updated a year ago (link)).

Actually, the last tweaks were in August 2006
https://www.macrumors.com/2006/08/07/cinema-display-price-drops/

-Kevin

 

[timmillwood]

Do you think we will see and ACD update at WWDC?

Built in iSight?
Firewire 800 port?
LED backlighting?
etc

 

[Kolind]

Actually, the last tweaks were in August 2006
https://www.macrumors.com/2006/08/07/cinema-display-price-drops/

-Kevin

You are absolutely right - my bad... just checked the headlines of the news, didn't go through the articles. Thanks for correcting me.

Don't know if we'll see updates at WWDC - but I would love to see the FW800 port and LED backlighting (don't care much for the built in iSight - but sure, I'll take that as well )

My problem is that I need the monitor now, so I can't wait untill WWDC to (maybe) get a newer version. Maybe I'll just buy one 23" now, and then wait untill they are updated to get either another 23" or a 30". (Or maybe a 26" or a 37" or? Who knows, maybe they'll update the sizes too...)

 

[netnothing]

You are absolutely right - my bad... just checked the headlines of the news, didn't go through the articles. Thanks for correcting me.

My problem is that I need the monitor now, so I can't wait untill WWDC to (maybe) get a newer version. Maybe I'll just buy one 23" now, and then wait untill they are updated to get either another 23" or a 30". (Or maybe a 26" or a 37" or? Who knows, maybe they'll update the sizes too...)

Just be careful when buying one now, as there are still a lot of displays out there that were made *prior* to the Aug 2006 update. That is, if you care about those new specs.

I picked mine up at a Best Buy and it's listed (by it's serial #) as being made Late 2005. Still looks good to me though.

-Kevin

 

[Locatel]

You should check the Samsung 244T, although I think they are overpriced in Europe. They cost around $725.00 in the US. It is considered a better monitor than the ACD, specially in terms of calibration. I think you'll also appreciate the inputs. Take a look at these reviews:

http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/software_computers/0506samsung/index.html

http://www.trustedreviews.com/displays/review/2006/03/29/Samsung-SyncMaster-244T/p1

How about considering a 20" ? Why not 2 NEC MultiSync LCD2090UXi ? http://www.misco.de/productinformat... Zoll TFT Monitor MultiSync LCD2090UXi-BK.htm
This NEC and the Lacie 320 are the same monitors, and are GREAT.
http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/software_computers/0307lacie/index.html

 

[Kolind]

Thanks for the advice. I already looked at the Samsung 244T, but it's 500 dkr. (70€/90$) more expensive than the 23"ACD and the ACD would look better with my MBP and future Mac Pro. The ACD still seems like the best deal to me, even though the Samsung is a very nice monitor too.

The 20" are nice, but I need a minimum resolution of 1920x1200, as I work with 1080 HD-footage and would like to see it at 100%.

The states are so much cheaper... the Samsung here in Denmark would cost me 7000 dkr, that's 1275$ - so 550$ more than in the states. I could almost fly over there and back and still save money ;-)

 

[Pressure]

You should check the Samsung 244T, although I think they are overpriced in Europe. They cost around $725.00 in the US. It is considered a better monitor than the ACD, specially in terms of calibration. I think you'll also appreciate the inputs. Take a look at these reviews:

http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/software_computers/0506samsung/index.html

http://www.trustedreviews.com/displays/review/2006/03/29/Samsung-SyncMaster-244T/p1

How about considering a 20" ? Why not 2 NEC MultiSync LCD2090UXi ? http://www.misco.de/productinformat... Zoll TFT Monitor MultiSync LCD2090UXi-BK.htm
This NEC and the Lacie 320 are the same monitors, and are GREAT.
http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/software_computers/0307lacie/index.html

Are you actually suggesting a PVA panel is superior to an S-IPS panel?

 

[ChrisA]

As far as I know the panels have not been updated for quite some time, whereas a lot of the other companies have more recent panels.

That is true. While others (Dell) have gone to using cheaper (TN type) panels. Apple continues to use the premium Philips IPS type panels. This has kept the ACS prices up.

It seems that the average consumer understands only three specs: Size, contrast and speed. So most companies who sell to consumers offer LCDs with good contrast and speed numbers. These numbers apply if your main use of the screen is games and office work.
Also notice the trend in the industry to specify responce type as "grey to grey" now. (This makes the numbner look better.)

However professional photographers and graphic artists care more about color fidelity than frame rates but these people are so few that resellers don't even bother to publish specs on the viewable color gamut.

In general if you want good color you want to slower response times and something less than a huge contrast number and use some kind of consistent room lighting and buy a colorimeter to do calibration.

This site will tell you what is inside the LCD. It's the panel that matters http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php
here is some background info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD#Types


One other thing. If you are editing video you might want a television set as your second or third display. You want to see what your viewers will see. If I had the money and space I'd go with a 30" ACD and a smaller Sony Bravia. But I still have an old Apple "studio display" the color is still very good and it is still dead sharp. But it's huge and fills the desk

 

[Kolind]

Thanks for the link to flatpanels.dk. I know the real difference lies in the panel, and I am aware of the fact that response time and contrast ratio is by no means a good way to ensure that your monitor is high quality and good for video or other work where "true" colors are essential. I wasn't able to find the panel types for the Dell or the Samsung before I got that link (not that I looked that hard).

Any recommendations as to hardware calibration? I looked at the Pantone Eye one, but there are two versions, and a cheaper pantone huey solution as well... so many things to look into, just to get proper colors...